EUROBLECH 2026: Europe’s largest event for the steel industry

Just a week from now, the 28th edition of EUROBLECH will take place. The largest event in the steel industry will bring together tens of thousands of participants from around the world. Among them leading manufacturers of metal processing machinery, raw material producers/distributors and other companies operating within the entire steel industry supply chain. Held every two years, EUROBLECH is an event of exceptional scale. The 2024 edition attracted 1 317 exhibitors and 38 946 visitors from 114 countries. The total exhibition area amounted to 160 000 square meters.

In 2026, the exhibition will cover 15 technology sectors across eight halls, ranging from raw materials and semi-finished products through cutting, forming and metal joining technologies to automation and digitalization of production. The Innovation Zone | Advanced Manufacturing, presenting technologies introduced to the market within the past 12 months will be a new interesting option for those looking for cutting-edge solutions.

On October 22nd, BME Buyer Day will focus on topics concerning procurement, the steel market developments, supply chains and CBAM.

REAL MACHINE PERFORMANCE, SALESPEOPLE’S FLEXIBILITY – TIME TO TEST BOTH

For companies planning capital investments, EUROBLECH offers an excellent opportunity to compare machines in operation, initially discuss their performance, operating costs and after-sales service directly with suppliers. In one place, visitors can evaluate multiple offers against their specific requirements and verify what the manufacturers’ declared specifications actually mean for their own production processes.

The opportunities for raw material procurement professionals should not be underestimated either. The fair gathers leading European steel producers and distributors. It is a great possibility to review prices, material availability and contract conditions for further orders. Having numerous suppliers in one place also allows buyers to reassess their existing commercial terms and explore new sourcing opportunities.

It is worth to remember that face-to-face negotiations have a totally different dynamic compared to a Teams meeting or the exchange of standard RFQs. In the steel industry, most key decision-makers have more years of life negotiation experience than a modern procurement platform has fields to fill out (no offense).

Negotiations in person can often lead to commercial terms that couldn’t be achieved even through multiple rounds of RFQs. When a procurement professional is well-prepared for negotiations and ready to close the deal at the small fair’s table, the so-called “final price” turns out to be not so final after all.

Weak demand in 2026 may create favorable conditions for securing such attractive offers. It is worth to challenge to what extent suppliers’ proposals reflect genuinely rising costs and to what extent they are driven by a desire to maximize their profits by taking advantage of recent import restrictions.

Most steel market participants look back with nostalgia on times of relative stability, when quarter to quarter price fluctuations were considerably lower. Producers and buyers understood that neither of them could operate without the other, and that mutual understanding allowed both parties to generate reasonable profits, maintain the competitiveness of their products and continue to grow.

Perhaps this year’s event will be a great opportunity to restore this balance and remind the steel industry that, in the long run, raw material producers’ profitability highly depends on the financial health of the companies that buy their steel. And on the other hand, to remind buyers that stable, long-term partnerships and supporting local producers have its own value, even when aggressive pricing strategies sometimes make the grass outside the European market fence appear greener than it really is.

CONFERENCES AND SPECIAL EVENTS

EUROBLECH 2026 is not only an exhibition of machinery and technologies, but also offers a program of conferences, presentations and industry meetings.

Among the many options, we have highlighted one that deserves particular attention: a presentation by Mr. Marcin Ejma, founder and CEO of EAGLE LASERS, a company manufacturing high-quality, high-performance steel laser cutting machines as well as specializing in the automation of production processes and development of advanced software solutions.

Mr. Marcin Ejma will deliver a presentation on AI solutions in the machinery industry and their impact on the transformation of manufacturing processes. The presentation will take place on October 20, from 2:45 to 3:15 PM, at the NextGen Technology Stage, Hall 27.

It is also worth visiting Stand F242 in Hall 13, where EAGLE LASERS is planning a double premiere of its latest solutions in ultra-high-power fiber laser cutting and production automation.

If you are planning to invest in top-quality solutions at reasonable prices in the near future, the EAGLE LASERS stand is the one you simply cannot afford to miss. It is an opportunity to explore the direction of Polish technological development and discuss how these solutions could be implemented in your own production facility.

THE BEST INVESTMENTS DON’T ALWAYS COME WITH A PRICE TAG

Whether you are going to Hannover to explore the latest technologies, invest in new machines or negotiate exceptionally favorable terms for your next contract, don’t forget what matters most in business – building strong, long-lasting partnerships.

Their value may not be listed in any exhibitor catalog, but they can often deliver the greatest returns on investment in the long run.