Digital buyer journeys
What digital buyer journeys means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Event overview
Overview
ExpoIndustrial 2027 will gather industry leaders, strategic suppliers, and professionals at the Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico in Cali. This event is recognized as the most important industrial meeting in the region, focusing on automation, engineering solutions, and sustainable practices.
Attendees will have the opportunity to explore innovative technologies and network with key players in the industry. ExpoIndustrial takes place in Cali, CO.
Venue: Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico.
TL;DR
- 1Dates and Venue: ExpoIndustrial 2027 runs from May 5 to May 7, 2027, at Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico, Cali, Colombia.
- 2Scale and Focus: This event is a key platform for industrial automation and engineering solutions, attracting over 4,000 buyers and 170 exhibitors.
- 3Organiser: The event is organised by FENALCO Valle del Cauca, with registration available at the official website.
- 4Buyer Authority: Attendees include industry leaders, engineers, and procurement professionals looking for innovative solutions.
- 5Entry: Registration is open now; visit the official site for details on participation and opportunities.
Why visit
Attendees will benefit from networking opportunities with industry leaders and suppliers, discover cutting-edge technologies, and participate in strategic business meetings. Attendees include industry leaders, engineers, and procurement professionals looking for innovative solutions.
Why exhibit
Exhibitors will gain visibility among key decision-makers, establish valuable connections, and showcase their latest products and solutions. This event is a key platform for industrial automation and engineering solutions, attracting over 4,000 buyers and 170 exhibitors. Attendees include industry leaders, engineers, and procurement professionals looking for innovative solutions.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Who this event is for
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Plant and operations managers from food, beverage, agro-industrial and chemical processors in the Cauca Valley
Maintenance and reliability engineers sourcing spares, bearings, drives and predictive-maintenance services
Automation and controls engineers evaluating PLC, HMI, SCADA, robotics and Industry 4.0 integration
Procurement and purchasing leads from Colombian manufacturers comparing local distributors against direct imports
Packaging, material-handling and intralogistics managers planning conveyors, palletisers and racking upgrades
Quality, HSE and environmental compliance managers tracking RETIE electrical rules, ISO systems and emissions limits
Public-sector, utility and municipal buyers from Valle del Cauca and neighbouring departments
Systems integrators, engineering consultancies and technology partners looking for Colombian channel partners
Engineering faculty and technical students from Cali universities scouting equipment and employers
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Industrial automation suppliers: PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, motion control and robotics
Machine tool, metalworking, welding and fabrication equipment distributors
Process equipment vendors for food, beverage, agro-industrial and chemical plants
Packaging and intralogistics suppliers: fillers, conveyors, palletisers, coding and marking
Electrical equipment and energy providers, including power distribution, solar and standby generation
Maintenance, lubrication, condition-monitoring and industrial service companies
Safety, PPE and industrial hygiene suppliers for plant environments
Software and systems integrators for MES, SCADA, digital twins and OEE analytics
Free-zone operators, industrial park developers and logistics providers serving Valle del Cauca plants
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Industrial automation and control: PLCs, HMIs, sensors, drives, motion control and robotics
Machine tools, metalworking, welding and fabrication equipment
Processing and packaging machinery for food, beverage, agro-industry and chemicals
Material handling and intralogistics: conveyors, forklifts, racking, palletisers and warehouse systems
Electrical systems, power distribution, energy efficiency and renewable generation
Industrial maintenance: bearings, seals, lubricants, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance
Safety and industrial hygiene: PPE, machine guarding, dust and fume extraction
Digital manufacturing software: MES, SCADA, digital twins and OEE analytics
Water treatment, environmental control and circular-economy services for plants
Logistics, free zones and industrial real estate serving the Yumbo-Acopi corridor
Location & Facilities
Venue
Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico
Cali, CO
Facilities
Parking
Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico in Cali typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Food options
On-site catering
On-site diningParking: Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico in Cali typically provides on-site or adjacent visitor parking during major trade fairs; confirm daily rates, payment methods and hall access on the organiser or venue website before travel.
Gate: Follow organiser signage to the main visitor entrance at Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico for badge collection; allow extra time for security screening during peak morning arrival.
Attend
Entry & tickets
Intelligence
Market context
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Cali, CO
Why it matters
On 2027-05-05 to 2027-05-07, ExpoIndustrial in Cali covering Industrial automation technologies, Engineering solutions for manufacturing, Sustainable industrial practices, Digital t gives technology buyers a single calendar window to compare suppliers, validate specs on the stand, and book follow-ups before the next buying cycle - especially when your roadmap matches the published exhibitor profile.
