Manifest investment drive and innovation appetite among manufacturing companies make MACHINEERING 2023 a top edition

MACHINEERING 2023 has had a top edition! The current investment drive among manufacturing companies in the Benelux translated into a strong visitor turnout at the technology fair for smart manufacturing solutions in Brussels Expo. No fewer than 6,552 professional visitors attended MACHINEERING, of which 6% from the Netherlands. Additionally (and in cooperation with technology federation Agoria) 753 visitors from (higher) technical education also signed up. The 115 exhibitors at MACHINEERING showcased many innovations and demos of emerging technologies in which automation, digitization, robotization and energy-efficient manufacturing solutions for production companies were central. The common thread through MACHINEERING 2023 was clearly the strong presence of premium brands, high-performance and high-end manufacturing technology, and a lot of automation and digitalization around production and assembly. Belgian metalworking and machine builders are clearly riding the "reshoring, onshoring and nearshoring" wave flowing through Europe. There was also solid interest in the expert classes and debates, which followed the theme of smarter and more economical machining, data-driven production and engineering flows, automation and digitization of manufacturing processes and successful business cases with AM. These sessions can still be viewed on demand today via Machineering Digital (see below).

Below are some facts and figures about MACHINEERING 2023:

Top 10 sector distribution of visitors, accounting for 66% of the sector profile.

1. Manufacturing, assembly, construction, distribution and machining 
   (of which 66% metal; 15% PVC/Rubber + Composite; 11% wood/alu)
2. Mechanical Engineering - High Tech Systems & Mechatronics
3. Prototyping & Product Design
4. Automotive / Aerospace
5. Engineering & automation services / integrators
6. Agro-industry / agriculture / mining
7. Die construction & design
8. Petro-industry / Chemical industry
9. Additive Manufacturing (Metal, PVC, Composite)
10. Manufacturing and Distribution Machinery and Hight-Tech Systems & Materials

Top 5 most visited technology routes (10 routes)
1. Machining / Milling Technology (16%)
2. Tooling & Machine Equipment Technology (15%).
3. Cutting & Forming Technology (12%).
4. Welding & Surface Technology (10%).
5. Engineering & Material Design Technology + Handling & Robotics Technology (9%).

Visitor profiles (2023 figures)

32% of the visitors belong to general management or are owners/directors of their companies. 

68% of the visitors belong to a production department or business team of which mainly:
> 23.7% from Manufacturing / Assembly / Operations / Planning departments
> 16.6% from Engineering / Design departments
> 12.8% from Innovation, Technology & Automation divisions

MACHINEERING Digital
If you were unable to attend Brussels Expo, you can still visit MACHINEERING DIGITAL, the online platform where you can search for the exhibitors' technologies in a targeted way, connect with the exhibitors as well as (re)view all Expert Classes 'on demand'. Simply register via www.machineering.eu register via the MACHINEERING DIGITAL button for your access to the platform.

The Industrialfairs organization looks back on this successful edition with great satisfaction. The reactions of both exhibitors and visitors were unanimously positive. The tone has been set for the upcoming Industrialfair events in Kortrijk Xpo: Abiss on October 5, 2023, Indumation.be on January 31, February 1 & 2, 2024 and Design 2 Manufacturing on March 27 & 28, 2024.

The next edition of MACHINEERING will take place at Brussels Expo in March 2025. The exact date will be confirmed soon.