Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023 – a brilliant meeting of the best around
The 16th Blechexpo, international trade fair for sheet metal working, held jointly with the 9th Schweisstec, international trade fair for joining technology, was a roaring success. The 40,103 trade visitors were delighted by 1256 exhibitors from 38 countries, nine fully booked halls and an unrivalled, packed programme of events. The best Award 2023 brought smiles to the faces of the many worthy winners.
Exhibitors, visitors and organisers declared this year’s Blechexpo/Schweisstec an unmitigated triumph. The trade fair showcases complete procedures for modern and future-proof sheet metal processing. It took place in Stuttgart from 7 to 10 November 2023 and once again proved to be an outstanding industry highlight that brought together the best of the best in the sheet metal processing industry. “Once again, this was the kind of trade fair you dream of”, sums up Georg Knauer, project manager of Blechexpo/Schweisstec. “Nine full halls with 1256 exhibitors from 38 countries – it was an inspiring four days for everyone involved. We marvelled at many new machines and novel solutions that are paving our way to the future of modern, sustainable sheet metal processing. The fact that 45 percent of the exhibitors came from abroad showed, once again, just how significant the Blechexpo/Schweisstec trade fair is across the world.”
Hot topics spur companies onwards towards the future
The majority of foreign exhibitors in Stuttgart came from Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, China and the Benelux countries. Interest was correspondingly high among both trade visitors and media representatives from these countries. The themes of the Blechexpo/Schweisstec fairs and solutions for current challenges presented there are disseminated worldwide and have a global impact. “It was clear that many companies are currently dedicating themselves to solving the same problems because this is the only way to ensure the future viability and competitiveness of our industry”, points out Georg Knauer. “These include further automation, especially in the periphery, higher productivity, improving part quality still further, eliminating scrap, saving energy, compensating for the shortage of skilled workers, employee protection and customer service. These are issues that affect every company”, says Knauer, summarising the current topics. “The solutions and strategies we saw at the trade fair are laying the foundations for greater sustainability. The sheet metal industry also has long-term goals for becoming environmentally friendly and visitors to the trade fair could see at first hand which steps have been taken towards achieving this goal”.
“Blechexpo/Schweisstec: You have to be here!”
The positive comments made by numerous exhibitors prove that Blechexpo/Schweisstec is firmly established as a business and communication platform. Speaking about Blechexpo/Schweisstec, Ekkehard Fluck, head of Sales Optical Inspection Stamping at Jenoptik, says, “You have to be here. It’s a very important place. I tell our customers from all over the world that they should visit the trade fair”. Ulrich Peitzmeier from Peitzmeier Maschinenbau is also a fan of the platform: “Blechexpo/Schweisstec is an excellent trade fair for reaching an international audience”. Claudia Robineau, managing director at Voestalpine Camtec, concurs: “We have been represented at Blechexpo/Schweisstec for many years. It is always a great opportunity for us to introduce our innovations to our customers”. Björn Erik Mai, co-founder and managing director of Senodis Technologies, agrees wholeheartedly with this view: “Blechexpo/Schweisstec is a good chance for us to present ourselves because it concentrates all the industry stakeholders in one place”. Last but not least, Tommaso Bonuzzi, sales manager of the Salvagnini Group, also has nothing but good things to say about the event: “Once again, it has been confirmed that the Blechexpo trade fair is one of the most important trade fairs for Salvagnini anywhere in the world. We will certainly be back next time”.
The best-Award 2023 boosts innovation
Roland Raats, director of Sales and Service at Timersavers, also agrees that this industry convention is a vital business channel: “Blechexpo/Schweisstec is the ideal trade fair in Germany and internationally. Customers can find us here and we can showcase our new products and developments”. The best Award 2023, which was organised for the sixth time this year in collaboration with the trade magazines Blechnet and MM Maschinenmarkt, gave a compelling boost to innovation. The five categories were reflected by the newly structured hall layout and were topped by the following delighted winners: Senodis Technologies GmbH, J. Schmalz GmbH and Hans Schröder Maschinenbau GmbH won in the category Sheet metal, tube and profile processing. Raziol Zibulla & Sohn GmbH, Schuler Group GmbH and iLARIZ GmbH took first to third place in the category Press and forming technologies. JENOPTIK Optical Systems GmbH, REA Elektronik GmbH and Stampack GmbH were the winners in the Stamping technologies category. The first three places in the Separating, joining and connecting technologies category went to TRUMPF Werkzeugmaschinen SE + Co KG, Hugo Kern & Liebers GmbH & Co. KG and Carl Cloos Schweißtechnik GmbH. In the category Steel, metal service and surface technology, Peitzmeier Maschinenbau GmbH, Hans Weber Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Saint-Gobain Abrasives GmbH won over the expert jury, who had closely examined all submissions.
Blechexpo/Schweisstec: impressive, successful – and not to be missed
“The trade fair, the best Award competition and the impressive programme of events, including the congress, forums and steel convention, were exceptional and very successful”, confirms Bettina Schall, managing director of trade fair organiser P. E. Schall. “In our experience, there is simply no substitute for the physical presence of large machines and the personal exchange of expertise right next to the actual systems. Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023 once again reached pre-pandemic levels of participation and this is a great incentive to continue on this path: a clear theme structure, clear hall layout and inspiring topics for a fascinating programme of auxiliary events”, points out Bettina Schall. “Along with all our exhibitors and trade visitors, we are very much looking forward to the next thrilling Blechexpo/Schweisstec being held from 4 to 7 November 2025. And you are cordially invited!”
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61 years of trade fairs for markets – Schall’s recipe for success
Schall has developed successful business platforms with the internationally renowned trade fairs for quality assurance (Control), optical technologies, components and systems (Optatec), stamping technology (Stanztec), production and assembly automation (Motek), bonding technology (Bondexpo), plastics processing (Fakuma) as well as sheet metal working (Blechexpo) and joining technology (Schweisstec). They have given rise to entirely new markets in various industries whose leading figures are characterised by high levels of innovation, comprehensive systems expertise and practical application solutions.