BLECHEXPO Stuttgart

When planning your visit, knowing the BLECHEXPO Stuttgart dates and opening hours is essential for organising meetings with sheet metal processing machinery manufacturers, cutting and forming technology suppliers, joining and welding equipment providers, automation and software specialists, and distribution partners.

Professional buyers in this industry evaluate more than individual machines. Precision, productivity, flexibility, material utilisation, automation capability, energy efficiency, and total cost of ownership all influence procurement and partnership decisions. BLECHEXPO Stuttgart provides a professional environment for exploring developments across sheet metal processing, cutting and forming technology, tube and profile processing, automation, digitalisation, and surface finishing.

Why Visit BLECHEXPO Stuttgart?

For professional visitors, BLECHEXPO Stuttgart offers a concentrated setting to compare sheet metal working technologies, discover emerging innovations, evaluate suppliers, and follow developments across the global sheet metal processing and joining technology industry within one event.

The event brings together manufacturers of sheet metal working machinery, cutting and forming systems, joining and welding technology, and automation solutions with production managers, technical directors, procurement professionals, plant managers, and engineers from metalworking, automotive, mechanical engineering, and other industrial sectors.

Visitors can compare product ranges, evaluate suppliers, identify partnership opportunities, examine technical documentation, and follow developments in automation, digitalisation, sustainability, and Industry 4.0. BLECHEXPO is the leading international trade fair for sheet metal working, taking place biennially in Stuttgart alongside Schweisstec, the international trade fair for joining technology. Together, they form the only event in the world covering the complementary technologies of sheet metal processing and joining technology.

The next edition will take place from 26 to 29 October 2027 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre in Stuttgart, Germany. The detailed visitor opening hours for 2027 should be reconfirmed on the organiser’s website closer to the event. BLECHEXPO and Schweisstec 2025 brought together 1,190 exhibitors from 41 countries and attracted 40,072 visitors from 83 countries across nine halls and 108,000 square metres of gross exhibition space. Visitors should check the organiser’s official website for the latest ticket, registration, programme and visitor information.

Source: BLECHEXPO Official Website — BLECHEXPO – International Trade Fair for Sheet Metal Working

Exhibition Background & Industry Context

BLECHEXPO is the leading international trade fair for sheet metal working, taking place biennially in Stuttgart. The practical trade fair duo of BLECHEXPO and Schweisstec is the only event in the world that deals with the complementary technologies of sheet metal processing and joining technology. The high-performance BLECHEXPO/Schweisstec trade fair is excellently positioned internationally and is becoming increasingly important for the sheet metal and metalworking industry.

The production process for metal products may include coil or sheet handling, cutting, punching, stamping, bending, pressing, forming, joining, grinding, deburring, surface finishing and quality inspection, depending on the component and production route.

Digitalisation enjoys high priority in all process operations, because all of the stages involved in sheet metal and metal working are becoming increasingly networked and automated. Individual and systemic solutions for sustainable and resource-efficient processes are presented and developed on an equal footing at BLECHEXPO/Schweisstec.

Key areas at BLECHEXPO Stuttgart include:

• Sheet Metal Processing — coil handling and decoiling, straightening and levelling, feeding systems, sheet storage and retrieval, punching, laser-punch combination machines, stamping and pressing, press brakes and panel bending, deep drawing, hydroforming, and forming tools
• Cutting Technology — laser cutting, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, mechanical cutting systems, tube laser cutting, profile cutting, and sawing
• Tube and Profile Processing — tube and profile cutting, bending, end forming, punching and drilling, deburring, automated loading and unloading, tube measurement and inspection, and welding and joining of tubular assemblies
• Joining Technology (Schweisstec) — thermal joining and welding (manual and automated), mechanical joining and fastening, soldering and brazing, welding robots, welding power sources, fixtures and positioning systems, weld monitoring and inspection, and joining consumables and accessories
• Semi-Finished Products — sheet and strip, plate, coil, tube and hollow sections, profiles, high-strength steels, stainless steel, aluminium, coated sheet, and lightweight and hybrid material combinations
• Automation and Digitalisation — automated loading and unloading, robotic bending, robotic welding, press-line automation, part sorting and stacking, tool-change automation, machine-to-machine communication, production scheduling, nesting optimisation, energy and machine monitoring, predictive maintenance, digital work instructions, inline inspection, traceability, CAD/CAM integration, MES and ERP connectivity, and AI-assisted process optimisation
• Quality Assurance and Surface Finishing — inline measurement, quality assurance, traceability, grinding, deburring, edge rounding, parts cleaning, material handling, sorting, stacking, intralogistics, scrap handling, nesting and material-utilisation software, and surface treatment and finishing
• Tools and Equipment — cutting tools, forming tools, dies, stamping tools, lubrication systems, pneumatic tools, electric tools, and tool management
• Steel and Metal Services — steel and metal services, contract sheet-metal processing, and technical services
• Services — training, consulting, and technical services

Is This Trade Fair Right for You?

Relevance depends on your role within the sheet metal working and joining technology value chain and whether your objectives involve sourcing equipment, identifying technology partners, evaluating production capabilities, or understanding market trends in the sheet metal processing industry.

Ideal For

• Production managers and plant managers
• Technical directors and process engineers
• Procurement professionals and technical buyers
• Sheet metal fabricators, stamping and press-shop specialists
• Tube and profile processors
• Cutting and forming technology specialists
• Joining and welding technology professionals
• Automation and digitalisation engineers
• Tooling and equipment specialists
• Quality control and safety professionals
• Steel and metal service companies
• Automotive and mechanical engineering suppliers
• Researchers, educators, and students
• Media, associations, and investors monitoring innovation across the sheet metal sector

These professionals can assess product ranges, compare technical capabilities, examine system documentation, and evaluate precision, productivity, flexibility, and long-term partnership potential.

May Be Less Relevant For

BLECHEXPO may be less relevant for consumers seeking retail metal products or small-scale DIY equipment. It is primarily a professional trade event for the sheet metal working and joining technology industry, focused on B2B relationships between manufacturers, suppliers, processors, and commercial buyers. Companies focused solely on non-metal materials or unrelated industrial equipment without application in sheet metal processing may also find the professional audience’s expectations challenging.

Industries & Business Areas Represented

• Sheet Metal Processing — coil handling, decoiling, straightening, levelling, punching, stamping, pressing, bending, deep drawing, and hydroforming
• Cutting Technology — laser cutting, plasma cutting, waterjet cutting, mechanical cutting, tube cutting, and profile cutting
• Tube and Profile Processing — tube and profile cutting, bending, end forming, welding, and joining
• Joining Technology (Schweisstec) — thermal and mechanical joining, welding, soldering, brazing, fastening, and weld inspection
• Semi-Finished Products — sheet, strip, plate, coil, tube, profiles, high-strength steels, stainless steel, aluminium, coated sheet, and hybrid materials
• Automation and Digitalisation — robotic automation, press-line automation, machine-to-machine communication, production scheduling, nesting optimisation, predictive maintenance, CAD/CAM, MES, and AI-assisted optimisation
• Quality Assurance and Finishing — inline measurement, quality assurance, grinding, deburring, cleaning, and surface finishing
• Tools and Equipment — cutting tools, forming tools, dies, stamping tools, lubrication systems, and tool management
• Steel and Metal Services — steel services, contract processing, and technical services
• Services — training, consulting, and technical services

These business areas are connected by the commercial and operational requirements of the sheet metal sector, where precision, productivity, flexibility, and total cost of ownership are as important as individual machines.

Products & Solutions You Can Explore

Product and solution areas presented by the organiser include:

• Coil, sheet, tube and profile handling systems
• Laser, plasma, waterjet and mechanical cutting equipment
• Punching and laser-punch combination machines
• Press brakes, panel benders, stamping presses, deep-drawing and hydroforming systems
• Tube and profile cutting, bending and end-forming machinery
• Thermal and mechanical joining, welding, soldering, brazing and fastening technology
• Dies, forming tools, stamping tools and lubrication systems
• Loading, feeding, sorting, stacking and robotic automation
• Deburring, grinding, cleaning and surface-finishing equipment
• Steel, sheet, tube and profile products and services
• CAD/CAM, nesting, production-planning and machine-monitoring software
• Inline measurement, quality assurance and traceability systems
• Training, consulting, and technical services

Business Opportunities

• Compare sheet metal processing, joining, and automation equipment against defined production requirements
• Assess whether equipment meets precision, productivity, and flexibility standards
• Evaluate automation capability, energy efficiency, and total cost of ownership
• Identify equipment, technology, and service partners for planned production upgrades or new facilities
• Evaluate competing approaches to sheet metal processing, joining, and automation
• Compare how suppliers address sustainability, resource efficiency, and digitalisation
• Clarify regulatory compliance, certification requirements, and technical documentation through direct discussions with potential partners
• Compare systems based on throughput, precision, material utilisation, and automation level
• Network with equipment manufacturers, technology providers, processors, and procurement professionals

How to Prepare for a Productive Visit

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

• Define your strategic priorities: Identify whether your focus is on sheet metal processing, cutting technology, forming technology, tube and profile processing, joining technology, automation and digitalisation, or quality assurance and finishing
• Prepare questions about production capability, precision, and automation: For cutting equipment, ask about supported materials and thickness range, cutting speed, edge quality, heat-affected zone, kerf width, nesting efficiency, piercing capability, gas and energy consumption, automation, and maintenance requirements. For forming and bending, examine press force, working length, repeatability, angle accuracy, springback compensation, tooling compatibility, setup and changeover time, offline programming, and suitability for complex geometries. For stamping and pressing, consider tonnage, stroke rate, bed and slide dimensions, feed-system compatibility, die-change time, lubrication, scrap removal, and process monitoring. For joining technology, evaluate supported materials and thickness, joint design, weld speed and penetration, distortion control, heat input, repeatability, fixture requirements, weld inspection, and robot integration. For automation and digitalisation solutions, examine integration with existing systems, data management, scalability, and user training
• Explore the complementary Schweisstec trade fair: Schweisstec takes place alongside BLECHEXPO and covers all relevant mechanical and thermal joining and connecting procedures as well as thermal welding processes. Visitors should check the official 2027 ticket conditions for confirmed access arrangements to both fairs
• Review the supporting programme: Previous editions have featured the best Award, technical presentation forums, specialist congress formats and career initiatives. Visitors should consult the official 2027 programme for confirmed awards, presentations and special events
• Divide the exhibitor landscape by key areas: Before the event, group exhibitors by key areas — sheet metal processing, cutting, forming, tube processing, joining, automation, quality — to structure your visit efficiently. The fair takes place from 26 to 29 October 2027 at the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre, using nine halls
• 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 BLECHEXPO range from international sheet metal working machinery manufacturers, cutting and forming technology suppliers, and tube processing specialists to joining and welding technology providers, automation companies, software developers, and service providers.

BLECHEXPO and Schweisstec 2025 brought together 1,190 exhibitors from 41 countries and attracted 40,072 visitors from 83 countries across nine halls and 108,000 square metres of gross exhibition space. Visitors evaluating potential partners should look beyond individual products to understand precision, productivity, flexibility, and total cost of ownership.

The event’s focus on innovation, digitalisation, sustainability, and B2B networking provides additional engagement opportunities for visitors and exhibitors.

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

Continue Your Research

Research companies participating in the exhibition — explore the BLECHEXPO Stuttgart Exhibitor List to identify sheet metal processing machinery manufacturers, cutting and forming technology suppliers, tube processing specialists, joining and welding technology providers, automation companies, and software developers before your visit.

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

At BLECHEXPO Stuttgart, a productive visit depends on evaluating precision, productivity, flexibility, automation capability, and strategic fit across the sheet metal working and joining technology ecosystem.