AMB Stuttgart

When planning your visit, knowing the AMB Stuttgart dates and opening hours is essential for scheduling meetings with production directors, manufacturing engineers, toolmakers, automation specialists, and procurement professionals in the European metalworking and manufacturing sector.

Professional buyers in this industry evaluate more than individual machines. Technical performance, integration capability, total cost of ownership, automation readiness, service network capability, and long-term support commitment all influence capital equipment and production system decisions. AMB Stuttgart provides a professional environment for exploring developments across machine tools, automation systems, cutting tools, precision tooling, measuring technology, software, and digital manufacturing solutions.

Why Visit AMB Stuttgart?

For professional visitors, AMB Stuttgart offers a concentrated setting to compare metalworking technologies, discover emerging innovations, evaluate suppliers, and follow developments across the global manufacturing industry within one event. The event brings together machine tool builders, industrial automation providers, cutting tool manufacturers, production software developers, production directors, toolmakers, automation engineers, and manufacturing decision-makers from the automotive, aerospace, and mechanical engineering sectors.

Visitors can compare product ranges, evaluate suppliers, identify integration partnerships, examine technical documentation, and follow developments in automation integration, digital twins, sustainable manufacturing, and workforce augmentation. AMB is one of Europe’s leading trade fairs for metalworking, attracting more than 65,500 trade visitors from 78 countries and 1,244 exhibitors from 28 countries in its previous edition.

The next edition will take place from 15 to 19 September 2026 at Messe Stuttgart in Stuttgart, Germany, across 10 exhibition halls and 120,000 square metres of exhibition space, with opening hours from 09:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday to Friday and 09:00 to 15:00 on Saturday.

Source: AMB Official Website — AMB – International Exhibition for Metal Working

Exhibition Background & Industry Context

AMB is the International Exhibition for Metal Working and an international business platform for the European manufacturing ecosystem, covering machine tools, automation systems, cutting tools, precision tooling, measuring technology, software, and digital manufacturing solutions.

The event has been held biennially in Stuttgart since 1982, establishing itself as one of the key meeting points for the metalworking industry in the heart of one of Europe’s most important industrial regions. AMB 2026 will continue its established format with a strong focus on technical innovation, integration capability, and total cost of ownership. The event combines a commercial exhibition with a comprehensive technology forum, networking events, and the AMB Award for outstanding exhibits.

Visitors can explore the entire value chain of machining across ten halls, each clearly structured by theme. The 2026 themed hall plan includes: Precision Tools in Halls 1 and 3; Machine Tools and Production Equipment with a focus on Turning in Hall 4; Grinding, Gear-Cutting, Marking and Engraving and Surface Technology in Hall 5; Automation and Power Transmission Equipment in Hall 6; Milling in Halls 7, 9 and 10; Erosion in Hall 7; Measurement and Testing Technology, and Quality Assurance in Hall 9; Components, Assemblies and Operating Materials in Hall 8; and Software, Digitalisation and Control Systems in Hall 2 and the ICS International Congress Center.

The VDMA Technology Forum in Hall 1 features around 40 expert presentations for professional visitors from industry, research and development. The AMB app, with hall plans and exhibitor information, is available to help visitors navigate the show.

Is This Trade Fair Right for You?

Relevance depends on your role within the manufacturing value chain and whether your objectives involve sourcing equipment, identifying integration partners, evaluating technical capability, or understanding market trends in the global metalworking industry.

