This year’s 24th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition, from 25th-29th October 2016 in Hanover, Germany, is all about smart manufacturing. With increasing levels of digitalisation within the production process, EuroBLECH 2016 presents a wide choice of innovative solutions to improve cost efficiency, flexibility and process stability along the entire sheet metal working technology chain. The official online Show Preview has now been published and provides an overview of the comprehensive range of products and services on display at this year’s show. A White Paper on Industry 4.0 and its impact on sheet metal working can now be ordered free of charge on the exhibition website www.euroblech.com.

A total of 1,550 exhibitors from 40 countries have currently booked their stands at the worldwide leading exhibition for the sheet metal working industry. Compared to the previous event, EuroBLECH 2016 has grown by 3% in floor space and features more than 89,000 square metres net exhibition space this year.

“Many exhibiting companies have booked bigger stands this year and there are 20% of new exhibitors at our exhibition. This shows that the overall situation of the sheet metal working industry is very positive. Initiated by new technical developments, such as Industry 4.0, companies are now planning ahead in order to upgrade their production processes and to achieve a competitive advantage. At this year’s EuroBLECH, there will be an above average percentage of new products live on display on bigger stands, and many new companies have joined the show. Thus, the industry sector is highly dynamic and open for a new generation of sheet metal working,” explains Nicola Hamann, Managing Director of the organisers, Mack Brooks Exhibitions.

The comprehensive Show Preview, with detailed information on many exhibitors and their products, is now available. In preparation of their visit, users will be able to sort exhibitor entries by product categories or halls in order to create a personalised version. For the first time, a new function allows for the entries to be shared via several social media channels.

EuroBLECH 2016 covers the entire sheet metal working technology chain: sheet metal, semi-finished and finished products, handling, separation, forming, flexible sheet metal working, joining, additive manufacturing, welding and surface treatment, processing of hybrid structures, tools, quality control, CAD/CAM/CIM systems and R&D. The show attracts sheet metal working specialists at every management level in small and medium-sized companies as well as in large enterprises. Visitors include design engineers, production managers, quality managers, buyers, manufacturers, technical directors and experts from associations and R&D.

The new EuroBLECH White Paper was authored by Dipl-Ing NikolausFecht and Dr Andreas Thoss on behalf of EuroBLECH. It discusses the current state of digitalisation in the sheet metal working industry using recent examples: “Theory describes Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution as full integration of production and communication technologies. It creates a so-called ‘smart factory’, where people, machines and processes are well connected by internet technologies for the purpose of increased cost efficiency, higher process stability and greater flexibility. After all, it should save time and money. Industry 4.0 is much more than a hype, many of its ideas are implemented already. Solutions forseparate processes are in widespread use[…].”

The complete White Paper on Industry 4.0 is now available free of charge on the exhibition website www.euroblech.com.