Mack Brooks Exhhibitions’ 26th International Sheet Metal Working Technology Exhibition will take place March9–12 , 2021 in Hanover, Germany, after the organiser cancelled the October 27-30, 2020 date. The organizer made the call despite winning local authorities’ approval for its show safety concept.

Mack Brooks said the decision was taken after extensive conversations with exhibitors and partners over recent weeks and months. Exhibitors had expressed a preference not to hold the show in October in light of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. Uncertainties around travel restrictions in order to maintain the truly international character of the EuroBLECH event were cited as a concern for many participants.

The organiser will, however, run a EuroBLECH Digital Innovation Summit in the October 2020 slot.

Speaking about the announcement, Nicola Hamann, managing director of Mack Brooks Exhibitions said, “The past months have been challenging, in particular for the sheet metal working industry and its related industry sectors. We have seen a decrease in orders of capital goods and many companies are telling us about their challenges in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although we have recently received authority approval for our Safety and Security concept to hold EuroBLECH in October this year, we have decided to postpone EuroBLECH to Spring 2021.”

EuroBLECH will offer a virtual hub for the global sheet metal working industry in October. “Following feedback from our exhibitors and visitors indicating the need to participate in an event, even if not in a physical form, we will organise a Digital Innovation Summit, 27-30 October, our planned event slot,” Hamann said.

 “This Digital Innovation Summit will provide our exhibitors with a platform to demonstrate their latest machines and solutions and arrange virtual meetings with international visitors. We believe, it is our duty to assist the industry through these extraordinary times by offering a market place this year as a platform for innovations and a starting point for the recovery of the industry,” Hamann added.

The organiser promised to release further information on the Digital Innovation Summit soon.

A total of 56,307 international trade visitors attended the previous, 25th version of EuroBLECH in 2018. The show traditionally has been taking place every two years.