The expectations for the event were positive, and they have been confirmed. A total of 40,000 people visited the Machine-Tool Biennial, which ends its 29th edition today having lived up to the expectations created by the recovery of industry. Technology was turned into business this week at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, at an edition of the Biennial at which visitors numbers were up 13%, new, interesting business forums were featured and orders were secured in all the sectors involved. BIEMH

Xabier Basañez, General Manager of the Bilbao Exhibition Centre, expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the event, which he described as “a great Biennial, reminiscent of earlier times not just in the number of participants but also in the atmosphere, the generally positive feeling among exhibitors and visitors and the number of sales sparked by strong growth in domestic demand. Throughout the week the Biennial has been ground zero for the world’s machine-tool industry”. In his presentation at the press conference at noon today he also announced that the 30th BIEMH will take place on May 28-June 1, 2018 (Monday to Friday), which means it will be one day shorter than this year’s event.

Antxon López Usoz, Chair of AFM-Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, stressed the high standard of quality of the products on show and of the visitors to the event. “We have seen some very high technology machinery and equipment and a great deal of movement every day during the event. The figures clearly confirm that good business has been done at the BIEMH”, he said, referring to the surveys conducted on manufacturers and importers. The overall rating of the event was up one point on the figure for 2014 at an excellent 7.7 out of 10. ADDIT3D, the first 3-D and additive manufacturing fair, was also rated very highly by exhibitors, with an overall score of 8.

More