ITM Industry Europe 2026 is positioning itself as an exhibition that goes well beyond just a traditional machinery show, combining advanced production technologies with a strong emphasis on operational practice, process maturity and applied knowledge. The leading European manufacturing exhibition will take place from 26 to 29 May 2026 at the MTP Poznań Expo in Poland, alongside
Modernlog,
Subcontracting and the
European Science Fair.
Over four days, the event will bring together several hundred international brands across four core halls –
AUTOMA,
Mach-Tool,
SURFEX and
Welding – while surrounding the exhibition with debates, demonstrations and hands-on zones addressing real industrial challenges. The result is a format aimed at decision-makers ‘seeking measurable improvements rather than purely theoretical inspiration’.
Anna Lemańska-Kramer, deputy director of
ITM Industry Europe, said: “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.”
Artificial intelligence (AI) will be a major discussion point, with
DBR77 hosting a main-stage programme on 28 May under the theme ‘The factory under pressure – is Polish industry afraid of Artificial Intelligence?’ Designed for manufacturers, the agenda focuses on tangible implementation outcomes rather than speculative forecasts, covering AI in production management, robotisation, vision systems, anomaly detection, operational planning and automated decision-making in logistics. The programme concludes with an open practical session demonstrating tools used daily by management teams.
Katarzyna Szwarocka, CMO & R&D specialist at DBR77, said: “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 shopfloor 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.”
Lean robotics principlesStrong emphasis is also placed on practical engineering through initiatives such as Assembly Arena, organised under the patronage of
GM Automatyka and
KWG Group. This interactive space presents robotic and manual assembly solutions, smart fastening technologies, ergonomic workstations, measurement systems and vision technologies, showing how human–machine collaboration and lean robotics principles function under conditions close to real production.
Process thinking will be challenged further by Repetytorium, initiated by Jakub Giełbaga and held under the slogan “Don’t tighten the screw, optimise the process”. The format replaces conventional presentations with moderated discussion and audience engagement, tackling topics such as hidden losses, micro-downtime, inflexible processes and misguided investments that undermine performance rather than enhance it.
Meanwhile, the
Welding exhibition remains a core pillar of
ITM Industry Europe, with a two-day technical meeting organised by GSI SLV Polska focusing on certification of manufacturers, processes and personnel in line with European standards. Additional special zones will address industrial coatings, safety systems, pneumatics, collaborative robotics and operational safety, including live crash tests and interactive automation challenges. Networking will be supported by LinkedIn Local for Industry on 26 May.
Running in parallel, the
European Science Fair strengthens the link between research and manufacturing. Anna Lemańska-Kramer added: “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.”
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.