Consolidated industry and expert dialogue – this is how ITM 2026 is being built

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.