SPS – Smart Production Solutions

When planning your visit, knowing the SPS – Nuremberg dates and opening hours is essential for scheduling meetings with plant managers, production engineers, and technical decision-makers in the global industrial automation industry.

Professional buyers in this industry evaluate more than individual components. System integration capability, interoperability across OT/IT, cybersecurity (IEC 62443), data-value extraction, and the ability to demonstrate measurable improvements in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) all influence procurement and partnership decisions.

SPS – Smart Production Solutions provides a professional environment for exploring developments across industrial hardware, software, IIoT platforms, networking, edge computing, and cybersecurity solutions.

Why Visit SPS – Smart Production Solutions Nuremberg?

For professional visitors, SPS – Smart Production Solutions Nuremberg offers a concentrated setting to compare automation technologies, discover emerging innovations, evaluate suppliers, and follow developments across the global industrial automation industry within one event.

The event brings together providers of industrial hardware with digital-native architectures, developers of industrial software and IIoT platforms, specialists in industrial networking and cybersecurity, and companies offering complete machine-to-cloud solutions with plant managers, production engineers, and technical decision-makers from mechanical engineering, automotive, electronics, and food and beverage sectors.

Visitors can compare product ranges, evaluate suppliers, identify system integration partnerships, examine technical documentation, and follow developments in industrial AI, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and data-driven manufacturing. SPS – Smart Production Solutions is the world’s leading exhibition for smart and digital automation solutions, taking place annually in Nuremberg.

The next edition, the 35th, will take place from 24 to 26 November 2026 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre in Nuremberg, Germany, with visitor opening hours from 09:00 to 18:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 09:00 to 17:00 on Thursday. More than 1,000 companies have already registered for the 35th edition, reflecting the event’s international importance for the automation industry.

Source: SPS Official Website — SPS – Smart Production Solutions – International Trade Fair for Industrial Automation

Exhibition Background & Industry Context

SPS – Smart Production Solutions is the world’s leading exhibition for smart and digital automation solutions, serving as the central proving ground for “digital system integrity” in manufacturing. The event covers the entire spectrum of smart and digital automation – from simple sensors to intelligent solutions, from what is feasible today to the vision of a comprehensively digitalized industrial world.

In the heart of German industry, where the gap between Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) must be seamlessly bridged, SPS is where the interoperability, cybersecurity, and data-value extraction of a smart factory are stress-tested and validated before global scaling.

The 2026 edition is driven by the focus topic Industrial AI, with four stages dedicated to industrial AI, automation technologies, cybersecurity, and smart manufacturing. Key topics for 2026 include industrial AI and intelligent automation, drive systems and motion control, sensor technology and machine vision, control technology and safety PLCs, industrial PCs and HMI, factory power and electrical infrastructure, interface technology and connectivity, industrial communication and networking, MES, SCADA, digital twins and manufacturing software, and industrial cybersecurity and functional safety.

Is This Trade Fair Right for You?

Relevance depends on your role within the industrial automation value chain and whether your objectives involve sourcing technology, identifying system integration partners, evaluating cybersecurity compliance, or understanding market trends in the smart production industry.

Ideal For

• Plant managers, production engineers, and technical decision-makers from mechanical engineering, automotive, electronics, packaging, energy, food processing, and other manufacturing sectors
• Systems integrators and automation specialists
• Providers of industrial hardware with digital-native architectures — programmable logic controllers (PLCs), drives, motion control, and IP-enabled field devices with embedded security and data interfaces
• Developers of industrial software, IIoT platforms, and analytics solutions
• Specialists in industrial networking, edge computing, and cybersecurity solutions tailored for the production floor
• Companies offering complete machine-to-cloud solutions with tangible ROI through energy savings, quality improvement, or reduced downtime
• Media, associations, and investors monitoring innovation across the industrial automation sector

These professionals can assess product ranges, compare technical capabilities, examine integration documentation, and evaluate system integration capability, interoperability, cybersecurity, and long-term partnership potential.

May Be Less Relevant For

SPS may be less relevant for companies whose products or services have little connection to industrial automation, control technology, drive systems, sensors, industrial software, manufacturing infrastructure, or smart production. Professional suppliers should be prepared to discuss application relevance, system compatibility, operational reliability, safety, cybersecurity where applicable, and measurable value for industrial users.

Industries & Business Areas Represented

• Drive Systems & Motion Control — electric motors, servo drives, frequency converters, gear motors, linear motors, positioning systems, motion controllers, and drive components
• Sensor Technology & Machine Vision — industrial sensors, encoders, RFID systems, vision sensors, smart cameras, measurement devices, safety sensors, and identification technologies
• Control Technology — programmable logic controllers (PLCs), safety PLCs, industrial controls, and automation controllers
• Industrial PCs & HMI — industrial PCs, panel PCs, box PCs, rack PCs, operator panels, industrial displays, touchscreens, and visualization solutions
• Factory Power & Electrical Infrastructure — industrial power supplies, uninterruptible power supplies, transformers, protection devices, power quality systems, and factory electrical infrastructure
• Industrial Interfaces & Connectivity — connectors, terminal blocks, signal converters, interface modules, industrial cabling, communication gateways, and field-device connectivity
• Low-Voltage Switching Devices — switches, relays, circuit breakers, contactors, and protection devices
• Mechanical Infrastructure — control cabinets, enclosure systems, mounting systems, and mechanical components for automation
• Industrial Communication & Networking — Industrial Ethernet, fieldbus systems, OPC UA, industrial wireless networks, machine-to-machine communication, IIoT connectivity, and secure OT/IT integration
• Industrial Software & Digital Engineering — MES, SCADA, digital twins, simulation, predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, production analytics, virtual commissioning, and manufacturing optimization software
• Industrial AI & Intelligent Automation — AI-assisted engineering, adaptive production control, machine learning applications, intelligent quality assurance, and physical AI for manufacturing
• Industrial Cybersecurity & Functional Safety — cybersecurity for automation (IEC 62443), safety PLCs, safety scanners, light curtains, safety switches, machine protection systems, and safe automation components
• Training & Consulting — professional training, consulting services, and educational programmes for industrial automation

