A HUNDRED AFM CLUSTER COMPANIES EXHIBIT AT +INDUSTRY

Today marks the opening of the largest industrial fair of the year in Bilbao, featuring six simultaneous trade shows: ADDIT3D, SUBCONTRATACIÓN, BEDIGITAL, MAINTENANCE, PUMP&VALVES, and WEAR, along with the industrial employment forum WORKINN. More than 870 companies from 18 countries are occupying halls 1 and 3 of the BEC, where the commercial exhibition is complemented by a wide range of conferences, seminars, and B2B programs.

AFM Cluster is accompanying 98 companies from the various sectors it represents: machine tools, additive manufacturing and 3D printing, machine tool importers, industrial supply and hardware, machining and metal transformation, and startups. These companies will be distributed across the different trade shows taking place simultaneously at +INDUSTRY.

The Deputy Minister for Industrial Promotion, Andoitz Korta, led this morning’s opening ceremony of +INDUSTRY, joined by José Pérez Berdud, President of AFM Cluster; Xabier Basañez, CEO of Bilbao Exhibition Centre; Fernando Gastaldo, President of AFMEC; Alfonso Ganzabal, President of STECH; and Mari Carmen Gorostiza, Director of the Industry, Energy and ICT Business Unit at BEC. Also present were Mikel Antizar, First Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Social Action of the Barakaldo City Council; Joseba Mariezcurrena, Director General of Entrepreneurship, Talent and Business Competitiveness of the Bizkaia Provincial Council; Saray Zárate, Deputy for Economic Development and Innovation of the Álava Provincial Council; Ander Larrinaga, Director of Economic Development and Innovation of the Álava Provincial Council; Carlos García Buendía, Government Sub-delegation; Natividad Cuadra, Director of ICEX; and Maite Martínez Granado, Director of Employment Activation at Lanbide. After the opening ceremony, the delegation toured the two exhibition halls of the fair.

Tomorrow, the industrial employment fair WORKINN will open, with the inauguration led by Alfonso Gurpegui, Deputy Minister for Employment and Inclusion, and Teresa Laespada, Provincial Deputy for Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality of the Bizkaia Provincial Council.

One of the main additions to this year’s edition is weAR, a new exhibition area showcasing a wide range of automation and robotics systems, technologies, and components. This new space aims to present cutting-edge solutions for advanced industry, further consolidating +INDUSTRY as the leading meeting point for industrial innovation. Within this area, the participation of STECH—the Spanish Association of Robotics and Digitalization Companies for the Manufacturing Industry—is particularly noteworthy, with its own stand and several associated companies, highlighting the potential of the national ecosystem in this field.

Also this morning, the press conference presenting FORMNEXT 2025 was held in the Press Room of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre. FORMNEXT is the leading international trade fair for Additive Manufacturing and industrial 3D Printing, which will take place from November 18 to 21, 2025, in Frankfurt, Germany, with Spain as the guest country. The previous edition gathered 864 exhibitors and over 34,000 professionals from around the world. Speakers at the presentation included Sascha F. Wenzler, Vice President of Formnext; Christoph Stüker, Deputy Vice President; Naiara Zubizarreta, Managing Director of ADDIMAT; and Elias Domingo, Digital Marketing & Online Sales Manager at ArcelorMittal Powders.

Additionally, on June 4, a press conference will be held for the presentation of the EMO trade fair, at Room 1A, Level 5 of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, starting at 11:00 a.m. EMO is one of the leading international events dedicated to machine tools and advanced manufacturing. The session will feature Dr. Markus Heering, Managing Director of VDW; Xabier Alzaga, CEO of Danobat; Xabier Ortueta, Director General of AFM Cluster; and Michael Rose, Head of Protocol at DMAG.

Throughout the three-day +INDUSTRY event, various conferences will take place, including Additive Talks, Digital Talks, and Maintenance Talks. AFM Cluster will also host B2B meetings, with more than 100 bilateral sessions scheduled between companies from the advanced and digital manufacturing sectors.