Poznań is becoming the epicenter of industrial innovation long before the planned start of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE 2026 (26-29 May). Nearly a hundred leading companies from Poland and abroad secured their space several months before the fair. This confirms the unwavering position of the fair as a key business platform and a place where trends are born – from production automation, through modern metal processing technologies, to the groundbreaking use of artificial intelligence in industry.
The division of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE into thematic exhibitions – AUTOMA, MACH-TOOL, SURFEX and WELDING – allows companies to better identify with a specific industry, and makes it easier for guests to access the technologies they are interested in while visiting the trade fair exhibition.
Where trends are born…
The concept of thematic zones will once again gain the support of key partners who, as in the last edition of the fair, will take care of these unique spaces. These include: Schmalz (Collaborative Robot Zone), Troax (Safety Zone), Balluff (Demobus Zone) and Pneumat (Pneumat Game Zone). There will also be a DBR77 Zone with innovations for factories of the future.
– Early reservations for exhibition space are a signal to us that the industry is eagerly awaiting the fair. Market leaders know that ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE is not just a hardware showcase, but above all, a place where trends for the coming years are born, – says Anna Lemańska-Kramer, deputy director of the ITM trade fair. In 2026, the topic of artificial intelligence in industry will be strongly emphasized – we expect it to be an absolute hit of the programme. We are also continuing the success of the European Science Fair, which will bring together research institutes, universities, technology startups and businesses in one inspiring space, – she adds.
Active presence and partnership – the ITM team at the heart of the industry
The ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE trade fair team, in anticipation of the May 2026 edition, is actively collaborating with leading organizations and industry publications, fully implementing the slogan: 'Our team is where the heart of industry beats.' – By attending key events and conferences, we absorb knowledge, seek inspiration, and promote the ITM trade fair as a place for exchanging experiences across various industries. Above all, however, such events are an opportunity for in-depth conversations with people involved in the industry. This expert voice is extremely important to us. We really appreciate and care about these relationships because we believe that it is people who build the success of events, – says Anna Lemańska-Kramer.
From occupational health and safety, through painting technologies, to foundry, enamels and steel
The ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE exhibition is famous for its scale and the consolidation of offers from many industrial sectors in one place and at one time. That is why in recent months the ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE team participated in important, thematically diverse industry events organized by the trade fair partners. Such meetings included the 2nd National Occupational Health and Safety Conference (27-28 November 2025, Stryków) addressed to the logistics, warehousing, production and transport industries. Topics such as technical hazards at work, safe space in the hall and training techniques are just part of the extensive programme. The conference was organized by the industry magazines 'Logistyka i Magazynowanie.' 'Production Manager' and media partner of the ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE trade fair – Maintenance Services.
Although the FOCAST Exhibition accompanying the ITM trade fair takes place every two years, contact with the foundry industry is a very important element of the Poznań trade fair's strategy. Grupa MTP, the organizer of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE, was the Silver Sponsor of the National Foundry Day – a key meeting of the industry, combined with a technical conference entitled 'Foundry of Tomorrow – Sustainable Development, Innovation, Digital Future.' The event (12/12/2025, Krakow) was a platform for discussion about digitalisation, automation and technological innovations in the sector, inspiring participants to implement changes that increase compliance with environmental requirements.
One of the exhibitors that has already declared its participation in the upcoming ITM trade fair is ECOLINE. – It's not only an industry leader, a manufacturer of powder coating systems, but also a partner initiating meetings filled with specialized knowledge. This is the Modern Painting Technology Forum 2025, regularly organized by ECOLINE, in which our team has the opportunity to participate, explains Anna Lemańska-Kramer. Last autumn, this event (15-17 October 2025, Pabianice) focused on sustainable development and the concept of Painting 5.0, combining autonomous systems, digital transformation and eco-friendly production.
ECOLINE will be an exhibitor at the SURFEX Exhibition, which will also feature the Association of the Polish Enamel Industry. A few months before the fair, SPPE organized the SPPE Enamel Congress (Legnica, 1-3 October 2025), which was a platform for discussion about the prospects and innovative applications of enamel under the slogan 'Enamel: past or future?'
The result of intensive cooperation with industry associations was also the participation of the ITM trade fair team during the Stainless Steel Days Conference (27-28 October 2025, Warsaw), organized by the Stainless Steel Association. The discussions focused on the development directions of the Polish industry, business forecasts and managerial challenges.
Best practices in maintenance, automation, cybersecurity, and energy efficiency, as well as optimization of intralogistics and warehousing processes, were discussed at more than a dozen technical conferences held this fall by Axon Media Group. – It has been a long-time partner of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE, thanks to which we are close to the industry in various parts of Poland. These numerous trips and conversations with participants confirm our belief that our guests at the fair expect expert knowledge, and we will certainly have lots of it during the next edition of ITM. We are working intensively on the programme. Of course, the extremely valuable core of the fair remains the diverse exhibition and exhibitors' offerings, – says Anna Lemańska-Kramer.
ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE will be held on 26-29.05.2026 on the fairgrounds of MTP Poznań Expo. The exhibition of the Modernlog and Subcontracting fairs will be available simultaneously.
Ucimu: machine tool orders down 13.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Domestic orders (-2.9%) Foreign orders (-17.1%). In the fourth quarter of 2025, the machine tool orders index developed by the UCIMU-SISTEMI PER PRODURRE Study & Business Culture Centre recorded a 13.6% decline compared to the October-December 2024 period. The absolute value of the index stood at 68 (base 100 in 2021). On the domestic front, orders recorded a 2.9% decline compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, for an absolute value of 56.3. The result of orders collected abroad was more severe, recording a 17.1% decline compared to the same period of the previous year. The absolute value of the index stood at 69.3. On an annual basis, order intake remains in positive territory thanks to the positive trend recorded in the first three quarters, and amounts to +3.1% (67.6 absolute index) compared to the 2024 figure; +38.9% domestic orders (absolute index 55.1); -9.4% foreign orders (absolute index 76.4). Riccardo Rosa, president of UCIMU, stated: "The overall result of order intake for 2025 is in line with that of the last 2 years and therefore once again disappointing." "With particular reference to the last quarter - added Riccardo Rosa - it is clear that the slowdown in activity on foreign markets was not matched by a substantial recovery on the domestic market." "On the domestic front, the results collected demonstrate that plan 5.0 did not work as it should have. Certainly the measure, together with 4.0, boosted demand a little but the countless starts and stops made everything less fluid until its conclusion in December." "Now," continued Riccardo Rosa, "we are awaiting the implementing decrees of the new measure that will accompany investments in new technologies until 2028. Italian companies have great expectations regarding this measure, especially because of its duration, which allows for better planning of purchases by users and therefore also a more effective and efficient distribution of our companies' production activity. However, we believe it is essential that the decrees arrive very soon so that we can operate immediately and clearly, supporting demand at a time when the international scenario is severely testing the industrial systems of traditional economies." "Looking beyond our borders, the highly uncertain environment, driven by geopolitical instability, is a factor that is severely impacting the results of our companies, which today find themselves cut off from many business opportunities abroad. Open conflicts, Trump's trade strategy with its constant retractions regarding tariffs, the automotive and German crisis, and the closure and now inaccessibility of certain markets such as Russia and China are severely limiting what has always been one of our strengths: export activity.""In this regard," stated Riccardo Rosa, "we warmly welcome the free trade agreement just signed by the EU and India, a country with enormous potential for development and growth, potential that Italian machine tool, robot, and automation manufacturers will undoubtedly be able to capitalize on. Moreover, with €135 million in exports (in the first nine months of 2025, the latest available data), India is now our fourth largest export market, and we believe that the newly signed agreement, together with the Ministry of Heavy Industries' repeal of the "Omnibus" order, which was due to come into force at the beginning of 2026 and which would have made machinery imports subject to obtaining a BIS license, will give further impetus to our business in the area." "On the contrary," added President Rosa, "we consider the decision to postpone the EU-Mercosur agreement for an assessment by the Court to be a severe blow to the manufacturing industry, and in particular to the Italian machine tool industry, which has always paid close attention to emerging markets or markets with fluctuating trends like those in the area. Many of those countries, Brazil first and foremost, represent potentially interesting markets for our companies, whose local users appreciate the high quality and customization of their offerings. For this reason, we must act as soon as possible to implement the agreement, which would also free our sales from many of the duties currently in force." "Also by virtue of this agreement, over the last two years, the association has strengthened its initiatives dedicated to Latin American countries. In addition to the exploratory missions carried out in Brazil, designed to strengthen partnerships with the local system of institutions, businesses, and representative organizations, UCIMU has initiated interesting discussions with industrial representative organizations in Argentina, preparatory to new collaborations between the two countries' industries. We have not neglected the so-called "associated" and "observer" countries linked to the agreement, confident that they too will offer interesting opportunities for Italian manufacturers. Among the Mercosur associates, we have turned our attention to Chile, where, following a reconnaissance mission, a project for the development of a Technology Center has been under consideration. Among the observer countries of the agreement, our focus is on Mexico, where, since the beginning of 2025, the Oficina Italiana de Promotiòn Mexico has been operating, a desk that works to support Italian companies in their knowledge and market penetration activities. of the relevant market, including for the Central and North American area." "We cannot allow," concluded President Rosa, "the great potential of companies and the work done by organizations like ours to be undermined by an absolutely senseless decision. The competitiveness of European manufacturing is at stake."
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