Is Polish industry afraid of artificial intelligence? How can profits hidden in process errors be recovered, and why can’t a modern factory exist without the support of scientists? The upcoming edition of ITM Industry Europe 2026 is much more than just a machine exhibition. It offers four days of intensive crash tests, intellectual sparring between manufacturing practitioners, and presentations of technologies that only yesterday seemed like a futuristic vision. This year’s programme challenges conventional wisdom and focuses on hard, market-driven practice.
A varied programme and dynamic demonstrations in special zones add a unique twist to what has long been the cornerstone of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE – a massive exhibition featuring several hundred top brands from around the world. The entire event centres around four halls: AUTOMA, MACH-TOOL, SURFEX, and WELDING, which comprehensively showcase the state of modern engineering.
– We are eager for this year’s event to make a significant impact on the industry. Access to knowledge and solutions is key for us, which is why we have launched free accreditation for professionals. We want everyone with an interest in modern industrial technologies to be able to make the most of the trade fair’s extensive programme – both the offerings at exhibitors’ stands and the packed programme of seminars, debates and presentations on the fair’s stages in dedicated zones – emphasises Anna Lemańska-Kramer, Deputy Director of ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE.
The ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE fair will take place from 26 to 29 May 2026 at the MTP Poznań Expo. At the same time, visitors will also be able to attend the Modernlog, Subcontracting, and European Science Fair exhibitions.
The Factory Under Pressure from AI – a preview of the DBR77 zone at ITM 2026
During the upcoming ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE 2026 fair in Poznań, the third day of events on the main stage will feature an intense debate on the future of Polish industry. Organised by DBR77, the meeting under the slogan “The Factory Under Pressure – Is Polish Industry Afraid of Artificial Intelligence?” will become a focal point for substantive discussions on the real impact of AI on the efficiency of production facilities. The programme for the event, scheduled for 28 May, has been designed as a dynamic space for the exchange of experiences between technology leaders and business practitioners, focusing on the operational and technological aspects of digital transformation.
The event will open with a presentation on the role of artificial intelligence in modern production management, flowing seamlessly into a series of expert panel discussions. The first panel will focus on the robotisation and adaptability of vision systems, while the next will examine the conditions necessary for the effective implementation of AI in anomaly detection and operational planning processes. The programme will conclude with a logistics debate on decision automation in warehouses and an open practical training session, during which DBR77 experts will demonstrate specific tools supporting the day-to-day work of management staff.
“Our aim at this year’s ITM is to demystify artificial intelligence and present it as a concrete tool that is already solving real-world problems on the shop floor today. We do not wish to speculate about the distant future; that is why we have invited companies to participate in panels demonstrating tangible results from their implementations. The DBR77 zone is intended to be a place where technology meets hard data and business practice, proving that Polish industry not only need not fear AI, but can gain a significant competitive advantage thanks to it – announces Katarzyna Szwarocka, CMO & R&D Specialist at DBR77.
The organisers are placing particular emphasis on the visual aspect of the presentations, encouraging participants to share video footage, system demonstrations, and specific case studies. Thanks to this approach, visitors to the main stage on the third day of the fair will have a unique opportunity to see how advanced algorithms and autonomous systems function in a real production and logistics environment, operating under time pressure and high efficiency requirements.
Assembly Arena – A Strategic Concept for the Assembly Innovation Zone
Alongside promoting theoretical ideas, the ITM Industry Europe trade fair focuses on practical engineering within the Assembly Arena – an innovative concept for assembly innovation. This is a dedicated demonstration and networking space, designed as a comprehensive response to the growing needs of the modern manufacturing market in terms of efficiency, quality, and process ergonomics. The Assembly Arena zone is organised under the patronage of the following companies:
GM Automatyka, an expert in the integration of industrial automation systems, and KWG Group, a supplier of innovative solutions for manufacturing, specialising in ergonomics, assembly tools, and process optimisation. Assembly Arena has been designed as an interactive platform where engineers, production managers, and operations directors can explore a full range of automation solutions, covering both robotic and manual processes. The thematic scope of the zone is extensive and includes, among other things, advanced automation of threaded connections, pick-to-light systems, smart component positioning and clamping techniques, and specialist measurement and vision systems.
This zone becomes a true arena where partners’ ready-made solutions meet real production challenges, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience the synergy between humans and machines in conditions close to reality. The Assembly Arena concept goes beyond the traditional exhibition format, serving as an interactive educational space that promotes the idea of Lean Robotics and the digital transformation of assembly processes through the implementation of AI systems in quality control. Visitors from key sectors, such as automotive, household appliances, medtech, and furniture, will be able to test hybrid workstations utilising 3D cameras and operator-support tools that have a tangible impact on improving ergonomics and minimising errors. Assembly Arena is a place where people come for concrete solutions, where innovators, integrators, and end customers build a collaborative ecosystem, shaping the modern face of manufacturing facilities.
