For five days, Hannover hosted EMO, the premier global trade fair dedicated to production technology in the metalworking industry. Drawing in 80,000 trade visitors globally, the exhibition grounds offered significant innovative insights for enhanced competitiveness within the sector. The primary emphasis was primarily on the subjects of automation and artificial intelligence, which have once again integrated into industrial processes as catalysts for production efficiency.
Technology, information, sharing, global networking, and collaboration – this is what EMO has represented for 50 years. Over 1,600 exhibitors from 45 nations and a varied supporting agenda showcased numerous solutions for enhancing and improving production
“There is a profusion of smart and impressive technical solutions. This EMO has convincingly demonstrated that,” says Carl Martin Welcker, General Commissioner of EMO 2025. “For them to be effective, the booster engine of investment now really needs to fire. Many projects are in the pipeline after three years of investment restraint, but the uncertainty in the political sphere continues to put the brakes on investment,” Welcker continues.
Confidence is already improving overseas, especially beyond Europe. In the visitor survey, two-thirds of attendees from there indicate that they plan to invest. In Germany, the number is below fifty percent. This is indicated by the existing trend in foreign orders made with the German machine tool sector, which rose by 6 percent in the initial seven months of 2025 in comparison to the same timeframe from the prior year. Demand from Germany decreased by 22 percent during the same timeframe. However, EMO exhibitors are claiming to make sales. Norbert Teeuwen, Managing Director of Okuma Europe, states: “Open Opportunities – this is exactly what links EMO and Okuma. Our presence at the exhibition was a total triumph – in addition to numerous sales, we also sold three exhibition machines directly from the booth to our clients. To us, EMO is consistently a standout event. “Thanks!”
Automation is a trending subject in the industry.
The major issue in the sector is automation. This is motivated by expenses and a lack of qualified personnel. Half of the surveyed visitors are curious about ways to utilize automation to enhance their productivity. “Automation is present everywhere and will significantly impact things,” remarks Aaron Morrill, a CNC mechanic from the USA. The significance of utilizing robots is increasing, as approximately 140 robot producers have notably showcased at EMO. Klaus Winkelmann, the CEO of Fanuc Europe, states: “We observe that robots will grow in significance within the machine tool sector. Industrial robots will exist alongside human operators. “Going forward, they will offer the most effective answers.”
Interfaces to digitalization and sustainability
More than a third of the trade visitors want to learn about new aspects of digitalization and AI. “We see added volume in processes where all the possibilities for processing data from sensors are utilised. AI is useful for this and improves quality in the factory”, says Jan Otoupakik, CEO 4dot Mechatronics, a startup from the Czech Republic. This was also reflected in the popularity of the P.O.P Talks, which were held daily at the central innovation stage, and highlighted numerous aspects of AI in production.
Automation, digitalization, and artificial intelligence ensure higher productivity, efficiency and quality. This also increases sustainability in production, for example by promoting efficiency in energy and materials. Sustainability is an important factor in research and among talented young people. “We are working on various solutions. One very important example is to reduce the energy consumption of production systems, for example by reducing the coolant flow so that only as much coolant as necessary is used, rather than as much as possible. That was the strategy in the past. This allows us to save up to 95 per cent of the pump energy, electrical energy and up to 60 per cent of the total energy consumption of the production system. So, this is a big step forward,” says Professor Berend Denkena from the Leibniz University Hannover.
Top platform for international managers
Once again, EMO has proven to be a top platform for managers and buyers. In the visitor survey, more than half of the respondents stated that they were top or middle managers. They also have the authority to make procurement decisions.
Overall, 94 percent of visitors felt their objectives for the visit had been achieved. 98 percent rated EMO between satisfactory and very good. This is also reflected in the verdict of the exhibitors. Irene Bader, Board Member at the German-Japanese company DMG Mori, puts it in a nutshell: “What we presented at EMO in 2025 is a glimpse into the future of production. Our customers’ enthusiasm and their valuable feedback have once again shown us how important face-to-face exchange is for real innovation. For five days, EMO was a global meeting place for ideas, partnerships, and new perspectives.” And German Wankmiller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Grob-Werke, adds: “Overall, we are satisfied with how this year’s EMO went, and we’ve been positively surprised considering the currently challenging market situation. The number of visitors and the quality of the discussions have also been consistently positive and have given us important ideas to follow up over the coming months.”
“Once again, it has proven possible to attract international market leaders in metalworking to EMO and address the new topics in industrial production,” concludes Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the EMO organizer, the VDW. “As a result, it has consolidated its position as the world’s leading trade fair and barometer of trends,” he summarizes.
EMO 2027 will take place from October 4 to 8 in Milan, Italy.