Products and Services on Offer at the EMO Form: the Basis for Modernizing the Industry
In the run-up to the EMO 2025, interna- tional technical trade journalists from 28 countries met with selected EMO ex- hibitors in Frankfurt am Main on July 10 and 11. In short pitches, the exhibitors presented the highlights that trade visitors can expect from them at the world’s leading trade fair for production technology from September 22 to 26 in Han- nover.
Under the motto of Innovate Manufacturing, the EMO stands for innovation, an international outlook, inspiration, and the future of the metalworking sector. “As a platform for dialogue between all international players in the industry – man- ufacturers and users alike – it is unique in the world, because nowhere else do visitors encounter so much international expertise as at an EMO event”, says an enthusiastic Dr. Markus Heering, Executive Director of the VDW (German
Machine Tool Builders’ Association), which is responsible for organizing the EMO event. Around 1,500 exhibitors from 40 countries have currently regis- tered for the EMO 2025. Two years ago, the trade fair attracted around 92,000 trade visitors from almost 140 countries.
For 50 years, EMO has been the only trade fair to present the entire value- added chain for metalworking: from machine tools, production systems, addi- tive processes, precision tools and automation through measuring technology, quality assurance, software and accessories. Our target groups are the global industrial trendsetters: mechanical engineering, automotive industry, aero- space engineering, metalworking and metal processing, medical technology, energy suppliers, but also the electronics industry and many other branches of industry.
“The products and services on offer from the EMO exhibitors form the basis for the all-round modernization of the industry. After three years of reces- sion and a major investment slowdown, at least here in Germany, the exhibi- tors are offering plenty of impetus for investment in production with new devel- opments and new solutions so that our customers can head well-equipped into the future. We are getting a first look at this at the EMO Preview here in Frank- furt,” says Dr. Heering.
The EMO exhibitors are not only setting the pace in terms of technology. The trade fair also aims to provide guidance on how demand is expected to de- velop. At the EMO Economic Forum Made for Tomorrow – Discover what drives the future of manufacturing. on September 23, 2025 in Hannover, ex- perts from the top customer industries in the metalworking sector will discuss how they see future developments.
Industry all over the world is in the middle of an extensive transformation pro- cess. Similar challenges can be seen everywhere: Competition is intensifying. Investors are taking a wait-and-see approach. Costs are rising. The demand for sustainable products is increasing. At the same time, the aging of society and the subsequent increase in the shortage of skilled workers are also mak- ing advances more difficult, while the integration of new technologies such as additive manufacturing and artificial intelligence necessitates continuous ad- vanced training.
EMO 2025 will address these challenges and focus on three topics: automa- tion, sustainability, digitalization including artificial intelligence.
Against the background of high quality requirements and the shortage of skilled workers, automation is vitally important for the industry. Automation so- lutions increase efficiency and quality in the production process. They repre- sent one of the main drivers for investments and are offered in many different forms by numerous EMO exhibitors. Automation replaces manual activities and ensures more transparency in the entire production process. Automation should be easy to operate, be flexibly adaptable to the individual needs of the users and be capable of being integrated in manufacturing from series produc- tion through to economical single-piece production. Automation extends from simple solutions such as pallet changers and handling systems through to the use of robots and autonomous factories with self-driving systems. Automation also means help for machine operators, for example through assistance
systems. A growing trend is the integration of ancillary processes such as cleaning, labeling or measuring.
A large number of countries are focusing on measures for greater climate pro- tection and investments in the green transformation of their industry. In compa- nies, this is driven by legislation, which involves numerous reporting obliga- tions, and by customers who want to calculate their carbon footprint.
The focal points of sustainability in production are lower energy and material consumption, and the introduction of a circular economy. Experience shows that investments in new machines lead to energy savings of around 25 per- cent. The CO2 footprint is thereby reduced. Numerous individual measures achieve the desired objective in this context. Modern electric motors and inno- vative drive technology save a considerable amount of electricity compared with the predecessor generation.
Other determining factors include improved control technology, optimized design of compressed air and hydraulic applica- tions, or friction-minimized warehousing and guidance systems. Ancillary and follow-up processes also play an important role here, for example, tempera- ture control of cleaning baths during parts cleaning or cooling of a machine.