These business areas are connected by the commercial and operational requirements of the industrial automation sector, where system integration, interoperability, and cybersecurity are as important as individual components.

Products & Solutions You Can Explore

Product and solution areas presented by the organiser include:

• Programmable logic controllers, safety PLCs, servo drives, electric motors, and motion control systems
• Industrial sensors, RFID and machine vision technologies
• Human-machine interfaces, operator panels and industrial PCs
• Industrial Ethernet, fieldbus, OPC UA and IIoT connectivity solutions
• MES, SCADA, digital twins and manufacturing software
• Industrial AI, predictive maintenance and condition monitoring platforms
• Factory power supplies, connectors and automation infrastructure
• Industrial cybersecurity, functional safety, system integration, and smart manufacturing services

Business Opportunities

• Present industrial hardware and software solutions to plant managers and production engineers evaluating system integration and cybersecurity
• Discuss IIoT platforms and analytics solutions with technical decision-makers focused on data-value extraction and OEE improvement
• Connect with industrial networking and edge computing specialists exploring interoperability and data integration
• Identify partnership opportunities with system integrators, software developers, and technology providers
• Evaluate competing approaches to industrial AI, cybersecurity, and digital transformation
• Monitor regulatory and technology discussions affecting industrial automation standards and cybersecurity compliance
• Explore automation opportunities through direct engagement with manufacturing decision-makers
• Understand integration and value-realization expectations through direct engagement with plant managers
• Network with hardware manufacturers, software developers, and industrial automation professionals

How to Prepare for a Productive Visit

Before attending SPS – Smart Production Solutions Nuremberg, careful planning can significantly improve the value of your visit:

• Define your strategic priorities: Identify whether your focus is on drive systems and motion control, sensor technology, control technology, HMI, industrial communication, industrial software, industrial AI, or cybersecurity.
• Prepare questions about system integration and cybersecurity: For potential partners, ask about integration with existing infrastructure, interoperability across OT/IT, cybersecurity compliance (IEC 62443), data-value extraction, and quantifiable impact on Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• For hardware providers: Demonstrate system-level readiness for Industrie 4.0. Show how your controller can securely exchange data with an ERP system or how your sensor feeds predictive maintenance algorithms.
• For IIoT and software providers: Lead with a single, high-ROI use case, not the platform’s full feature set. Quantify measurable benefits such as reduced unplanned downtime, improved production efficiency, lower energy consumption, or enhanced equipment availability using validated customer data where available.
• For smaller innovators: Compete on agility, openness, and niche expertise. Offer superior ease of integration via open standards (OPC UA) and focus on solving a specific problem better than anyone else.
• For cybersecurity and functional safety solutions: Be prepared to discuss secure-by-design architecture, device identity management, compliance with standards like IEC 62443, and machine safety requirements.
• Review the stage programme: The event features stages covering industrial AI, automation technologies, cybersecurity, and smart manufacturing. Programme details should be checked on the organiser’s official website.
• Divide the exhibitor landscape by your priorities: Before the event, group exhibitors by key areas — drive technology, sensors, control, software, security — to structure your visit efficiently. The fair takes place from 24 to 26 November 2026 at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre.
• 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 SPS range from international manufacturers of drive systems, sensors, control technology, and HMI to industrial software developers, industrial AI providers, networking specialists, and cybersecurity companies. Visitors evaluating potential partners should look beyond individual components to understand system integration capability, interoperability across OT/IT, cybersecurity compliance, and data-value extraction.

The event’s focus on system integration, cybersecurity, and B2B networking provides additional engagement opportunities for visitors and exhibitors. The 2026 edition will feature the focus topic Industrial AI and more than 1,000 exhibiting companies.

Planning to exhibit rather than visit? Explore the SPS Nuremberg Strategic Exhibitor Guide.

Continue Your Research

Research companies participating in the exhibition — explore the SPS Nuremberg Exhibitor List to identify automation system manufacturers, PLC and drive technology providers, sensor and HMI specialists, industrial software developers, industrial AI companies, machine vision suppliers, networking specialists, and cybersecurity partners before your visit.

When comparing industrial automation 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 automation 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 industrial automation exhibition, including integration documentation, cybersecurity evidence, and structured follow‑up.

At SPS – Smart Production Solutions Nuremberg, a productive visit depends on evaluating system integration, interoperability, cybersecurity, and strategic fit across the industrial automation ecosystem.