Industry trends
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Sustainability in procurement
What sustainability in procurement means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Automation and labour efficiency
What automation and labour efficiency means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Regional supply-chain resilience
What regional supply-chain resilience means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Hybrid engagement models
What hybrid engagement models means for buyers and exhibitors in this sector.
Plan your trip
Travel & logistics
Local currency · COP
Hotel tiers
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Hotel Plaza Norte Boutique Cali
midscale
Northern CaliUSD 150–190 / night
Northern Cali base with restaurants and shopping nearby; roughly 25-35 minutes by taxi to the Yumbo fairground outside peak traffic. Confirm rate and late-checkout policy directly.
Torettos
economy
Near Yumbo / fairground search areaUSD 95–122 / night
Economy option positioned toward the Yumbo-Acopi industrial corridor, shortening the daily commute to the venue. Verify the exact address and transfer time before booking.
Granada and Penon business hotels (area estimate)
midscale
Granada / Penon, CaliUSD 85–130 / night
Area-level band for 3-4 star hotels in Cali's Granada and Penon districts; strong restaurant choice in the evening, but a longer taxi leg to the fairground.
Ciudad Jardin corporate hotels (area estimate)
upscale
Ciudad Jardin / south CaliUSD 110–165 / night
Corporate-grade rooms near the southern business district. Convenient for the airport road but the longest commute of the bands listed to the Yumbo fairground.
Yumbo / Acopi corridor short-stay hotels (area estimate)
economy
Yumbo / Acopi industrial corridorUSD 70–110 / night
Closest practical band to the fairground and to industrial plants for post-show visits; fewer dining options in the evening, so plan meals in Cali city.
Local transport
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
MIO bus rapid transit
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forTrunk corridors along Calle 5 and Avenida 6N, then a feeder or short taxi toward the Yumbo-Acopi industrial district
Cheapest citywide option and useful for Granada, Chipichape and the centre. MIO coverage of the Yumbo industrial corridor is thinner than central Cali, so plan the last leg by taxi.
Metered taxi (radio taxi)
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forHotel in northern Cali to Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico in Yumbo and back
Agree the fare or insist on the meter before departure; licensed radio taxis booked through your hotel are the safest late-evening option.
Ride-hailing app
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forDoor-to-door between Cali hotels and the Yumbo fairground
App-based rides are widely used in Cali. Expect queues and price surges when the halls close; walk to a side gate or wait 15-20 minutes for demand to ease.
Airport taxi transfer
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forCali Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport (CLO) at Palmaseca to Cali city hotels and the Yumbo fairground
The airport sits south of the city and the fairground north, so allow 50-75 minutes in weekday traffic. Use the official taxi desk inside arrivals and confirm the fare in advance.
Airport bus or colectivo
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forCLO airport to central Cali, then taxi or MIO to the hotel
Budget option for light luggage; the bus drops in central Cali, so budget a second taxi leg to northern Cali or Yumbo.
Venue parking (self-drive or rental car)
Estimated costCost TBA
Best forOn-site car parks at Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico
Parking fills mid-morning on busy show days. Rental cars are only worth it if you plan plant visits in the Acopi-Yumbo corridor before or after the fair.
Weather
Cali sits at roughly 1,000 m in the Cauca Valley, so days are warm rather than tropical-hot and evenings are mild. Early May falls in the wetter March-to-May stretch: expect short, heavy afternoon or evening showers, high humidity and bright mornings. Rain usually clears within an hour or two, so an umbrella and quick indoor transfers matter more than heavy rain gear. The open-meteo air-quality sample returned for the coordinates in the free-sources digest showed low particulate readings (US AQI near 23, PM2.5 around 2.6 micrograms per cubic metre), but that is a forecast sample and not an on-site measurement; sensitive visitors should check local advisories in the week before travel.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Cali has good 4G LTE coverage from Claro, Movistar and Tigo across the city and the Yumbo-Acopi corridor; 5G rollout is still limited, so treat 5G as patchy. Buy a prepaid SIM with data at CLO airport or in the Chipichape and Granada shopping areas, or use an international eSIM plan that includes Colombia. Hotel and venue Wi-Fi works for email and messaging but shared hall networks can slow down at peak hours, so download the exhibitor list, floor plan and your badge before leaving the hotel. Power is 110 V, 60 Hz with US-style flat-pin plugs; bring a universal adapter if your equipment is 220 V.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Cultural notes
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Language
Spanish is the working language in Cali. Many international exhibitors staff English-speaking stand personnel, but organiser sessions, technical talks and plant buyer conversations often run in Spanish. A translation app plus basic greetings and numbers makes taxis, restaurants and stand meetings noticeably easier.