The Sustainability Area in hall 15 at EMO 2025 will be the ideal meeting point to experience state-of-the-art solutions for sustainable production in the future. Here, exhibitors will provide information on trends in energy efficiency, the in- tegration of renewable energies, the circular economy and life cycle concepts. These not only promote climate protection but also reduce production costs in times when energy and raw materials are scarce. “Together with other organi- zations, the VDW has also been working on a basis for calculating carbon
footprints from an early stage. This has resulted in a standardized form that is in extremely high demand among customers. Of course, we will also present this in the Sustainablity Area,” says Dr. Markus Heering.
Artificial intelligence and digitalization for greater productivity Digitalization and networking have long been important topics in production. Artificial intelligence has now been added to them. However, there are still some variables that can be adjusted in order to attain greater productivity with data and develop new business models.
Semiconductors make it possible for users to design their production processes more intelligently by harnessing technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). These create transparency about the efficiency of production processes, facili- tate real-time monitoring and control of machines and processes, and also en- able predictive maintenance.
The basic prerequisite here is the use of open, standardized data interfaces.
Machine manufacturers in many countries are now familiar with the global
umati initiative (universal machine technology interface) or have already joined it. umati will once again be demonstrating the benefits of standardized ma- chine networking at EMO 2025 in hall 6, and this is of great interest to users from all over the world. That’s why umati also cooperates with all major inter- national initiatives such as NC Link from China and mt connect from the USA.
Digitalization and networking also promote the customization of products and adaptation to rapidly changing market requirements. With methods such as mass customization, companies can manufacture small batches of customized products without losing the efficiency of series production.
It is important to integrate data analyses and Big Data in production pro- cesses. Evaluation of large data volumes can help to optimize production pro- cesses, detect errors at an early stage, and use resources more efficiently.
This increases competitiveness on the global market significantly.
At EMO 2025, the AI Hub@EMO 2025 in hall 6 will offer practical demonstra- tions of the potential of artificial intelligence in production to investors from in- dustry and the administration sector. Experts from the field of research will be on hand to provide information and answer detailed questions. “EMO exhibi- tors are invited to communicate their best practices and network with the AI Hub@EMO2025 to give visitors a complete picture of the future of production with artificial intelligence,” says Dr. Heering. This is an opportunity for compa- nies to position themselves in the market.
The AI Hub will be complemented by “P.O.P. Talks”, which will take place daily at 2 p.m. at the central EMO lecture forum in Hall 12. The various aspects of AI in production will be highlighted and discussed – sometimes controversially – in different formats, lectures, interviews and panel discussions. These include possible applications, data security, automation, political framework conditions for digitization and much more.
The three focus topics are closely linked and describe the production of the fu- ture. Advanced manufacturing means automation, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, e.g. with the use of robots. The aim is to reduce costs, increase quality and compensate for staff shortages. Digitalization, in turn, is an enabler for automation. The next step is to integrate artificial
intelligence into all areas of the company, such as HR, marketing, software de- velopment and, ultimately, production. This will ensure that machines are oper- ated more efficiently and that production processes are made more sustaina- ble on the basis of the data obtained. The focus is on energy and material
efficiency as well as the circular economy. This in turn reduces costs and con- serves resources.
Progress in all three areas is driving industrial production forward. These ad- vances can stimulate investments and boost demand for production technol- ogy. “As EMO organizers, we are making every effort to present the crucial factors that will ensure progress at the trade fair, so that we remain at the cut- ting edge together with our exhibitors and visitors”, says Dr. Heering.
This will be reflected, for example, at the Additive Manufacturing area in hall 12 where the latest applications in the area of additive manufacturing will be presented.
With an eye on the future and young talent, the Nachwuchsstiftung Maschi- nenbau foundation is playing a crucial role in developing up-and-coming skilled workers to face the challenges of tomorrow with its special education showcase. Qualified training is the basis for the success of the industry. Tar- geted support measures are helping here to ensure that the mechanical engi- neering industry will also remain innovative and competitive in the long term. The special education showcase in hall 7 will be presenting a number of inno- vative formats that show how training can best be oriented towards the current challenges in technology, digitalization and artificial intelligence in companies. The Startup Area in hall 6, where young innovative companies will present
their forward-looking technologies, will also make an important contribution in this area.
The EMO motto of Innovate Manufacturing is therefore more than just a slo- gan. It is an appeal to suppliers and users to bravely exploit the possibilities of new technologies. The products and services on offer during the EMO will pro- vide suppliers and users with a great deal of inspiration and new ideas in this respect. These both represent the driving forces behind business success.
