Machineering 2025: a 12,500 m² manufacturing plant

Train your calves. Machineering 2025 (from March 26 to 28) has added quite a few square meters compared to the previous edition two years ago. And every square inch of it will definitely be worth exploring. After all, it's not just new exhibitors who are providing this XL version of the fair, the familiar names are also choosing a larger size for their stands. These should provide space for demo machines so that you can really experience the latest trends and developments. Add to that the knowledge exchange offered by the Expert Classes and there really is no excuse to miss Machineering.

Anyone who visited the major international metal fairs in recent years or the Technishow closer to home could see that it's not just cars coming from China. The Far East is increasingly putting itself on the map with machine technology as well. "The exhibition floor will show a similar picture with us," confirms Karl D'Haveloose of organizer IndustrialFairs. "In the world of sheet metal working, companies from Asia already have a foothold here, in machining the big wave is yet to come, but we see a similar movement." 

A kind of whip effect

A trend that creates a new dynamic from which Machineering visitors can only benefit. "A kind of whip effect," D'Haveloose calls it. "The newcomers want to turn out. The European brands feel the hot breath from Asia in their necks and realize that they must not lose sight of their home market either. It makes a lot of exhibitors want to turn out just a little bigger than usual. We have 2500 m² more exhibition space than in 2023. There will therefore be more demo machines on the exhibition floor than ever before and various automation solutions will be on display. And that is ultimately what today is all about for many visitors: seeing, hearing and feeling what new technology can do for them. The experience level will be high."

Complete value chain under one roof

The diversity on the exhibition floor shows itself not only in the origin of the exhibitors. exhibition manager Sven Mollie: "What has always made Machineering a unique concept is the completeness of the offer. We do not limit ourselves to just sheet metal working or machining. No, we also cover joining techniques and surface machining on the exhibition floor. The entire value chain from design to manufacture. We also show this in our ten technology routes (see box). And we then also bring all the actors within that chain together at the fair: from machine makers, to software developers, start-ups and even suppliers. We have to. Everyone has an overflowing agenda. By making it such a complete event, we make it worth making time to travel to Machineering. It's the most efficient way to discover new technology and solutions."

MEGA

And that includes bringing visitors up to speed on what's going on in metalworking. "After all, competition is not just coming from the East. With Trump in power in America, traditional trade relations are under pressure. They have the slogan MAGA there, we want to make a case for MEGA, Make Europe Great Again," says D'Haveloose. IndustrialFairs will do this through a debate as a prelude to Thursday's nocturne. First, Professor Marc De Vos will explain the new geopolitical rules of the game, then the starting shot will be fired for an interesting debate in which, in addition to De Vos, Stéphane Burton (Orizio Group), Jos De Vuyst (Stow Group), Tim Berckmoes (Anglo Belgian Corporation and Geert Stienen (Deloitte) will join in. "Is Europe quietly working on a comeback as a superpower and if so how? What do the experts advise, what are customers doing and what concrete steps are manufacturing companies taking. And what impact do the strategic turns of OEMs (Original equipment manufacturers) and machine builders have on the rest of the chain," D'Haveloose summarizes the key questions.

Expert Classes look wider

In addition, Expert Classes are a good custom on the show floor. Even more opportunities for visitors to immerse themselves in new developments for half an hour. "We try to look beyond the usual suspects with the program" reveals Mollie. "Of course, visitors can again count on knowledge institutions to update them on the state-of-the-art in the world of metal. But we also let manufacturing companies themselves talk about how they implement those techniques on the shop floor. Furthermore, we are looking for something broader. In the context of sustainability, for example, we talk about how you can easily take bonded products apart again." Finally, he touches on the lecture by VAARR (Tech driven industrial lab) that is already putting hybrid manufacturing into practice. 

Future metalworkers in the spotlight

Every trade show day, IndustrialFairs puts a different topic in the spotlight. On Wednesday, the metalworkers of tomorrow take the stage. As usual every year, there is the Metal-Alliance Learning Tour by employers' organization Agoria, which aims to introduce young people to today's advanced production technology. This is accompanied by a large-scale initiative in which five Belgian regional technology centers, various organizations and Machineering are joining forces. Mollie: "In a world where technology is constantly changing, it is essential that entrepreneurs invest in workers of the future. The success of our manufacturing industry will depend on how well we manage to build bridges between schools and companies. Two manufacturing companies (Melotte and Anglo Belgian Corporation will come and show how they roll out different apprenticeships. Afterwards, we will organize a kind of meet & match between education, different organizations and visiting entrepreneurs with the aim of moving quickly in the field of internships." 

Nocturne on Thursday, Friday Teamday

On Thursday, as always, there will be a festive nocturne and evening visit until 10 p.m. "Experience will also be the key word during this event," promises Mollie. For the final exhibition day, the Friday Teamday concept returns. "Many SMEs organize team meetings on Fridays. We offer them the fair as a setting for this. We offer them two hands-on Immersion Classes, one on maintenance and one on cobots, coupled with a targeted visit to the fair with the highlights within both fields. And of course with snacks and drinks to conclude the week festively."   

10 technology routes

Handling & Robotics Technology
Machining/Milling Technology
Cutting & Forming Technology
Welding & Surface Technology
Tooling & Machine Equipment Technology
Additive & New Manufacturing Technology
Machine Maintenance & Spare Parts Technology
Testing & Measuring Technology
Digital, Smart & Data Driven Manufacturing Technology
Prototyping, Engineering & Material Design Technology

Expert Classes

Wednesday, March 26

• 13.30 - 14.00 : Competency-based training in Virtual Reality: fast and effective training without burdening experienced workers - Dr. Eva Geurts (UHasselt)
• 14.00 - 14.30 : Addressing a shortage of skilled personnel using an innovative value transfer system -.
• Stijn Kindt (Brubotics)
• 14.30 - 15.00 : Breaking the connection: smart techniques for easy release of adhesive bonds - Isabel Van de Weyenberg (Flanders Make)

Thursday, March 27

• 11.30 - 12.00 : 3D printing as a mass production method for lighting products - Lars Waumans (Signify)
• 13.30 - 14.00 : Creating a connected production environment - Christophe Michiels and Ward Vanongeval (Sirris)
• 14.30 - 15.00 : AI within the manufacturing industry - Bart Verlinden (Sirris)
• 15.00 - 15.30 : Hybrid manufacturing - Danny Janssens (VAARR)
• 16.00 - 16.30 : The end of globalization and the beginning of 'Europe first'
• Marc De Vos (Itinera)

Friday, March 28

• 11.00 - 11.30 : Start2Machinemaintenance - Wim Vancauwenberghe (BEMAS)
• 11.30 - 12.00 : Start2Cobotize - Dario Clemente (VDAB)