Money and payments
The currency is the Colombian peso (COP). Cards work in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, but carry cash for taxis, small cafes, market stalls and MIO card top-ups. Small notes speed up taxi payments; ask for change rather than handing over a large bill.
Schedules and meals
Cali keeps a long midday meal culture. Business lunches run 12:30-14:30 and stand meetings scheduled straight through lunch often lose attendees. Late afternoon traffic builds from about 17:00, so plan the return to the hotel before the evening rush or after 19:00.
Business etiquette
Colombian industrial buyers value personal contact and introductions. Exchange cards, ask about the plant or line being upgraded, and follow up in Spanish where possible. Decisions often involve a technical champion plus a purchasing lead, so plan meetings with both.
Safety basics
Use app-based or hotel-arranged taxis at night, keep phones and laptops out of sight in busy street areas, and stay in well-lit commercial districts such as Granada and Chipichape after show hours. Ask your hotel which routes they recommend for the fairground commute.
Practical guides
Visitor & Exhibitor Essentials
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Flights
Google Flights results captured for London LHR to Cali CLO on 5 May 2027 showed one-stop Avianca routings via Bogota (BOG) at about 14 hr 10 min with fares from roughly COP 3.58 million for a round trip, while New York JFK to CLO showed American one-stop options via Miami (MIA) at about 8 hr 38 min from roughly COP 1.13 million. Tokyo and Sydney queries returned no usable fare rows. Fares include taxes and fees for one adult; baggage fees may be extra, and prices were captured as typical or low for the search dates, so re-check live fares before booking.
Transport
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Use the nearest international airport serving Cali; Metro, train or taxi links are typically available to the venue district.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico: Northern Cali: Hotel Plaza Norte Boutique Cali; Near Yumbo / fairground search area: Torettos; Granada / Penon, Cali: Granada and Penon business hotels (area estimate).
Ride-hail: Uber, DiDi and InDrive are all used in Cali and coverage to the Yumbo fairground is reliable during show hours. Expect surge pricing and 10-20 minute waits when the halls close, and consider walking to a secondary gate to escape the pickup congestion at the main entrance. If an app car is unavailable, ask the hotel or the venue desk to call a licensed radio taxi and confirm the fare before getting in. Keep the app trip details visible and avoid unmarked cars offering rides outside the gates.
Public transit: Cali's public system is the MIO bus rapid transit network, with trunk corridors along Calle 5 and Avenida 6N and feeder routes into residential and industrial districts. A rechargeable MIO card is needed, and a single journey costs roughly COP 3,000-3,600; top up at stations or authorised points. MIO reaches the city centre, Granada and Chipichape comfortably, but service into the Yumbo industrial corridor is thinner, so plan the final leg by taxi. For a three-day trade fair with a laptop bag, most international visitors use MIO for city errands and taxis or ride-hailing for the venue run.
Parking: The Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico operates on-site car parks for exhibitors and visitors, with day rates set by the venue - budget roughly COP 12,000-25,000 per day and confirm the current tariff at the gate. Arrive before 09:00 on peak days if you are driving, as the closest lots fill early. Exhibitor vehicles and freight usually use separate access gates and need a pass from the organiser; confirm the build-up and dismantling windows with the technical team rather than arriving unannounced.
Weather
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: May 2027 (show dates 5-7 May)
Temperature: Cali sits at roughly 1,000 m in the Cauca Valley, so expect warm days rather than coastal heat: daytime highs typically around 28-31 C and nights around 19-21 C. Humidity is high in the afternoons. Check a live forecast in the week before travel rather than relying on seasonal averages.
Seasonality: Cali has a tropical valley climate with two wetter stretches, March to May and September to November. Early May show dates can bring short, heavy afternoon or evening showers rather than all-day rain, with bright mornings in between. Rain usually clears within an hour or two, so plan indoor transfers and keep a compact umbrella in your bag.
