The combined 16th Blechexpo – international trade fair for sheet metal working – and the 9th Schweisstec – international trade fair for joining technology – promises a multitude of attractions. There will be nine fully booked halls at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, a packed programme of events and stunning submissions for the best-Award 2023. Applications for this award are still being accepted until the end of July 2023. The eagerly awaited industry extravaganza will be held from 7th to 10th November 2023.

The Blechexpo/Schweisstec dual exhibition covers the entire process sequence of modern and future-oriented sheet metal working, making it a highly respected event among experts. “Nine fully booked halls, huge interest in the trade fair, incredible momentum”, is how Georg Knauer, project manager for Blechexpo/Schweisstec at trade fair promoter Schall, sums up the current situation. “It’s going to be really exciting, not least thanks to the wide-ranging, top-class programme of events, which is currently being prepared”, explains Knauer.

This includes, for example, the best Award 2023, which is now being organised for the sixth time in collaborations with the trade magazines Blechnet and MM Maschinenmarkt. The organisers have defined five application categories that match the hall themes: Halls 1, 3, 5 and 9 will house sheet metal, pipe and profile processing. Halls 4 and 6 have stamping technologies as their theme. Hall 7 is home to cutting, joining and fastening technologies. Hall 8 focuses on pressing and forming technologies. And finally, Hall 10 deals with steel, metal service and surface finishing technology. “This way, every applicant can find the right category for their masterpiece”, explains Knauer. “Above all, we want to invite everyone to participate in the best Award 2023. We would particularly like to invite small companies to take part, as this is a unique opportunity for everyone to showcase their innovations.”

A panel of experts consisting of well-known representatives from the industry will choose the winners. The victors will receive their best-Award at a ceremony on the afternoon of the first day of the fair. “I am looking forward to the prestigious task of sitting on the panel and am very excited to see all the submissions. Digitalisation, sustainability and process efficiency will all play crucial roles in these technological wonders. The award is an outstanding opportunity to present new innovations and subsequently benefit from wide media coverage and the increased business it generates”, says panel member Philipp Leinhäupl, design engineer in the field of stamping and forming technology at Siemens. Robin Kurth, Group Leader for Forming Machines at Fraunhofer IWU, is also looking forward to the submissions: “Innovations in production technology often lie in technical details that remain hidden from outsiders. The award not only reveals innovations of this kind, but also encourages the exchange of ideas and inspiration – important building blocks for maintaining and expanding a high-tech hub. Presenting the award at the celebrated Blechexpo/Schweisstec is a great way to encourage even more innovation in the industry.” Exhibitors can submit their applications by 31 July 2023 via www.blechnet.com or www.maschinenmarkt-awards.de/blechexpo.

The industry is eagerly awaiting the winners of the best-Award 2023. The schedule of supporting events is also impressive and will attract many trade visitors to Stuttgart. The Blechexpo Stahl Convent 2023 will take place in the forum area in Hall 10 at noon on the first day of the trade fair. The theme is Challenges on the steel markets in 2023. This convention is organised by the agency Stahl-Kommunikation. A forum named futureSteel is being prepared for the second day of the fair in collaboration with the Düsseldorf-based company Marketsteel Media. The daily exhibitor forum has been very popular for many years. As a result, the organiser has further expanded the forum structure for trade visitors. For the first time at Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023, high-profile speakers from the exhibiting companies will give talks on all days of the fair in various forums tailored to the hall themes: the Stamping Forum in Hall 4 (1FO-01), the Schweisstec Forum in Hall 7 (7515), the BEST Forum in Hall 9 (9315) and the Steel Forum in Kongress West. Additional specialist forums will be held on the third day of the fair, 09 November 2023, with the associations ZVEI, IBU and EFB. These specialist forums make visiting the fair even more worthwhile; industry visitors will benefit from the latest expert knowledge, inspiration and networking opportunities. Attendance is free of charge. More information: https://rb.gy/luzxv

The range of topics covered at the Blechexpo/Schweisstec includes efficient process technologies, the latest laser technology, fully automated robot-based sheet metal working machines, high-precision tools and equipment for stamping, bending, folding and forming, as well as innovative micro waterjet cutting technologies. The shortage of skilled labour in production continues to drive automation in all areas, for example in materials handling and machine operation. Advancements in the integration of production data improve the efficiency of the planning, execution and analysis of production processes. Trade visitors to Blechexpo/Schweisstec can experience the entire sheet metal working process chain with a high degree of practical relevance and in a pleasant working atmosphere. “We are delighted that suppliers and investors will be able to meet on an equal footing at Blechexpo/Schweisstec and cordially invite the international trade public to Stuttgart from 7 to 10 November 2023”, says Bettina Schall, Managing Director of trade fair promoter P. E. Schall.

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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.

Seven months until the renowned industry highlight takes place: together with the 9th Schweisstec international trade fair for joining technology, the 16th Blechexpo international trade fair for sheet metal working will serve as the meeting place for global players in the field of sheet metal working from the 7th through the 10th of November, 2023. Nine halls are fully booked out at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre. The trade fair duo presents complete process sequences for modern, future-proof sheet metal processing, and is thus highly acclaimed amongst the experts. An impressive supplementary programme including the presentation of the “best Award 2023”, the “Blechexpo Steel Convention 2023”, the “futureSteel” congress and the expert forum rounds out the trade fair’s offerings.

