OSF plastic: A Report on Our Visit to BIEMH 2026
We had the opportunity to visit BIEMH—the International Biennial Machine Tool Exhibition—one of Europe’s most important industrial events dedicated to advanced manufacturing and production technologies.
Taking place from March 2 to 6 at the BEC, Bilbao Exhibition Centre, this biennial trade show brings together machinery manufacturers, technology suppliers, and industrial companies showcasing the latest innovations in machine tools, automation, metrology, and advanced manufacturing, among other areas.
Industrial Metrology and 3D Digitization
One of the key aspects for today’s industry is quality control and dimensional accuracy.
For this reason, one of the booths we visited was that of Innovalia Metrology, a supplier with whom we already collaborate on measurement systems.
At their booth, we saw various measuring machines and metrology software solutions designed to optimize part verification processes.
Particularly interesting were the 3D scanning applications, a technology that allows the complete geometry of a part to be captured using high-precision scanners. This type of solution offers multiple advantages in industrial environments:
- Fast and accurate dimensional control
- Comparison between the actual part and the CAD model
- Reverse engineering of components
- Digitization of Complex Parts
Advanced metrology is becoming a key element in Industry 4.0, as it allows quality control to be integrated directly into the digital production workflow.
3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing in Industry
Another technology that took center stage at the trade show was 3D printing applied to industrial settings.
We visited the MAUSA booth, where we saw various solutions related to additive manufacturing and learned about real-world applications within the industry.
We also encountered equipment from manufacturers like HP and Bambu Lab, which are driving the evolution of 3D printing toward increasingly faster, more reliable, and more accessible systems.
Today, these technologies are not only used for prototyping; increasingly, companies are utilizing additive manufacturing for:
- Manufacturing of custom jigs and tools
- Production of technical parts in small batches
- Rapid prototyping for product development
- Reducing design cycle times
The combination of production speed, flexibility and cost reduction in certain applications is driving their adoption across numerous industrial sectors.
Industrial automation and machine vision for quality control
Automation was undoubtedly one of the most prominent themes throughout the trade show. We saw solutions related to machine vision applied to quality control in production.
These technologies enable the automation of part inspection directly on the production line, detecting defects or deviations immediately.
Key advantages of industrial machine vision include:
- Automatic and continuous inspection
- Reduction of human error
- Greater process traceability
- Improved final product quality
We also explore various applications of collaborative robots or cobots, which are becoming increasingly prevalent in industrial settings.
Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots are designed to work alongside operators safely and flexibly. This facilitates their integration into tasks such as:
- Part handling
- Machine feeding
- Assembly processes
- Inspection and quality control
The combination of machine vision, sensors and collaborative robotics is opening up new possibilities for automating processes that, until a few years ago, were difficult to robotize.
Industrial Suppliers and Maintenance Solutions
The trade show was also a great opportunity to meet suppliers of industrial maintenance and equipment.
In this sector, we found companies specializing in tools, production support systems, maintenance solutions, and technical equipment for workshops and industrial facilities.
These suppliers play a fundamental role in the day-to-day operations of industry, as they help improve key aspects such as:
- Operational efficiency
- Equipment reliability
- Process safety
- Optimization of maintenance times
Direct contact with suppliers and manufacturers allows us to discover new solutions that can bring about real improvements in our production processes.
A key trade show for understanding the future of the industry
Visiting BIEMH—the International Machine Tool Biennial—was an excellent opportunity to learn about the technologies shaping the future of the industry.
Among the most notable trends we observed during the show were:
- Increased digitization of industrial processes
- Integration of quality control into production
- Growth of flexible automation
- Expansion of additive manufacturing in real-world applications
- Development of data-driven solutions
Trade shows like this allow us to discover new technologies, exchange experiences with industry professionals, and analyze potential applications in industrial settings.
Without a doubt, it was a very interesting visit to closely follow the evolution of advanced industry and smart manufacturing.