Packing: Pack light warm-weather business casual: breathable shirts, trousers and comfortable walking shoes for the halls. Add a light rain shell or compact umbrella for May showers, sun protection for the fairground walkways, and a jacket for evening meetings or air-conditioned seminar rooms. Bring a universal power adapter (Colombia uses 110 V, 60 Hz, US-style flat pins) and a refillable water bottle for long days on the floor.
Plan your trip
Planning
Best day to visit: Day 2 (mid-show)
Mid-show days at ExpoIndustrial usually combine full exhibitor attendance with scheduled B2B meetings, before early pack-down on the final day.
Day 1
D-13: Book flights into Cali (CLO); most intercontinental routings connect via Bogota (BOG) or Panama City (PTY).
Day 2
D-12: Reserve a hotel in northern Cali or the Yumbo-Acopi corridor and note the taxi time to the fairground.
Day 3
D-10: Build a shortlist of exhibitors by hall and product family, and request meetings for the show week.
Day 4
D-8: Check Colombian entry requirements for your nationality and confirm passport validity.
Day 5
D-7: Arrange travel insurance and verify that it covers Colombia for the trip dates.
Day 6
D-6: Install a ride-hailing app and download a MIO route map for Cali transit.; D-5: Prepare a short company profile and business cards for stand conversations; add an English and Spanish version.
Day 7
D-4: Confirm opening hours and hall layout on the organiser site and plan at least two days on the floor.
Day 8
D-3: Budget cash in Colombian pesos for taxis, meals and MIO card top-ups.
Day 9
D-2: Pack light business casual plus a compact umbrella or rain shell for May showers.
Day 10
D-1: Check in for your flight, reconfirm the hotel transfer and re-check the organiser site for schedule changes.
Day 11
Show day 1: Arrive at opening, collect your badge and walk the automation and metalworking halls while they are quiet.
Day 12
D-14: Confirm visitor registration on expoindustrial.com.co and save the badge confirmation offline.; Show days 2-3: Follow up on quotes, collect local distributor contacts and book post-show plant or warehouse visits.
Sample visitor itinerary
Route-optimised day
Day 1 · morning
Registration and hall orientation at Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico
Day 2 · core sessions
Supplier meetings and product demos
Day 3 · wrap-up
Final negotiations and follow-up
Networking spots
2ExpoIndustrial registration concourse
Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico
Central meeting point before and between hall appointments during show days.
Organiser B2B lounge (if offered)
Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico
Hosted matchmaking and buyer programmes when published by the organiser.
Budget
Costs & budget
Build your working budget
Adjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
Estimated budget
Live estimate
- Hotel × 2 nightsCOP 190
- Per diem × 2COP 150
Estimated totalCOP 340
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Decision
Visit, exhibit, or skip?
Should you go?
Use this quick check to decide whether ExpoIndustrial fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
For ExpoIndustrial, what is your primary role on the show floor?
Decision matrix
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus and target suppliers align with the official exhibitor profile.
Best for
Buyers, engineers, and delegates sourcing Industrial automation technologies and Engineering solutions for manufacturing solutions and benchmarking suppliers at ExpoIndustrial in Cali.
Min. budget
$530.00
Timeline
4-8 weeks before opening day for registration, hotels, and travel.
Risks
Session times and ticket tiers may change - confirm the official agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a defined lead-generation or distributor recruitment goal for this market.
Best for
Brands and manufacturers launching Industrial automation technologies and Engineering solutions for manufacturing products who need qualified meetings with the event's trade audience.
Min. budget
$2,385.00
Timeline
3-6 months for stand booking, freight, staffing, and pre-show marketing.
Risks
Booth pricing and corner premiums vary by hall - confirm with the organiser sales team.
skip
Audience, geography, or commercial goals do not justify travel and stand costs this cycle.
Best for
Teams with weak category fit, budget constraints, or overlapping commitments during the Cali show week.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
Skipping may mean missing buyer meetings if competitors exhibit or attend the same week.
FAQs & glossary
Answers
Frequently asked
When and where is Expo Industrial 2027 held?
The edition runs 5-7 May 2027 in Cali, Colombia. The fairground used by the listing is the Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacifico in the Yumbo area of greater Cali; confirm the hall allocation and access gates on expoindustrial.com.co before you travel.
How do I register as a visitor?
Register through the organiser site expoindustrial.com.co. Industrial fairs in Colombia often require a business profile at accreditation, so carry a company ID or a letter from your employer and keep a digital copy of your badge confirmation.
Is the show open to the public or trade only?
