The Dutch Metal Days stop for good

The Dutch Metal Days, scheduled for May 21, 22 and 23 in the Brabanthallen in 's-Hertogenbosch, will not take place. Due to a lack of interest from exhibitors, organizer United Industrial Fairs has decided to cancel the event and end the concept permanently.

"Unfortunately, exhibitor recruitment was difficult," explains Jeroen ter Steege, organizer of the Nederlandse Metaal Dagen. "Although we had a reasonable list of participants and options, we were faced with many cancellations. Factors such as the recent global economic uncertainties, including the tariff war, played an important role in this."

After it became clear that a maximum of 50 exhibitors could participate, Ter Steege contacted the remaining participants to gauge their opinions. "Based on their feedback, we decided to cancel the event. With such a small turnout, it would have been a disappointment for both exhibitors and visitors," Ter Steege said.

The Dutch Metal Days had three editions. The first one in 2019 was well received and seemed like a solid foundation for the future. However, the pandemic threw a spanner in the works. The 2021 edition was all about Covid, while the 2023 fair took place in a challenging post-pandemic period. This had a negative effect on both exhibitor and visitor numbers.

That concept was based on the idea of offering the manufacturing industry an interesting and innovative event in the non-TechniShow years. Not a small copy of the TechniShow - which is primarily a machine show after all - but an event where it's all about solutions; a place for innovative and smart production technology, for smart manufacturing and digitalization, which can increase labor productivity and output and address challenges such as staff shortages and rising labor costs. Including a knowledge program focused on those very aspects.

"It is extremely unfortunate that we have to stop this event," says Ter Steege. "My dream was to develop the Nederlandse Metaal Dagen into a leading platform that helps the manufacturing industry move forward. Unfortunately, it was not to be."

United Industrial Fairs thanks all exhibitors, visitors and partners who have placed their trust in the Nederlandse Metaal Dagen in recent years.