REPETYTORIUM: Don’t tighten the screw, optimise the process
A key highlight of this year’s ITM Industry Europe programme will be REPETYTORIUM, an original content format initiated by Jakub Giełbaga, an experienced process practitioner who has spent years analysing and optimising workflows on production floors and within company management teams. Under the provocative slogan “Don’t tighten the screw, optimise the process”, this event moves away from traditional conferences or panels based on slide presentations. REPETYTORIUM has been designed as an intensive intellectual sparring session and a form of mastermind, where knowledge is not lectured but developed through dynamic conversation with invited guests – industry practitioners, business owners, and operational managers.
This initiative is a direct response to a real gap in Polish industry: the lack of a space for honest, unfiltered discussion about why, despite costly investments, companies often fail to achieve the expected efficiency. The event format comprises five one-hour thematic blocks, each offering nearly 30 minutes of substantive debate between leaders, followed by time for in-depth interaction with the audience. The programme focuses on specific business challenges, such as identifying hidden production losses, process flexibility, fostering a culture of eliminating micro-downtime, and the analysis of lost benefits (WUKO).
A particular highlight will be a session dedicated to misguided manufacturing investments that, rather than optimising operations, create chaos – aimed at encouraging decision-makers to make responsible, process-oriented choices. REPETYTORIUM at ITM Industry Europe 2026 does not compete with the machinery fair but reinforces its purpose, demonstrating that modern industry is not just about advanced technology, but above all about the rigorous logic of the process and managerial maturity. This is an offering for those seeking a ‘roadmap’ and wishing to understand the real mechanisms governing modern production.
Welding Exhibition: The Pillars of Certification and Quality Standards in Welding
For years, the welding industry has been one of the key pillars of the ITM Industry Europe trade fair, bringing together leading players from the metalworking and steel construction sectors. An integral part of this year’s Welding Exhibition will be a two-day technical meeting designed for engineering staff and quality control specialists: “Welding – Certification of Manufacturers, Processes and Personnel According to European Standards: Current Status and New Developments.” The event will take place on 27 and 28 May in the Welding Speakers’ Corner.
It is organised by GSI SLV Polska Sp. z o.o., a recognised certification body that has been supporting Polish heavy industry since 2005. Experts from SLV Polska, with many years of experience in metal processing and a wide range of accreditations, will present the current requirements regarding the supervision of production processes and the certification of NDT and welding personnel. The meeting will focus on the practical aspects of implementing European standards, which are essential for confirming the technical competence of plants and their employees within the supply chain for modern industry.
Technology in Action: From Advanced Coating Technology to Interactive Demonstration and Networking Zones
The ITM Industry Europe 2026 programme is complemented by a series of special zones where innovations are tested under real-world conditions. The Industrial Coating Association will run a comprehensive educational programme, combining specialist lectures with dynamic surface treatment demonstrations. In parallel, the editorial team of MM Industrial Magazine will host a series of in-depth discussions with market leaders as part of the MM Speakers’ Corner, providing a platform for the exchange of key business insights. An element of healthy competition and practical component testing will be offered by the Pneumat & BECKHOFF GAMES zone, where advanced pneumatics meets precision control through interactive automation stations.
Operational safety and the protection of personnel will be the focus of the Safety Zone, organised in collaboration with Troax Poland. The highlight of this programme will be spectacular live crash tests, demonstrating the effectiveness of fencing systems and flexible barriers in critical situations. A technological complement to modern production lines will be the Collaborative Robot Zone, located in the AUTOMA Hall, with Schmalz as its main partner. Visitors will have a unique opportunity to compare over a dozen cobot models from leading brands, observing them in dynamic industrial applications. These interactive spaces demonstrate that modern industry is not just about technology, but above all about its safe and effective integration with human labour.
The trade fair’s networking programme will feature the next instalment of an event that proved hugely successful last autumn: LinkedIn Local for Industry, taking place at the heart of the sector on 26 May. This is a space where engineers, manufacturing experts, and business owners can join forces to exchange experiences. Participants can expect a solid dose of substantive content and the opportunity for conversations that develop into real business partnerships.
Science and Industry: The Cornerstone of the Modern Economy
The European Science Fair, organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, and the MTP Group, will run alongside ITM INDUSTRY EUROPE and is a key element of this year’s technology festival. – This is the second edition of this initiative; the first proved to be a great success, confirming the enormous potential in combining these two worlds – notes Anna Lemańska-Kramer. The exhibition will focus on the achievements of research institutes, universities, and start-ups that address the needs of modern business, In the era of burgeoning Industry 5.0, the innovative discoveries showcased at the fair have the potential for rapid implementation in factories, providing a technological advantage for Polish enterprises. Only an economy capable of global competition and built on strong partnerships with Polish science can fully realise the country’s potential. For this reason, this year’s event is becoming a strategic space for the commercialisation of research and the removal of barriers between science and industry. – A new feature of the European Science Fair 2026 is the ‘duet’ stands. These are shared exhibition spaces designed for science–business teams and university/institute–company partnerships, allowing the entire innovation process to be presented: from the research concept to actual implementation within a company. It is an integrated format that combines scientific achievements with commercial success, showcasing both research findings and solutions used by businesses on a daily basis – adds Anna Lemańska-Kramer.
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