A strategic event to promote networking, innovation, and business development in the fastening systems market.
Fastener Fair Italy, the leading event in Italy for the fastener, bolt, and fixing systems industry, has announced a new schedule: the 5th edition will take place on June 24 and 25, 2026, at CityLife – Allianz MiCo in Milan, instead of the previous dates of October 6 and 7.
The decision stems from strong demand from international exhibitors and key industry stakeholders, with the aim of aligning the event with a more favorable trade fair calendar for the European market. Moving the event to the first half of the year is a strategic choice to facilitate logistical planning, enhance the visitor experience, and create new business opportunities before the summer break.
Steady Growth
This decision is also supported by the positive and growing trend of past editions: the most recent hosted over 200 exhibitors from 19 countries and attracted more than 2,400 qualified visitors from across Europe. The event saw intense networking and product presentation activity, accompanied by extremely positive feedback from the participating companies, reaffirming it as an essential showcase for the fastening systems market.
"The success of the last edition and the growing market interest have prompted us to advance the dates for the next edition, with the aim of making the event even more strategic and commercially effective," said Stephanie Cerri, Event Director of RX. "Placing it in the first half of the year allows us to seize an ideal window to foster long-term business relationships and launch new products. Thanks to a targeted networking program, visitors will be able to discover the industry's most innovative solutions and gain valuable insights into the latest technologies presented by leading players in the sector."
The fastener market plays a strategic role in numerous production sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, manufacturing, and construction, and in the Italian landscape, it is growing, also driven by the internationalization of markets, which represents a great opportunity for commercial expansion for the entire sector.
A look at the 2026 edition
The next edition of Fastener Fair Italy will introduce numerous innovations designed to offer an even more comprehensive and forward-looking experience for the industry. Among the planned initiatives are new thematic pavilions dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and hand tools, as well as an enhanced exhibition offering for turning companies and financial support measures for businesses.
The event will also aim to expand its international presence, attract new exhibitors from key markets, and enhance the quality of its visitors, with a particular focus on distributors, buyers, and technical decision-makers. There will also be networking activities, training content, and technical insights to further enrich the trade fair experience.
Fastener Fair Italy is part of a series of trade events organized by RX for the fastener, bolt, and fixing industry, including Fastener Fair Global, the Fastener Fair brand's flagship event held in Germany, Fastener Fair India, Fastener Fair Mexico, and Fastener Fair USA.
For more information, visit www.fastenerfairitaly.com.
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Amb 2026: collaborative processes drive automation
Central topic: Automation: Patrick Schwarzkopf (VDMA) discusses collaborative processes, artificial intelligence, and automation for SMEs using no-code solutions. As manufacturing companies strive to make their processes more efficient and flexible, automation solutions play a key role, especially in areas where people and machines are increasingly collaborating. AMB 2026 addresses this key topic with a practical approach and demonstrates how collaborative processes are evolving across the entire metal cutting process chain. In this interview, Patrick Schwarzkopf, Director General of the VDMA Robotics and Automation Association, analyzes the key factors driving this evolution and provides an overview of the developments companies should keep an eye on. Automation as one of the three central themes: Collaborative processes are gaining increasing importance AMB : The robotics and automation industry is forecasting a 5% decline in revenue by 2026; nevertheless, pressure on manufacturing companies to automate their processes continues to grow. Why is now the right time to focus on collaborative processes, and what factors are driving companies to take this step? Patrick Schwarzkopf : It's true, we're still observing a marked caution in investments, due to several reasons: from geopolitical tensions to the well-known challenges related to the competitiveness of production sites. However, the trend toward automation remains unchanged. Demographic change will become even more evident in the coming years; this will make it necessary to automate an increasing number of activities to support the remaining qualified personnel. Only in this way can we remain competitive. The interaction between humans and machines will be crucial. The extremely rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI and so-called physical AI, opens up new possibilities, for example through agent AI (Agentic AI) and through the much simpler use and programming of automation solutions. AMB : For a long time, automation was primarily designed for large-scale production. Today, however, robotic solutions are a viable option even for small series. How far has this evolution come, and what does a small business actually need to introduce automation into its production process? