A professional event for the manufacturing industry gathered a large audience in Tampere
Press release 27.03.2024
The number of visitors to the fair increased by 7 percent compared to the previous event in 2022. Among other things, the event awarded the year’s successes from different industries and decided the Finnish Welding Championship. The next time the event will take place is in 2026.
This year, three fairs — Konepaja, Nordic Welding Expo and 3D&New Materials — gathered a total of 6,708 trade fair visitors from the manufacturing industry and educational institutions in the Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre. The number does not include the number of exhibitors’ representatives. There were 236 companies as exhibitors at the event.
“The number of visitors clearly increased, and despite the challenging economic situation, the fair provided positive signals for the better future of machine shops and the manufacturing industry. The most important thing is that customers received both trade and contacts. Good encounters create confidence that a brighter future lies ahead,” says Mirkka Salmela, Business Director of Tampere Trade Fairs.
From the point of view of exhibitor companies, trade fairs play an important role in business development.
“One of the key benefits of the fair was that we were able to promote MTC Flextek’s brand in a positive way. We also had commercial successes,” says MTC Flextek’s CEO Tomi Tiitola.
“I attended the Konepaja fair for the first time — above all I was proud and excited. Motorex is a family business, so it is great to be able to develop the business together. There were good encounters with customers at the fair that promoted our goals!”, says Amalia Koivula from Motorex Machine Automation in Seinäjoki.
Winners and experts of 2024 awarded
The event awarded operators from different sectors of the manufacturing industry. The Technology Industries of Finland awarded Plootu Fennica prizes to the following in the design competition for sheet metal products:
Sheet metal product of the year — industrial category winner:
- Pekka Koivukunnas, innovator, Innovaatiopalvelu Koivukunnas Oy
- Jukka Mikkonen, industrial designer, Stadilo
Design category winner:
- Netta Kandelin, designer
Honorable mentions in the educational institution category:
- LAB ammattikorkeakoulu, Lahden muotoiluinstituutti
- Savonia-ammattikorkeakoulu (two honorable mentions)
The Welding Society of Finland awarded vuoden Hitsaushuippu prizes to the following:
- The welding company of the year — Vahterus Oy
- Developer of inspection activities in the welding industry — Trueflaw Oy
- Welding trainer — LUT Hitsaustekniikka
The best article in Hitsaustekniikka magazine:
- 2022 Sakari Penttilä — Älykkään hitsauksen mahdollisuudet ja hyödyntäminen (HT 6/2022)
- 2023 Esa Jääskeläinen — Hitsausrobotti – turhake vai tuotannon tehostaja (HT 5/2023)
Best laser-machined product 2024:
- Laser welded process pipes and pipe parts — OSTP Finland Oy Ab
The Finnish Welding Championship took place during the fair. The competition was organized by the Welding Society of Finland. The winners were:
1.Teemu Laitinen SAKKY, Kuopio
2 Nuutti Tikkanen JEDU, Nivala
3 Lauri Mutka SAKKY, Varkaus
In addition to the three prize winners, the following participated in the competition:
Jeremia Hautamäki JEDU, Nivala, Adam Kontiokari VAMIA, Vaasa, Oskari Leskelä OSAO, Oulu, Tomi Rahja JEDU, Kalajoki, Joona Viitanen SEDU, Lapua.
Angelica Emeléus, Office Manager of the Welding Society of Finland, a long-term partner of Tampere Trade Fairs, says that as a participant in the event, the Nordic Welding Expo fair is an important meeting place for the entire industry. For the ninth time, Finland’s largest welding industry event provided a unique opportunity for networking, learning, inspiration and business development for operators in the field.
“Cooperation with Tampere Trade Fairs was excellent as always, and together we want to establish the trade fair as the main event in Finland. We will continue our good cooperation also at the next event in 2026, for which the agreement has already been signed,” Emeléus continues.
The fair’s official partners were: The Welding Society of Finland, Technology Industries of Finland, The Association of Finnish Technical Traders, FAME Ecosystem and DIMECC Oy. The next time the event will be held in Tampere on March 17–19, 2026.