Alihankinta 2026. Do you have free production capacity in your steel business? It might be a good next step.

Many companies from Poland, Central Europe and the Baltic states are currently looking for profitable ways to utilize their free production capacity. Alihankinta, an industrial subcontracting trade fair, could be an excellent opportunity to connect with potential customers from across the Nordic region and to achieve those goals.

Alihankinta is Northern Europe’s largest annual event dedicated to industrial subcontracting. The 2026 edition will take place from 29 September to 1 October in Tampere, Finland. Official figures show that the trade fair brings together more than 1,000 exhibitors and attracts over 29,000 manufacturing professionals each year – including producers, suppliers, buyers and procurement decision-makers. The theme of this year’s edition will be “Growth and Internationalization”, while the programme will focus on areas including international expansion, supply-chain resilience, automation, artificial intelligence and improving overall industrial competitiveness.

Does that sound like the right direction?

Who should attend?

The trade fair attracts major industrial companies, including well-known OEMs such as Sandvik and Siemens. Exhibiting at or attending the event could therefore be an excellent opportunity for companies specialising in steel processing, steel structures, RTW components, CNC machining, automation, engineering, assembly and industrial logistics. For the reasons that will be discussed below, the event may also be particularly attractive to manufacturers and distributors of steel products.

Why is it worth attending?

For many years, Finnish and other Nordic markets have been perceived as relatively difficult to enter for new suppliers and honestly speaking this perception is not entirely unfounded. Nevertheless, in the current economic environment, even the most closed markets are looking for savings and opportunities to optimise their entire supply chains. Price pressure, shareholder expectations and the need to remain competitive are forcing many companies to explore new sourcing possibilities. Therefore, it is worth noting that Finland is one of the most expensive markets in the region in terms of both wages and total labour costs. The table below illustrates the scale of the differences in average gross salaries:

* Finland and Sweden do not have a single statutory minimum wage. Minimum pay levels are determined primarily by sectoral collective agreements. Under the collective agreement for Finland’s technology and metal industry, the lowest monthly gross pay for an adult employee has been approximately EUR 1,842 since March 2026. After taking into account the minimum 5% individual pay component, the amount rises to approximately EUR 1,934 gross per month.

Sources: Eurostat data on the average pay of full-time employees in 2024 and minimum wages applicable from July 2026; Eurostat methodology for minimum wage statistics; collective agreement for Finland’s technology and metal industry for 2025–2027.

The figures above clearly demonstrate the considerable difference in average pay levels between Poland and Finland. However, the potential cost advantages are not limited to wages alone.

For many years, the Finnish steel market has relied on a relatively small number of steel producers that are not regarded in Central Europe as particularly competitive in terms of value for money. Limited competition often results in significant differences between Finnish steel prices and those available in markets such as Poland. This is particularly true for popular grades and formats, where material availability and the number of potential suppliers have a significant impact on commercial terms and where price differences can be particularly striking.

A straightforward calculation may therefore encourage OEMs to look for more cost-effective solutions. Many of them operate supply chains across Europe, meaning that savings related to material purchasing and labour costs may be complemented by benefits arising from transport optimisation too. A thorough analysis of a potential customer’s needs and a clear presentation of the benefits could prove crucial in establishing a new business relationship.

The list of potential benefits is much longer than that. It includes not only the key advantages outlined above but among others also access to significantly less expensive supporting services such as warehousing, packaging, quality control and assembly work. On top of that there is also greater opportunity to consolidate multiple processes in one location. Taken together, these benefits may persuade many companies to reconsider their decision to rely exclusively on local suppliers.

International expansion is one of the most effective ways to scale a business. Spare production capacity does not therefore have to remain a problem to be solved — it can become a driver of further growth. Alihankinta could be an excellent opportunity for companies that are ready to take on new challenges and can clearly communicate the benefits offered by their products and services.

If you would like to learn more about the differences worth considering when expanding into Nordic markets, like this post and follow us on social media. In our upcoming articles, we will take a closer look at the specific characteristics of negotiating, building relationships and cooperating with Nordic companies.

If you already have experience in these markets, share it with us in the comments or contact us directly.

Event website: Alihankinta 2026 — official website