As project manager of the renowned trade fair duo, Georg Knauer reports that nine exhibition halls are fully booked out for Blechexpo/Schweisstec 2023. “Tremendous interest in the exhibition, strong dynamics within the industry sector and important future issues,” is how Knauer sums up the current mood. “On the whole it can be observed that process automation is being driven further and further in the field of sheet metal working,” explains the project manager. “Methods based on data-driven, artificial intelligence algorithms and machine learning are being exploited to an ever greater extent in production operations in order to optimise processes and, as a result, reduce lead times. Efficient sheet metal processing necessitates flexible machine tools, modern software and virtual simulation. These issues will be addressed intensively at the trade fair. The challenge is sustainability, and in the field of sheet metal processing this means optimum workpiece utilisation and the avoidance of wasted material.

The range of topics covered by Blechexpo/Schweisstec includes efficient process technologies for modern laser technology, fully automated robotic sheet metal processing machines, precision tools and systems for punching, bending, braking and forming, as well as innovative micro-waterjet cutting technologies. Not least of all, the current shortage of qualified production personnel is fuelling further automation across the board, for example in materials handling and machine operation. Planning, implementation and analysis of production processes are becoming more efficient thanks to advancing integration of production data. “Expert visitors at Blechexpo/Schweisstec experience the entire process chain for sheet metal working,” emphasises Georg Knauer. “Suppliers and investment decision-makers meet on an equal footing with direct practical relevance in a working atmosphere.” The international expert audience can plan an issue-oriented trade fair visit, because the arrangement of the nine halls is structured in a differentiated manner: sheet metal, pipe and profile processing will be located in halls 1, 3, 5 and 9. Halls 4 and 6 are reserved for stamping technologies. Cutting, joining and fastening technologies will be presented in hall 7. Hall 8 will focus on pressing and forming technologies. Finally, the issues of steel and metal services, as well as surface finishing technology, will be addressed in hall 10.

Blechexpo/Schweisstec will feature a world-class, highly interesting supplementary programme once again this year including the “best Award 2023”, which will be presented for the sixth time in cooperation with trade journals Blechnet and MM Maschinenmarkt. The organisers have specified five submission categories analogous to the themes assigned to the exhibition halls, so that applicants can find the most suitable area for their innovations. Exhibitors can submit their entries to www.blechnet.com or www.maschinenmarkt-awards.de/blechexpo. The deadline for submissions is 31 July 2023. An expert jury with renowned representatives from the industry sector will select the winners, who will receive their “best Award” within the framework of a festive event on the afternoon of the first day of the trade fair. “Blechexpo/Schweisstec, and above all the “best Award 2023”, will once again showcase lots of innovations and solutions for digitalisation, sustainability and health protection this year,” hopes jury member Stefanie Wiesner, managing director of the Industrial Division of the German Electric Welding Equipment Association. Jury member Florian Kellner, production engineering designer at Siemens’ equipment manufacturing facility in Amberg, Germany, is also looking forward to the submissions: “The award is brilliant in my opinion because inventive talent and know-how are regarded comprehensively and provided with a suitable stage. We can expect technological highlights in the form of future-oriented solutions that link the digital world to the real world in terms of Industry 4.0. The award is ideally situated within the context of Blechexpo/Schweisstec, because the trade fair offers a major, highly diverse international platform for innovations.”

The “Blechexpo Stahl Convention 2023” will take place in the forum area in hall 10 at noon on the first day of the trade fair. It will focus attention on “Challenges in the Steel Markets in 2023”. The convention will be organised by the Stahl-Kommunikation Agency. A “futureSteel” congress is in preparation for the second day of the trade fair in cooperation with Marketsteel Media from Düsseldorf. The daily exhibitor forum will also be a popular meeting place this year – the world-class knowledge platform will provide expert visitors with a broad range of comprehensive information: presentations will be held by the European Sheet Metal Research Association (EFB) dealing with “Sustainable and Digital Future Production: Strategies for Joining – Forming – Sheet Metal Working Methods within the EFB Network”. Contributions from the Sheet Metal Forming Industry Association (IBU) are in preparation which will address “Challenges in Forming Technology”. Last but not least, Schweisstec Day, organised by the ZVEI Technical Association for Electric Welding Equipment, will be held again this year, where expert visitors will receive a comprehensive knowledge update.

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Schall has developed successful business platforms with internationally recognised trade fairs for quality assurance (Control), optical technologies, components and systems (Optatec), stamping technology (Stanztec), automation in production and assembly (Motek), bonding technology (Bondexpo), plastics processing (Fakuma), sheet metal working (Blechexpo) and joining technology (Schweisstec). This has given rise to entirely new markets in various sectors, whose protagonists are distinguished by tremendous innovative strength, comprehensive systems competence and practical application solutions.