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Bilbao has actively cultivated a thriving industrial engineering industry, which greatly benefits from the presence of BIEMH, a highly successful international machine-tool exhibition. The most recent edition in 2024 reaffirmed its status as a center for industrial engineering given the massive reception. We’re talking 37,614 visitors from 67 countries, which significantly impacted the local economy. BIEMH 2024 generated a substantial economic impact, contributing €66.4 million to Spain’s GDP and created 1,344 direct jobs.
The international dimension of BIEMH 2024 was evident, with a 56% increase in participation from the previous edition. Attendees included professionals from a diverse range of countries such as Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, China, and Turkey, as well as the USA, Colombia, India, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria. The exhibition featured 1,604 companies from 29 countries, showcasing 3,716 products and services. The main attraction was the display of large machinery in operation. Alongside BIEMH 2024, the International Additive Manufacturing and 3D Fair (ADDITƐD), BeDIGITAL, and the WORKinn Talent Hub were held, which attracted 2831 students and 406 teachers. The Employment Forum also presented 355 high-quality job offers, and helped support Bilbao’s industrial engineering industry.
The Hosted Buyers’ Programme played a crucial role in facilitating significant business deals and initiating new collaborative projects. Senior decision makers from leading global companies participated in the VIP Buyer Programme, with Mexico as the guest country. The high standard of exhibiting companies, their commitment to deadlines, and their openness to new markets were highly praised by participants. The Open Meetings segment of the event saw 4,355 interviews conducted between exhibiting companies and buyers. Around 300 executives from major sectors such as automotive, aeronautics, aerospace, railway, energy, steel, and capital goods participated, representing 23 countries.