Expo Industrial is positioned as an industrial trade fair, so expect trade accreditation rather than a consumer ticket. Check the organiser site for the current visitor policy and any age or business-document requirements.
Which sectors are covered on the show floor?
Product scope spans industrial automation and control, machine tools and metalworking, processing and packaging machinery, material handling, electrical and energy systems, maintenance and safety equipment, and digital manufacturing software.
Who exhibits at Expo Industrial?
Exhibitors are typically equipment manufacturers and Colombian distributors: automation and robotics suppliers, machine tool dealers, packaging line builders, electrical and power vendors, maintenance service firms and systems integrators serving Valle del Cauca plants.
How do I get from Cali airport to the fairground?
Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport (CLO) sits at Palmaseca, south of the city, while the Yumbo fairground is north of Cali. Allow roughly 50-75 minutes by taxi or ride-hailing app in weekday traffic; budget about COP 90,000-140,000 and confirm the fare before departure.
Are there hotels near the venue?
Most business hotels sit in northern Cali districts such as Granada, Penon and Ciudad Jardin, with a smaller cluster in the Yumbo-Acopi industrial corridor closer to the fairground. Book early because the show week lifts rates, and confirm the daily taxi time to the venue.
What language is used at the show?
Spanish is the working language on stands and in conference sessions, with English used by many international exhibitors. Spanish-language datasheets and a translated one-page company profile make meetings with Colombian plant buyers more productive.
What currency and payment methods are used in Cali?
The currency is the Colombian peso (COP). Cards are accepted in hotels, malls and larger restaurants, but carry cash for taxis, small cafes and MIO transit card top-ups.
Do I need a visa to attend from abroad?
Visa rules depend on your nationality and the purpose of travel. Check the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cancilleria) and Migracion Colombia sites, or your nearest Colombian consulate, before booking flights.
What is the weather like during the show?
Cali sits around 1,000 m in the Cauca Valley with warm days and mild evenings. Early May falls in a wetter stretch, so expect short heavy showers rather than all-day rain; pack a light rain layer and breathable business casual clothing.
Can my company book a stand at the 2027 edition?
Stand sales and technical manuals are handled by the organiser through expoindustrial.com.co. Ask for the current exhibitor manual, hall plan and technical regulations before committing to equipment demos, since power, rigging and customs arrangements drive lead times.
Glossary
- Industria 4.0
- The Spanish-language term for Industry 4.0, used in Colombia for connected plant equipment, sensors, industrial data platforms and analytics applied to manufacturing.
- PLC
- Programmable Logic Controller, the rugged computer that runs machine and line sequences on a factory floor; the core product category in most automation halls at an industrial fair.
- HMI
- Human-Machine Interface, the operator screen or panel that sits between a person and a PLC or machine.
- SCADA
- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, the software layer that collects plant-floor signals for monitoring and control across a site.
- OEE
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness, the availability x performance x quality measure used to benchmark how much of a line's scheduled time produces good output.
- Mantenimiento predictivo
- Predictive maintenance: condition monitoring of vibration, temperature or oil data to schedule repairs before a machine fails.
- RETIE
- Reglamento Tecnico de Instalaciones Electricas, the Colombian technical regulation governing electrical installations; relevant when specifying panels, drives and connected machinery for local plants.
- Zona Franca
- A Colombian free-trade zone with customs and tax treatment designed for manufacturing and logistics; several operators exhibit at industrial fairs to explain setup options.
- MIO
- Masivo Integrado de Occidente, Cali's bus rapid transit system, with trunk corridors and feeder routes and a rechargeable card for fares.
- Acopi Yumbo
- The industrial corridor north of Cali where many plants and logistics warehouses sit, and the district in which the main Cali fairground is located.
- Distribuidor autorizado
- An authorised distributor or local representative, the usual route for imported industrial equipment sold into Colombia; a key partnership target for foreign exhibitors.
- Intralogistics
- Movement and storage inside a plant or warehouse: conveyors, automated guided vehicles, racking, picking and warehouse control software.
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Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
- ExpoIndustrial 2027
- engineering solutions expo
- industrial automation event
- ExpoIndustrial Cali 2027
- Cali CO
- Manufacturing Technology
- Sustainability
- Industrial Trade Show B2B Trade Expo Cali
- Industrial automation technologies
- digital transformation expo
1 more alternate names hidden
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Sources
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Date checked
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ExpoIndustrial
- event_website
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