Fully booked halls, good ratings, and high-quality contacts: The first edition of the Make-to-Order Days confirms the new trade fair concept.
The premiere of the Make-to-Order Days (MTO Days) at Messe Stuttgart has concluded with a positive outcome. The exhibition space was fully booked, the halls were well-frequented on both days, and the feedback from exhibiting companies and guests was positive. Trade visitors from Germany and other European countries used the new trade fair to specifically inform themselves about order-related precision manufacturing, machining, and contract manufacturing, and to establish new business contacts. 'The strong response from the industry to the first edition of the Make-to-Order Days confirms our concept. We wanted to create a focused platform for order-related precision manufacturing – with clear structures, short paths, and plenty of space for concrete business deals. That is exactly what we achieved,' says Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart.
Exhibition space fully booked – good quality of contacts
At the premiere, all planned booth spaces were already allocated. 184 exhibiting companies presented their focused range of services in Stuttgart related to order-based parts manufacturing – from turning, milling, and grinding technology. The exhibiting companies highlighted the targeted discussions with decision-makers and buyers from key industries such as mechanical engineering, automotive technology, defense, robotics, medical technology, and renewable energies. The clearly structured booth and service concept of the MTO Days facilitated the preparation for trade fair visits and ensured tailored contacts.
Clear figures underline market demand
Overall, the premiere of the Make-to-Order Days recorded around 1,400 trade visitors. They rated the event with an average score of 1.9 and attested to the new trade fair's high relevance for their future procurement decisions. Particularly positive were the visitor quality as well as the pronounced intention to revisit and recommend. About 23% of the trade visitors were active in purchasing and procurement, 27% came from management, and 22% from sales and distribution. Additionally, nearly two-thirds of the respondents assumed that the importance of the Make-to-Order Days will continue to increase in the coming years.
Synergies utilized with parallel events
Visitors benefited from the parallel trade fairs 'CastForge – International Trade Fair for Casting and Forging Parts with Processing' and 'The Battery Show Europe'. In particular, the close interlinking with CastForge enabled numerous technical and business connections.
Expert forum and networking as added value
A central element of the MTO Days was the networking area. This offered numerous opportunities for confidential discussions, project coordination, and concrete negotiations away from the trade fair booth. On the MTO Stage, experts highlighted current developments around digitization, automation, precision, and new business models in order-related manufacturing. The expert presentations and panel discussions underscored the industry's desire for exchange and orientation.
Outlook: Continuation confirmed
The next edition of the Make-to-Order Days is scheduled for June 20 to 21, 2028, at the Messe Stuttgart venue – again in parallel with the CastForge trade fair. This ensures that the successful synergies between casting and forging parts manufacturing and order-related precision manufacturing will remain a central part of the event concept in the future.
Contact:
