Read the whole summary of ExpoWELDING Fair 2025.

6,000 visitors and over 150 exhibitors from 19 countries. For three days in October, the International Congress Centre in Katowice was bursting with latest technologies, hardware by leading manufacturers of metal processing tools and machinery, with leaders of technologies and solutions for welding presenting their comprehensive offer. According to the participants, the TOOLEX and ExpoWelding trade fair provide a perfect platform for sharing knowledge and establishing new business contacts. The trade fair component of the event included the New Industry Forum and Industry for Defence conferences, both being part of the “Industry of Tomorrow” cycle.

The International Trade Fair of Machine Tools, Tools and Processing Technology TOOLEX and the International Welding Trade Fair ExpoWELDING are key domestic events for the industry of machine tools, tools and welding, together employing hundreds of thousands of people and cooperating with many branches of the economy. The effect of synergy achieved by joining both events offers participants an even better opportunity to explore current market trends in greater depth and discover latest solutions offered by exhibitors.

Traditionally, TOOLEX and ExpoWELDING have offered space for discussion on the future and challenges faced by industry. Increased competition, especially from emerging Asian markets expanding into Europe, has been one of the most frequently debated subjects. Apart from increased competition, Tomasz Sroczyński of Antom mentioned a global economic slowdown and market volatility as obstacles in making bold and strategic investment decisions.

According to Jarosław Prylak, head of commerce at Böhler Welding, investing in new industries, like nuclear power or defence, might offer a golden opportunity for growth. Participation in the development of the power industry seems like the ideal chance to increase one’s competitiveness, while contributing to state security could prove a key to the success of many businesses in the forthcoming future.

Shortage of qualified staff was among most frequently mentioned problems of the welding industry.

“Currently, qualified welders are in short supply. This problem could be solved by robotisation and systems facilitating the training of welders and the work of those already trained,” explains Bartosz Olej of Fronius Poland, a company specialized in welding machines and welding automation.

“The situation in the welding industry is difficult from the perspective of the employers but beneficial to welders looking for a job,” says prof. Jacek Słania, director of the Welding Centre at Łukasiewicz Research Network – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology.
“In Poland, there are currently over 13,500 factories where welding technologies are in use, while welding is a primary technology in over 7,000 of them. There are not enough welders in the labour market,” he adds.

The participants are unanimous in their hope for government investments and regulations that would make it easier for companies to do what is expected of them.

“The situation in the market is hard for all producers and suppliers of machinery. We hope for some limitations on emission requirements as those would enable some stability,” explains Maciej Kosiński, president and director at QMT GROUP.
“Investments, development and expanding into new markets is the only way forward,” he concludes.

TOOLEX and ExpoWELDING speaking for the industry

Experts and managers of leading companies present at the trade fair participated in Industry Talks held within the New Industry Forum, an event accompanying TOOLEX and ExpoWelding.

Journalists of WNP.pl talked to invited guests about the biggest headaches of producers, with current market trends among other discussed subjects.

“Industry has suffered a lot at the hands of extremely high energy prices and costs of labour,” argues Andrzej Rudenko.
“The defence industry has grown by a lot. It is on the lips of everyone and high on the political agenda. Unfortunately, it is still underfunded. Poland’s defence industry has a long history but not enough money is invested in it,” insisted the owner and managing director of ArcoTools.

Automation was another trend highlighted for its importance.

“There is no reversing it. The costs of labour are growing, while the prices of robots are going lower and lower. “Future belongs to automation combined with artificial intelligence,” concluded Andrzej Rudenko.

“Future does belong to automation and digitalisation, but they will be managed by a technology developed by engineers,” believes Waldemar Jenczyk, president of the management board at GROB Poland.
“Automation is a positive process that can generate a lot of growth,” he adds.

High turnout and huge interest have once again confirmed the solid standing of TOOLEX and ExpoWELDING as Poland’s most prominent industrial events.

“The possibility of meeting existing clients and potential business partners is a great advantage of the event,” says Marcin Nowak from Technika Spawalnicza, a company based in Poznań.

Traditional formula of the event, providing a platform for face-to-face meetings with partners and potential clients is the most frequently quoted asset of the trade fair. Participation in TOOLEX and ExpoWELDING, apart from bringing business partners closer, oftentimes results in new partnerships being created. Mateusz Ciągło, president of the management board at Venture, has pointed out that the exhibition area at the International Congress Centre in Katowice allows to present machinery and their functionalities in a way which is not always achievable on the premises of the company.

Among others, the following companies exhibited at this year's edition of the trade fair: Antom, A+Tech, Andrychowska Fabryka Maszyn Defum, Arco, Awart Media, Barrus, Bart, Best-Just, Bilz, Bodor, Bruker, BVL, Castor Unia Gospodarcza, Centrum Handlu Maszynami, Centrum Maszyn CNC, Cloos Polska, Colmex, Cormak, Cribspot International, CRM Cutting Tools, Czyszczeniespoin.pl, D&H Innowations, Dematec Polska, Diatec, Diolut, Domix, Dongguan Fenggang Zhongji Rongyao Tools Factory. Dpidea, Dr. Schneider Messtechnik, Druk-Art, Dura-Metal, Ecoroll, Elamed, Endo-Tech, ENRX, Eurodis, Fabryka Noteć, Fantech Europe, Fastrotator, Filter Service, Forum Narzędziowe Oberon, Fronius Polska, GH Cranes, Golden Spot Machinery, Grob Polska, HIFI FILTER Polska, iGOLDEN Laser, Iscar Poland, Jali 2 Lavor, Jorgensen Easytech, Käfer Automation, Kalla, Keyence International, Klimawent, KOM-ODLEW, Kovaco, Laboratorium badań „Batory”, LW-Technic, Machine Tools International, Madora, Megan, Messerschmitt Schweißtechnik, Monilit-Pro, Muxhel Industrial Solutions, Nanostal, Nederman Polska, New Technology, Oberon Warszawa, Obróbka Metalu, Odlewnia Rafamet, Omega System, Perun, Plik Instruments, Platforma Filtrowentylacyjna, PM Serwis, Poltava Diamond Tools, Powerhub, Pramark, PSPG Polska, QMT Machining, Rex Nordic, Robotpol, Rywal-RHC, SAZ-Welding, Semill, Sieć Badawcza Łukasiewicz – Górnośląski Instytut Technologiczny, Sija, Silvent Polska, Smart Bee Box, Smart IT, Smart Laser, Softgraf, Strojimport, Stürmer Maszyny, Technika Spawalnicza, Tecnar Automation, Tonex Trading, Toplaser, Totalenergies Marketing Polska, Ulgreg, Ultorn, Valk Welding, Veloweld, Venture, Voestalpine Böhler Welding, WHQ Tools, Wsparcie Laserowe, XYZ Machine Tools, Zakład Elektroniki i Automatyki Przemysłowej Elkon, ZJG czy 3M.

“The TOOLEX trade fair and its accompanying events offer entrepreneurs a unique opportunity to meet their clients and business partners; at the fair, we discuss new technologies, innovations and challenges defining the future of Poland's industry,” says Agnieszka Miklas, strategic account director at the PTWP Group.

“Satisfaction of participants of the ExpoWELDING and TOOLEX trade fair is our top priority. The positive feedback of participants confirm that what they expect, we deliver – functional space, top quality services and atmosphere that is conducive to business development,” adds Wioletta Błońska-Dudek, key account manager at the PTWP Group.

In order to bring the worlds of business practice and scientific theory together, the trade fair was complemented by a welding seminar titled “Innovative Technologies of Welding Modern Construction Materials”, a Tribologists Seminar, Industry Talks, and OILexpo – the Trade Fair of Lubricansts, Greases and Process Fluids for Industry.

The trade fair was also accompanied by the New Industry Forum and the Defence for Industry conference. Among others, in debates participated Cezary Dominiak, president of the management board and general director at Rosomak, Edward Gruszka, retired general of arms of the Polish Armed Forces, adviser to the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Poland, Wojciech Klimek, member of the management board for production at FAKRO, Adam Leszkiewicz, president of the management board at Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa, Andrzej Losor, member of the management board at Heidelberg Materials Poland, Roman Przybylski, president of the management board at Grupa Kęty, Andrzej Skolmowski, president of the management board at Grupa Azoty, Robert Stobiński, president of the management board at Grupa Amica, Marek Warzecha, president of the management board at Ponar Wadowice, and Gregorz Wrona, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of State Assets of the Republic of Poland.

The official gala crowning the first day of the fair and conference saw the fourth edition of The Best of Industry 4.0 competition. The jury appreciated representatives of industry for their successful in implementing Industry 4.0 solutions and technologies. Statuettes in categories “Factory” and “Technology” were awarded to 9 winners. In the first category, factories of Wiśniowski, Elemental Strategic Metals (Elemental Group), Seco/Warwick and Tymbark were decorated. In the category “Technology”, awards went to: Schneider Electric for its Agentic AI ecosystem, Fronius Poland for a Fortis series of devices, Dematec Poland for DNX 2100 technology, Dassault Systemes for its 3DEXPERIENCE platform and BSH for its Digital Factory solution based on Digital Twin DSH.

All the events were organized by Polskie Towarzystwo Wspierania Przedsiębiorczości (The Polish Society for Support of Enterprise).