Seven months before EFX kicks off in October and the new industry event for electronics manufacturing is starting to take shape. Over 100 companies have already signed up to exhibit and will cover the entire spectrum of electronics manufacturing – from materials and PCBs to technology for mounting, soldering and assembly production, testing and quality assurance, as well as software solutions for digital production. There will be additional input provided by EMS companies and other manufacturing and development service providers, with a spotlight also on key fields for the future of this industry, such as sustainability, the circular economy and recycling.
Image: Messe Stuttgart
“EFX is providing a base for those involved in electronics manufacturing to meet, connect and explore the entire process chain,” explains Ralph Pötter, Vice President, Region EMEA, ASMPT SMT Solutions. “It is important for us to be able to meet with our customers and partners in an environment in which concrete manufacturing challenges, automation solutions and new technologies take centre stage. The decision to schedule this event in the in-between-year of the productronica cycle is also a good way to bring everyone together and encourage professional exchange on current production issues in Europe. We are looking forward to contributing to the profile of this new platform.”
Hall plan decided – Programme coming together
The stage has been set for the EFX premiere with the first hall plan now decided. Exhibition areas will represent the key areas of electronics manufacturing, organised alongside several feature areas and special zones. In the EFX Lobby, visitors will be welcomed with a coffee and information about the event, have a chance to set up the event app, as well as rub shoulders with other attendees. The EFX Bar provides the perfect place to chat or grab a bite to eat, while also hosting bar groups and talks on cross-cutting issues such as AI, corporate success or “Women in ElectroniX”. The EFX Café has been designed to host matchmaking events such as the EMS speed dating, industry meetings and round tables.
The event will be officially opened on the EFX Stage, where expert talks, panel discussions and start-up pitches will also take place, and address topics such as AI, cyber security, the circular economy and future technologies, all of which are relevant for electronics manufacturing. The EFX Rallye will be another highlight: using a QR code at several touchpoints in the hall, visitors can call up short videos demonstrating the process steps involved in electronics manufacturing, which will be demonstrated using the example of a vehicle generator. In addition to this, there will also be a special show about end products, guided tours on digitalisation, sustainability and automation, as well as trending topics explored in a programme of talks. Innovative career and recruiting formats, the involvement of third-level institutions and a variety of networking opportunities round off this impressive programme.
Expo evening events
The EFX has deliberately distanced itself from the classic trade fair image and is instead promoted as a modern business event. A flexible hall concept creates the trade fair flair by day, while the space is transformed into an event setting with music and lounge feeling in the late afternoon and evening. Balancing a professional experience with emotional connection throughout the entire day.
Evening events such as “Cheers to Change” and “Cocktails & Collaboration” will take place in the hall daily, along with other networking evenings featuring music. These events provide the perfect opportunity to continue conversations that started at trade fair stands, during presentations or on one of the guided tours in a more relaxed atmosphere – about current customer requirements and market situations or technical challenges and possible approaches to solving them. The evening events are aimed at all exhibitors, visitors and partners, and specifically the next generation of industry decision-makers who value thorough coverage in a contemporary environment.
Strong partners on board
New partners representing the trade associations and research institutes will be providing additional support. Among them the European Institute for the PCB Community (EIPC), the German trade association for electronics design (FED), the Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM), the Hahn-Schickard research institute, as well as IMAPS Deutschland, the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society. This new industry event is set to benefit from their knowledge, expertise and networks.
“Electronics manufacturing presents enormous potential for innovative products that have been ‘Made in Germany’ and fosters the development of industrial value in our country. The focus is on miniaturisation, reliability and sustainability – and, of course, securing skilled personnel,” explains Dr Karl-Peter Fritz, Institute Director at Hahn-Schickard. “We are getting involved with EFX because it is providing a single platform for both users and providers that combines industry, research and young talent.”
“The opportunity to engage directly with the professionals is a key element for our members,” says Ernst J. M. Eggelaar, Treasurer at IMAPS Deutschland e. V. “The EFX event provides the perfect environment for this: compact, focused on technology and open for new cooperations – from packaging technologies to innovative material and process solutions.”
The partner institutions will be collaborating on programme modules, expert talks and guided tours, among other things, and helping to create an EFX platform on which design, production, packaging, testing and research are intricately linked.
About EFX
EFX, Expo for Electronics Manufacturing, is the new industry event for electronics manufacturing and will take place every two years in Stuttgart. In a region where microelectronics has become a key industry, EFX will feature the latest trends, technologies and solutions. Its concept combines an exhibition, networking and events to create a modern business format with an innovative design. The EFX programme will cover the entire electronics manufacturing process chain – with special emphasis on all aspects of miniaturisation: from components and printed circuit boards to packaging and testing, the initial idea through to the finished application. The three-day exhibition will celebrate its première in Stuttgart from 6 to 8 October 2026.
Further information: www.messe-stuttgart.de/efx/en
