The 24th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, EuroBLECH 2016, ended on October 29, after five show days. According to a report from the organisers, Mack Brooks Exhibitions, a total of 60,636 visitors from some 100 different countries came to Hannover for an overview of the latest technical developments in sheet metal processing and invest in new production equipment. Statistics also showed that a total of 1,503 companies from 41 countries exhibited at this year’s show.

Nicola Hamann, managing director of the organisers: “With an increase of 2 percent in visitor numbers compared to the previous show, this year’s EuroBLECH clearly surpassed the 60,000 visitor mark. This year’s event showed a record floor space of some 88,000 sq m net and a sustainable increase in visitor numbers; this demonstrates a healthy economic outlook for the industry sector with its global business activity”.

A total of 39 percent of visitors and 54 percent of exhibitors came from outside Germany. This is a further increase by 2 percent each compared to the previous show. Asian visitors increased by more than 30 percent, while visitors from EU countries (outside Germany) increased by 11 percent.

Most important sectors the visitors belonged to, were engineering, sheet metal & products, steel and aluminium construction as well as the automotive industry and its suppliers. Three quarters of all exhibitors stated on-site that they intended to exhibit again at the next EuroBLECH, held from 23 – 27 October 2018 in Hanover, Germany.

Mack Brooks Exhibitions will organise BLECH India, from 27 - 29 April 2017, in Mumbai. In spring 2018 the organisers of EuroBLECH will hold Indo Sheet Metal, from 7 - 9 March 2018, in Jakarta, Indonesia, and AsiaBLECH, from 8 -10 May 2018, in Shanghai, China.

AP Metalworking Equipment News, EuroBLECH, Oct 29, 2016