DIARY of EVENTS
MetalTech / Automex Malaysia
20-23 May 2026
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia www. metaltech. com. my
ITM Industry Europe
26-29 May 2026
Poznań, Poland https:// itm-europe. com / en /
ECCA Spring Meeting
27-29 May 2026
Alicante, Spain www. prepaintedmetal. eu / en
SMART Manufacturing Week
3-4 June 2026
Birmingham, UK www. smartmanufacturingweek. com /
Subcon
3-4 June 2026
Birmingham, UK www. subconshow. co. uk /
STANZTEC
16-18 June 2026
Pforzheim, Germany www. stanztec-messe. de / en
Manufacturing Expo
17-20 June 2026
Bangkok, Thailand www. manufacturing-expo. com /
Automate
22-25 June 2026
Chicago, USA www. automateshow. com
Fastener Fair Italy
24-25 June 2026
Milan, Italy www. fastenerfairitaly. com
Manufacturing World Tokyo
1-3 July 2026
Tokyo, Japan www. manufacturing-world. jp / tokyo / en-gb. html
WeldTech Welding Fair
1-3 September 2026
Warsaw, Poland https:// weldexpopoland. com / en /
CIMES 2026
7-11 September 2026
Beijing, China www. cimes. org. cn / html / en
IMTS 2026
14-19 September 2026
Chicago, USA www. imts. com /
AMB 2026
15-19 September 2026
Stuttgart, Germany www. messe-stuttgart. de / amb / en /
Metalexpo 2026
16-18 September 2026
Istanbul, Turkey www. metalexpo. com. tr /
The Green Steel World Conference 2026
23-24 September 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany https:// greensteelworld. com
MAKTEK Eurasia 2026
28 September- 3 October 2026
Istanbul, Turkey www. maktekfuari. com / en
ALUMINIUM
6-8 October 2026
Düsseldorf, Germany www. aluminium-exhibition. com
METALCON
7-9 October 2026
Orlando( FL), USA https:// metalcon. com
Fabex 2026
11-14 October 2026
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia www. fabxsaudi. com
BI-MU 2026
13-16 October 2026
Milan, Italy www. bimu. it / en /
EuroBLECH 2026
20-23 October 2026
Hanover, Germany www. euroblech. com
Sara Waddington
Editor International Sheet Metal Review sara @ in2publishing. co. uk
J
WELCOME
FROM THE EDITOR
According to the World Bank Group’ s latest‘ Commodity Markets Outlook’, energy prices are projected to surge by 24 % this year as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity markets. Overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16 % in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals. The shock will have serious implications for job creation and development, the analysis indicates. See our news report on page 6 of this issue.
In the May issue of ISMR, we also review recent trade shows, such as Global Industrie( page 10) in France and Industrial Spring in Poland( page 20). We highlight a selection of trends and forecasts for the global aerospace industry( page 22). We also present industry trends and forecasts in Poland for manufacturers( page 30).
ISMR was invited by TRUMPF to attend its INTECH exhibition in Germany where opportunities, threats and challenges, as well as new machinery, connectivity and software innovations, were highlighted for sheet metal manufacturers. Machine safety, artificial intelligence( AI), data centre opportunities and robotics all came under the spotlight. Read our full report on page 26 of this issue.
We present a selection of global market forecasts, key growth trends, changing applications, technology advances and new requirements for industrial robotics on page 34. Automation is becoming more important as companies seek solutions to increase their productivity, strengthen supply chains and respond to structural labour shortages
CBAM( the EU’ s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) risks exposing the cost of siloed compliance, warns Matthew Ekholm on page 42, unless companies rethink management. Plasma cutting, CAD / CAM advances and new waterjet innovations also come under the spotlight in this issue.
The ISMR team will be at Smart Manufacturing Week and Subcon in the UK this June. We hope to see you there!
Please send us your machine process or technology video links for the ISMR website at ismr. net and its YouTube channel, LinkedIn and X accounts. Email me at sara @ in2publishing. co. uk with your thoughts.
If you would like your event to appear in the diary, with your logo, please email Bobby Bagha at: bobby @ in2publishing. co. uk
ISMR May 2026 | ismr. net | 3