The 20th edition of SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN welcomed more than 37,000 guests from 100 nations to Messe Essen. From 15 to 19 September 2025, the world’s leading trade fair for joining, cutting and surfacing technologies offered the opportunity to explore the latest technologies, trends and innovations from over 800 exhibitors representing 44 countries, to place orders and to exchange expertise in person. Both the quality and the international profile of the trade visitors were outstanding. The top ten visitor nations from abroad were the Netherlands, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Brazil, Spain, Japan, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, as well as Austria. Four out of five visitors held decision-making authority.
“SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 has impressively demonstrated that Essen is the central meeting point for global joining, cutting and surfacing technologies. Nowhere else do so many decision-makers, experts and young talents come together to experience innovations live and to deepen business relationships across continents – this is precisely what makes this trade fair unique,” summarises Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO of Messe Essen. The rebooking rate is also remarkable: 65 per cent of exhibitors have already reserved their space for 2029.
A key feature of SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 was the high proportion of decision-makers: 80 per cent of visitors held purchasing or procurement authority within their companies. Exhibitors emphasised that the professional audience not only arrived with in-depth questions but also with concrete investment intentions: around one-third placed orders during the trade fair, averaging €840,000, and announced further investments to follow. Visitors included, in particular, representatives of major automotive manufacturers, the shipbuilding sector, the energy industry, the construction sector, and the defence industry.
Dr Roland Boecking, General Manager of the German Welding Society – DVS stressed: “SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 came at exactly the right time to give new impetus to the industry. Experts from across the globe used the event as a platform for innovation. With our youth competitions, we succeeded in inspiring young professionals from many nations to engage with joining technologies. The trade fair also set clear thematic priorities. Whether digitalisation, sustainability or the shortage of skilled workers: as the most important international industry gathering, the fair delivered solutions to current challenges and showcased technologies for the future.”
Key Topics: Digitalisation, Sustainability and Young Talent
Over the five days it became clear: SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN combines business, innovation and youth development at the highest level, positioning itself as the industry’s meeting place, driver of new impulses and a practical laboratory for the future.
The exhibition halls reflected the decisive future themes of the sector: collaborative and fully automated robots, connected and sustainable production, AI-supported processes, as well as initiatives to foster skilled workers and the next generation. Solutions for reducing CO2 emissions and new approaches to occupational safety – such as smart extraction systems – vividly demonstrated the innovative strength of the industry. Digitalisation and automation were cross-cutting themes shaping virtually all product areas.
Excellent Supporting Programme
Current and future developments were also intensively discussed in the new Future Hub, which brought international expertise onto the stage. Industry representatives exchanged views on the opportunities and challenges of a transforming sector, presented current projects and took a look ahead. Particular highlights included the high-calibre, lively panel discussions and presentations on automation processes and the use of artificial intelligence.
At the DVS Congress, held on the Tuesday and Wednesday of the trade fair, science and research met practice and application. Topics included shipbuilding, additive manufacturing, manual laser beam welding and quality assurance.
Focus on Digital Solutions
A premiere at this year’s event was the IF Digital Award, organised in cooperation with the IndustryFusion Foundation (IFF) and DVS. Visitors voted for their favourites via the SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN app. The bronze award went to Novoflow for the world’s most compact air-cooled laser cleaning system. Silver was awarded to Fronius for a simulator for complex welding processes. The gold prize went to SWANTEC for industrial software designed to digitally optimise spot welding processes.
Young Talents in the Spotlight
Promoting young talent is an integral part of the trade fair. As part of the DVS national competition “Jugend schweißt”, the best young welders were recognised. In the individual categories, Alexander Graf from Thuringia won first place in MMA welding. In GMAW welding, Tim Roppes from Saarland took the title. Lukas Hammerschmidt from Thuringia secured gold in gas welding, while in TIG welding Tim von Trzebiatowsky from the Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein team achieved the highest score. In the team competition, the winner’s trophy once again went to Westphalia, as in 2023. On the international stage, the International Welding Competition delivered thrilling moments with participants from twelve countries – including a premiere: for the first time, an all-female team from India competed, sending a strong signal for the industry’s future. The gold medal in MMA welding went to Diego Huegenell Lopes from Switzerland. In GMAW welding, Vedad Habibovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina claimed first place. Philip Lokow from Germany secured the top spot in gas welding, while in TIG welding Simon Schudel from Switzerland was the best in his category. In addition to the two individual first-place wins, Switzerland also took the gold medal in the team competition.
In addition, the DVS Youngsters’ Day offered apprentices and students the chance to discover the industry’s diverse career opportunities and to connect with potential employers.
High Intentions to Return and Outlook for 2029
SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN 2025 received top marks overall: 94 per cent of visitors were satisfied, and 93 per cent would recommend the trade fair to others. In addition to registered participants, many international delegations, conference attendees and honorary guests also attended the event.
The 21st edition of SCHWEISSEN & SCHNEIDEN will take place from 17 to 21 September 2029 at Messe Essen. 94 per cent of visitors intend to attend the next world-leading trade fair in four years’ time.
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