Ideal For

• Production directors and manufacturing engineers evaluating machine tools, machining systems, and process capability
• Toolmakers, machinists and CNC programmers exploring cutting tools, toolholding, and process optimization solutions
• Automation specialists and production planners assessing robot integration, pallet pools, and lights-out manufacturing solutions
• Procurement professionals and manufacturing decision-makers evaluating total cost of ownership and long-term support commitment
• Manufacturers of machine tools and machining centers with proven reliability and automation integration capability
• Providers of industrial automation solutions — robot integration systems, pallet pools, and linear axis systems
• Innovators in cutting tools, toolholding, and coatings delivering quantifiable gains in process reliability and tool life
• Developers of production software, digitalisation and control systems
• Specialists in measuring technology, quality assurance, and in-process metrology
• Manufacturing professionals from automotive, aerospace, mechanical engineering, tool and mould making, medical technology, precision engineering, and metal processing
• Media, associations, start-ups and investors monitoring innovation across the manufacturing sector

These professionals can assess product ranges, compare technical performance, examine integration capability, and evaluate total cost of ownership and long-term partnership potential.

May Be Less Relevant For

AMB Stuttgart may be less relevant for companies whose products or services have little connection to metal cutting, machining, precision tooling, production automation, industrial metrology or manufacturing software. Suppliers targeting professional buyers should be prepared to discuss accuracy, cycle times, process stability, integration, machine availability, service coverage, training, energy consumption and total cost of ownership.

Industries & Business Areas Represented

• Machine Tools & Machining Systems — CNC lathes, automatic lathes, turning and milling centres, drilling and boring machines, flexible manufacturing cells, transfer machines, grinding and tool-grinding machines, honing, lapping, polishing and deburring systems, gear-cutting and thread-production machines, broaching, planing, sawing and cut-off grinding equipment
• Metal Additive Manufacturing — metal 3D printing systems, hybrid additive-subtractive machines, powder-bed and deposition technologies, process monitoring, post-processing and additive manufacturing software
• Precision Tools & Clamping Technology — cutting and grinding tools, abrasives, indexable inserts, toolholders, chucking and clamping devices, tool heads, tool presetters, balancing systems and digital tool-management solutions
• Automation & Handling Technology — industrial and collaborative robots, workpiece and tool handling, pallet pools, bar feeders, automated loading and unloading, flexible manufacturing systems, autonomous mobile robots and lights-out production cells
• Measurement & Quality Assurance — coordinate measuring machines, optical and in-process measurement, sensors, testing machines, surface and contour measurement, tool presetting, tool balancing, process monitoring and statistical quality-control systems
• Software & Digitalisation — CAD/CAM, production planning, digital twins, process simulation, control systems, AI-assisted process optimisation, predictive maintenance, machine monitoring, data-driven production, and OPC UA interoperability
• Heat Treatment & Surface Technology — industrial furnaces, heat-treatment systems, hardening equipment, marking and engraving machines, surface-treatment systems, polishing, coating preparation and finishing technology
• Machine Components & Operating Supplies — mechanical components, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, control and drive technology, electrical and electronic equipment, lubrication and cooling systems, metalworking fluids, filtration, chip management, safety equipment and environmental protection solutions
• Materials & Semi-Finished Products — steels, aluminium, titanium, high-performance alloys, carbide materials, technical materials, bars, sheets, billets and other semi-finished products for precision machining
• Industrial Services & Workshop Equipment — machine installation and relocation, maintenance and repair, retrofitting, training, financing, storage systems, workshop equipment, industrial safety, technical consulting and production support services

These business areas are connected by the commercial and operational requirements of the manufacturing sector, where technical performance, integration capability, and total cost of ownership are as important as individual products.

Products & Solutions You Can Explore

Product and solution areas presented by the organiser include:

• CNC turning, milling, drilling, boring and multi-axis machining centres
• Grinding, honing, lapping, polishing, deburring, gear-cutting, broaching and sawing machines
• Metal additive manufacturing, heat-treatment and surface-technology systems
• Cutting tools, abrasives, toolholders and clamping devices
• Industrial robots, pallet systems and workpiece-handling technology
• Measuring instruments, sensors, testing machines and quality-assurance solutions
• CAD/CAM, simulation, production software, AI and digital manufacturing platforms
• Control, drive, hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• Lubricants, coolants and filtration equipment
• Workshop, storage, maintenance and retrofit services

Business Opportunities

• Present machine tools and machining systems to production directors and manufacturing engineers evaluating capital equipment and process capability
• Discuss automation integration with production planners and automation engineers focused on scalable, task-specific solutions
• Connect with toolmakers and manufacturing engineers exploring cutting tools, toolholding, and process optimization solutions
• Identify partnership opportunities with system integrators, automation providers, and digital manufacturing platforms
• Evaluate competing approaches to automation, digital twins, and sustainable manufacturing
• Monitor technology and process discussions affecting manufacturing strategy and production planning
• Explore OEM and supplier relationships through direct engagement with manufacturing decision-makers
• Understand total cost of ownership expectations and long-term support requirements through direct engagement with production teams
• Network with machine tool manufacturers, automation providers, and manufacturing professionals

How to Prepare for a Productive Visit

Before attending AMB Stuttgart, careful planning can significantly improve the value of your visit:

• Define your strategic priorities: Identify whether your focus is on machine tools, precision tools, automation, measuring technology, software, or components and operating materials.
• Prepare questions about technical performance and integration capability: For potential partners, ask about performance specifications, automation integration capability, total cost of ownership data, service network information, training program documentation, and interoperability evidence.
• Evaluate key performance metrics: Compare spindle utilisation and cycle time, setup and changeover time, accuracy and repeatability, tool life, scrap and rework rates, machine uptime, spare-parts availability, remote diagnostics, coolant and energy consumption, and compatibility with existing CNC, MES and ERP systems.
• Divide the exhibitor landscape by your priorities: Before the event, group exhibitors by key areas — machine tool manufacturers, tooling specialists, automation providers, software developers — to structure your visit efficiently. The fair takes place from 15 to 19 September 2026 at Messe Stuttgart.
• Review the themed hall plan: Use the structured hall layout to efficiently navigate Precision Tools in Halls 1 and 3, Machine Tools in Halls 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10, Automation in Hall 6, Software in Hall 2, and Measuring Technology in Hall 9.
• Check the VDMA Technology Forum programme: The Technology Forum in Hall 1 features expert presentations on industry trends and innovations.
• Plan meetings with potential partners: The event provides an opportunity to coordinate with manufacturers, suppliers, and industry professionals in one location.

Review the organiser’s current exhibitor directory and group relevant companies by business objective, product area, or hall location before planning meetings.

Exhibitor Perspective

Exhibitors at AMB range from international machine tool manufacturers, automation providers, and cutting tool specialists to software developers, measuring technology companies, and component suppliers. Visitors evaluating potential partners should look beyond individual products to understand technical performance, integration capability, total cost of ownership, service network capability, and long-term support commitment.

The event’s focus on technical performance, integration capability, and B2B networking provides additional engagement opportunities for visitors and exhibitors. The 2026 edition will feature the AMB Award for outstanding exhibits, the International Gallery powered by BW_i for international exchange, and the VDMA Technology Forum.

Planning to exhibit rather than visit? Explore the AMB Stuttgart Strategic Exhibitor Guide.

Continue Your Research

Research companies participating in the exhibition — explore the AMB Stuttgart Exhibitor List to identify CNC machine tool manufacturers, precision and cutting tool specialists, clamping technology companies, automation and robotics providers, metrology suppliers, production software developers, component manufacturers, and metal additive manufacturing partners before your visit.

When comparing manufacturing and technology events, use our guide to choose the right trade fair in Germany for your strategic sourcing or partnership priorities.

Understanding how German and European manufacturing buyers evaluate suppliers can help you prepare more focused conversations during product exhibitions.

For companies using German trade fairs as part of a wider international strategy, explore how international branding in Germany can strengthen credibility, supply chain recognition, and long‑term market presence beyond the exhibition.

Companies considering participation can use this checklist to prepare for a German manufacturing exhibition, including technical documentation, integration evidence, and structured follow‑up.

At AMB Stuttgart, a productive visit depends on evaluating technical performance, integration capability, total cost of ownership, and strategic fit across the manufacturing ecosystem.