Last week’s Euroblech exhibition in Hanover was probably the sparsest-attended European sheet metal show of the 21st century. It may have met the expectations of technology and engineering solutions suppliers, but the show proved less appealing to participants in the steel market.
The absence of Germany’s largest steelmakers — thyssenkrupp Steel and Salzgitter — was particularly noticeable. By comparison, last year’s Blechexpo in Stuttgart featured not only their steel divisions but also their distribution companies, thyssenkrupp Materials Services and Salzgitter Mannesmann. In response to a query from Kallanish, both groups said they would take part in the show in Stuttgart again next year.
The steel companies with stands in Hanover could barely be counted on one hand: ArcelorMittal, voestalpine, Tata Steel Europe and Marcegaglia. By comparison, Blechexpo 2025 featured Arvedi, NLMK, and major distributors and processors, including Kloeckner, Knauf Interfer and Spaeter. Many of them did not come to Hanover — at least not with stands.
“Due to costs, a lack of resources and time, many steel companies decided not to take part,” a representative of one of them said. In his view, “the importance and benefits of such trade shows are no longer what they used to be.” He concluded that deals and contracts are now concluded not at trade shows, but through day-to-day communication with customers.
Author: Christian Köhl, Germany