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Automation for SMEs is making enormous strides. Technological developments in recent years have been extraordinary and have significantly reduced the barriers to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises. Typical scenarios are "low volume, high mix," characterized by low production volumes and a high degree of product diversity. In these contexts, it is crucial that programming can be performed quickly, easily, and without significant staff effort. Numerous no-code solutions exist today for this purpose, requiring no programming knowledge. Automation workflows can be configured via graphical interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality, while robot trajectories can be taught through manual guidance (hand-guiding) and memorized at the push of a button. Major manufacturers have long been offering solutions specifically designed to meet the needs of SMEs. Pragmatic configurations, such as a robot working overnight, are often sufficient, thus enabling a significant increase in productivity. The obstacle is often less technological than cultural: many companies continue to believe that automation is inevitably too complex or too expensive. This belief is now obsolete, because solutions already exist and are easily observed at specialized trade shows like AMB. A useful reference point, for example, is Go4Robotics, the online platform of the International Federation of Robotics (IFR). AMB : As programming and operation become easier, direct collaboration between humans and robots is also becoming increasingly practical. Today, the two increasingly work side by side, without the need for protective barriers: it was precisely the development of AI-supported sensor systems that made this approach truly feasible. What concrete changes does all this mean for the shop floor, and how should companies rethink processes and the role of people? Patrick Schwarzkopf : Collaborative robots (cobots) are now well established. In many applications, however, the term "coexistence" is more accurately used: humans and robots operate without barriers, enabling direct and safe interaction. We are now seeing a further level of even closer collaboration with humanoid robotics. AI is making extraordinary progress in this area: robots are increasingly capable of interpreting their surroundings and acting autonomously and appropriately. Although significant pioneering work is still needed, humanoid robots are gradually emerging from research laboratories and are already finding their first experimental applications in industrial settings. It will still be some time before this technology reaches full maturity for widespread use. At the same time, however, humanoid robotics is accelerating the evolution of close human-machine interaction, for example through the ability to communicate verbally with robots. AMB : Many of these developments are best appreciated by observing them live. In September, AMB will bring together the entire metalworking ecosystem in Stuttgart: manufacturers, users, and researchers under one roof. What contribution can this unique combination make to the wider adoption of collaborative automation? And why is a visit to the trade fair essential for all metalworking companies considering the introduction of automation solutions? Patrick Schwarzkopf : A look at the data clearly highlights its significance: according to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), machine tending—the automatic loading and unloading of workpieces on machine tools—is one of the main applications of robotics. Over the past decade, new annual installations of robots for handling tasks on machine tools have increased from 14,500 in 2015 to 19,000 in 2024. Preliminary data from the IFR indicate that the trend will continue with significant, double-digit growth in 2025. The use of collaborative robots (cobots) has also increased significantly in recent years: in 2024, approximately 65,000 cobots were installed worldwide, representing 12% of all industrial robots. The most significant increases are being seen in mobile robotics, which enables the flexibly connecting different production machines, for example through mobile manipulators, i.e., mobile platforms equipped with a robotic arm. It's hard to find such a comprehensive, focused, and industry-specific overview as that offered by a specialized trade fair. At AMB, you can see and experience firsthand the automation solutions for metalworking by chip removal. AMB : Thank you for the interview, Mr. Schwarzkopf. Focus on automation at AMB 2026 in the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6) Automation will be a key focus at AMB 2026 in nearly every exhibition hall: from machine tool manufacturers with automation systems to solutions for tools and clamping technology, such as automatic setup. A special highlight will be the Oskar-Lapp-Halle (Hall 6), which will house the "Automation and Handling Technologies" area. Numerous exhibiting companies—including FANUC, KUKA, Cellro, RoboJob, Wassermann Technologie, and many others—will present their latest solutions for production and process management. It's worth checking out the exhibitor list, as here, trade visitors can experience firsthand how robotics, collaborative automation, Industry 4.0 approaches, and the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) are evolving metal-cutting processes, introducing new solutions and driving innovation in the industry. About AMB Since 1982, AMB has presented the highlights of the international metalworking industry. "Where Metal Comes Alive" will once again be a fixture on the industry's agenda in 2026, this year from September 15 to 19. It is the international marketplace and meeting place for metalworking, showcasing the latest products, technologies, innovations, services, and concepts in all their facets. AMB is supported by the VDMA Präzisionswerkzeuge (Precision Tools), VDMA Software and Digitalization (Software and Digitalization), and the VDW Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V. (German Machine Tool Builders' Association).
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