EMO Hannover marks 50 years of innovation in global metalworking

By Staff Report April 25, 2025 6:18 pm IST

EMO Hannover 2025, aims to present the entire value-added chain for metalworking, including machine tools, production systems, additive processes, precision tools, automation, measuring technology, quality assurance, software, and accessories. Nearly 1,300 exhibitors from 35 countries will present solutions relating to these challenges, discussing the megatrends of automation and digitalisation, including artificial intelligence and sustainability, and examining their progress in metalworking.

Under the motto Innovate Manufacturing, EMO Hannover 2025 stands for innovation, internationality, inspiration, and the future of metalworking. The world’s leading trade fair for production technology is the only event to present the entire value-added chain for metalworking: from machine tools, production systems, additive processes, precision tools and automation through to measuring technology, quality assurance, software, and accessories. Target groups are the global industrial trendsetters: mechanical engineering, automobile construction, aerospace engineering, metalworking and processing, and medical technology and energy suppliers, but also the electronics industry and many other branches of industry.

“As the platform for business and discussions between all the international players in the industry – manufacturers and users – EMO is unique in the world,” emphasised Dr Markus Heering, Executive Director of the German Machine Tools Builders’ Association (VDW), the organiser of EMO, on the occasion of five EMO presentations in India (Pune, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and New Delhi) from April 21 to 25, 2025. In 2023 more than 1,800 exhibitors from 45 countries attracted around 92,000 trade visitors from almost 140 countries to EMO. More than 2,000 visitors came from India.

India widely represented at EMO

With machine tool production of around 1.7 billion US dollars last year, India ranks 9th and is therefore one of the top ten largest manufacturers in the world. The most important target groups for Indian manufacturers include motor vehicle construction, electrical engineering, metal production and processing, and mechanical engineering. Since the mechanical engineering and motor vehicle construction industries are major customers for metalworking companies, they are also important visitor groups at EMO.

As a major Southeast Asian exhibitor group with around 40 companies currently registered, including many well-known manufacturers such as ACE Designers, Jyoti and S&T Machinery as well as Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) and Macpower, India will once again be widely represented at EMO 2025. The important product groups that Indian companies will be bringing include state-of-the-art systems for metalworking, especially lathes, milling machines, and grinding machines, as well as Industry 4.0 and AI solutions. In addition to offering contacts with the customary markets, EMO will offer a large number of starting points for establishing new business relationships.

Heering said, “Trade visitors at EMO come from all over the world. Every one of them is a potential customer. Imports of machine tools in India rose to 2.5 billion US dollars last year. Indian decision-makers in the metalworking industry are currently primarily focusing on machine tools from China, Japan and Germany. However, they come to EMO to obtain information on the latest range of machine tools, solutions and services worldwide, become acquainted with new suppliers and prospects, and initiate potentially new supplier relationships.”

EMO focusing on global megatrends

Similar challenges can be seen everywhere: Competition is intensifying. Investors are taking a wait-and-see approach. Costs are rising. The demand for sustainable products is increasing. The shortage of skilled workers is also making advances more difficult in many places, while the integration of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and additive manufacturing necessitates continuous advanced training.

During EMO 2025, almost 1,300 exhibitors from 35 countries will present solutions relating to these challenges. Experts will discuss the megatrends of automation and digitalisation, including artificial intelligence and sustainability, and examine their progress in metalworking.

Automation for greater efficiency in the Indian metal working industry

High costs and the rapidly growing demand for skilled workers, which can hardly be met, are driving automation in Indian industry. Automation solutions increase efficiency and quality in the production process. They represent one of the main drivers for investments and are offered in many different forms by numerous EMO exhibitors. Automation extends from simple solutions such as pallet changers and handling systems through to the use of robots and autonomous factories with self-driving systems.

Visitors to EMO 2025 can look forward to a wide range of automation solutions since many exhibitors are continuing to upgrade their machines with these solutions. The joint stand Cobot Area will focus even more closely on automation. Collaborative robots, their potential uses, and applications will be presented there. They include grippers, machine vision, measuring systems, software, industrial electronics, feed systems, and much more besides.

Sustainability for more climate protection

According to the government’s objectives, India should be climate-neutral by 2070. Considerable progress has already been made in the expansion of renewable energies. The focal points of production are less energy and material consumption and the introduction of a recycling economy.

Markus Heering said, “Numerous individual measures are achieving the desired objective in this respect. Investments in new machines lead, for example, to energy savings of around 25 per cent. The CO₂ footprint is thereby reduced. Modern electric motors and innovative drive technology save a considerable amount of electricity compared with the predecessor generation. Other determining factors include improved control technology, optimised design of compressed air and hydraulic applications, or friction-minimised warehousing and management systems.”

The Sustainability Area at EMO 2025 will be the ideal meeting point to experience state-of-the-art solutions for sustainable production in the future. Exhibitors will provide information there on trends in energy efficiency, the integration of regenerative energies, recycling, and lifecycle concepts. They promote climate protection and reduce production costs in times when energy and raw materials are scarce.

Digitalisation coupled with artificial intelligence for higher productivity

Digitalisation and networking have long been topics in production. Artificial intelligence has now been added in order to speed up data analysis, achieve higher productivity, and develop new business models. The semiconductor industry is playing a key role in the development and use of digital technologies. Semiconductors make it possible for users to design their production processes more intelligently by harnessing technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI). They create transparency through the efficiency of production processes, facilitate real-time monitoring and control of machines and processes, and also enable predictive maintenance.

The AI + Digitalisation Area during EMO 2025 will show investors from industry and administration the latest networking methods coupled with artificial intelligence. This is also an opportunity for manufacturers from India to position themselves in this field.

The future of metal working in India

Advances in all three areas are stimulating investments and boosting demand for production technology. As the organiser of EMO, the German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) will also cover important topics relating to metalworking. These topics will be reflected, for example, on the Additive Manufacturing joint stand where the latest applications in the area of additive manufacturing will be presented.

With an eye on the future and young talents, the Mechanical Engineering Youth Foundation is strengthening young specialists for future challenges. Qualified training is the basis for the success of the industry. Due to targeted support measures, the Mechanical Engineering Youth Foundation is helping to ensure that the industry will also remain innovative and competitive in the long term. On the Special Youth Stand, the Mechanical Engineering Youth Foundation will show how training can best be orientated towards the current demands in technology and digitalisation in companies. Young, innovative companies will also present fresh and forward-looking technologies in the Startup Area.

50 years of innovation for metal working

In 2025 EMO will celebrate its 50th anniversary. Established in 1975, the trade fair has brought the know-how in the industry together for half a century and is playing a leading role in shaping the future of metalworking. EMO has become a global institution and a fixed date in the trade fair calendar.

“In 2025 EMO in Hannover will again be the festival for the entire international metalworking industry. The trade fair will clearly show how far we have already come and how much future potential we still have. The current EMO motto, Innovate Manufacturing, is therefore more just than a slogan. It is an appeal to Indian suppliers and users to bravely exploit the possibilities of new technologies. The products and services on offer during EMO will provide a great deal of inspiration and new ideas in this respect,” concluded Heering.