The international grinding technology industry is meeting these days in Stuttgart: With 462 exhibitors from 28 countries, GrindingHub 2026 is once again a central meeting point for mechanical engineering, tool manufacturers, and users from industrial manufacturing.
Cautious demand, but stable technological base
The grinding technology sector is clearly under pressure. In 2025, order intake fell by around 5 percent, particularly strong in the domestic market. At the start of 2026, foreign orders collapsed by 51 percent in January and February, while the domestic market increased by 35 percent. Production fell by 19 percent in 2025, and exports decreased by 24 percent; the export quota dropped to around 76 percent – the lowest value in about six years.
"The grinding technology is economically challenged, but structurally strong," says Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDW (Association of German Machine Tool Manufacturers). "The industry thrives on high precision, technological depth, and continuous improvements in process efficiency. Especially in a difficult environment, innovations and investments in more productive solutions are coming into sharper focus."
International platform for technology and exchange
The GrindingHub represents the entire value chain of grinding technology – from grinding machines and tools to measurement technology, automation, and software, as well as services. More than half of the exhibitors come from abroad, underscoring the international orientation of the fair. At the same time, the fair benefits from its strong regional anchoring.
Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart: "Baden-Württemberg is one of the most significant industrial regions in Europe – and GrindingHub optimally leverages this strength in Stuttgart. The high participation of companies shows how important this location is for the further development of grinding technology and how well we, together with VDW, are creating the right framework conditions for it."
AI chatbot Hubi provides guidance at the push of a button
At GrindingHub 2026, a new offering celebrates its premiere: the AI-powered chatbot Hubi. It brings speed and structure to individual fair planning – with targeted searches for exhibitors, technologies, or applications. At the same time, Hubi connects relevant program points of the supporting program directly with the respective interests. Thus, GrindingHub utilizes the opportunities of artificial intelligence to make the fair visit noticeably more efficient and user-friendly.
"Hubi is a digital tool that facilitates orientation at the fair," explains Dr. Alexander Broos, Head of Research and Technology at VDW. "The system is continuously being developed and already supports visitors in the targeted planning of their stay. We invite everyone to try Hubi and actively shape its further development." Hubi was developed by VDW in collaboration with aiXbrain GmbH from Aachen. The basis is data from the online exhibitor catalog as well as content from the exhibitors' websites, which have been prepared for the fair context.
Practical solutions for current challenges
In addition to the exhibition, GrindingHub offers an extensive supporting program. With the fundamentally newly designed Grinding Solution Forum, GrindingHub 2026 sets a clear thematic focus: practical, interactive, and consistently oriented towards the needs of users. The focus is on real industrial challenges and concrete solutions – following the principle of "Challenge – Solution – Insight."
The thematic range extends from process stability and quality to automation, data, digitalization, and AI, as well as economic efficiency and future perspectives of grinding technology. In addition to compact practical sessions, interactive co-creation workshops provide space for direct exchange and joint solution development between exhibitors and the audience. The current program and further information are available online at www.grindinghub.de/forum-besucher.
"The industry is facing important turning points – from cost pressure to skilled labor shortages to sustainability and automation," says Heering. "GrindingHub offers guidance and concrete solutions. It is thus not only a showcase of performance but also a benchmark for the future viability of grinding technology."
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