NORTEC 2028, February 8, Stuttgart, Germany - The premier trade fair for manufacturing technology.
Dates
8 Feb 2028
City / country
Stuttgart, Germany
Venue
Messe Stuttgart
Time
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Event overview
NORTEC is the leading trade fair for manufacturing technology, showcasing innovations and solutions for the industry.
It will take place on February 8, 2028, at Messe Stuttgart, bringing together key players from the manufacturing sector.
TL;DR
NORTEC brings manufacturing technology buyers and engineers to Messe Stuttgart, a venue directly beside Stuttgart Airport (STR), on 8 February 2028. Visitors can compare live machinery, automation, metrology and Industry 4.0 solutions on the show floor, meet German and European suppliers, and pre-book meetings to shortlist equipment before committing capital. Stuttgart sits at the centre of Germany's automotive and mechanical engineering cluster, giving attendees efficient access to integrators, component makers and service partners in a single day.
Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products to a targeted audience, increase brand visibility, and connect with potential clients and partners in the manufacturing sector. NORTEC serves as a vital platform for industry professionals to discover the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing. It fosters networking opportunities and collaboration among key stakeholders in the sector.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Halls & areas
10Messepiazza 1, 70629 Stuttgart, Germany
Entrances & gates
Main Entrance
Floor plans & maps
6,700 parking spaces available.
6,700 spaces ·
Food options
Cafeteria
On-site diningParking: Directly adjacent to the venue, there are 6,700 parking spaces available.
Attend
Event days & opening times
General Admission
Early bird pricing available.
Ticket info
Ticket notes
Visitor passes and event registration for NORTEC 2028 are handled through the Messe Stuttgart website, which lists all upcoming fairs and events and links to the ticket shop.
Registration deadline
2028-01-31
Build-up & tear-down
How the last edition performed
Current edition
2028 · 12,000 visitors · 200 exhibitors
Visitors
10,000
Exhibitors
180
Floor area (sqm)
10,000
Edition #
1
Growth over time
Next edition outlook
2029-02-08 – 2029-02-08The next edition promises to showcase even more innovations in manufacturing technology.
Increased international participation
Impact
The 2026 edition brought together 10,000+ visitors at Messe Stuttgart. NORTEC is the leading trade fair for manufacturing technology, showcasing innovations and solutions for the industry. It will take place on February 8, 2028, at Messe Stuttgart, bringing together key players from the manufacturing sector. NORTEC serves as a vital platform for industry professionals to discover the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing.
Audience quality
Visitors typically include Manufacturing engineers and technicians, Production managers and supervisors, Supply chain and logistics professionals, Quality assurance and control specialists. Event Name: NORTEC - Trade Fair for Manufacturing Technology. Date: February 8, 2028. Location: Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany. Focus: Innovations in manufacturing technology. Documented attendance reached 10,000+ visitors in the reference edition. NORTEC - Trade Fair for Manufacturing Technology attracts an audience.
Exhibitor outcomes
Exhibitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products to a targeted audience, increase brand visibility, and connect with potential clients and partners in the manufacturing sector. NORTEC serves as a vital platform for industry professionals to discover the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing. It fosters networking opportunities and collaboration among key stakeholders in the sector. Exhibitor categories include Manufacturers of machinery and equipment, Suppliers of raw materials.
Intelligence
Directory updated 2028-01-01
200
Exhibitors
—
Categories
—
Countries
1
Pavilion
German Pavilion
Hall Hall 1 · 20 stands · Coord. John Doe
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
The manufacturing sector is crucial for economic growth and innovation. NORTEC highlights advancements that drive efficiency and sustainability in production.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Digital buyer journeys
Professionals expect pre-show agendas, product finders, and meeting tools; suppliers align demos and literature to short on-stand decision cycles.
Sustainability in procurement
Energy use, recyclable materials, and carbon reporting increasingly appear in RFPs and exhibitor scorecards across industrial trade fairs.
Automation and labour efficiency
Visitors benchmark machinery, software, and services that reduce downtime, staffing pressure, and total cost of ownership.
Regional supply-chain resilience
Buyers diversify suppliers across Europe, MENA, and Asia while favouring vendors with local service, spare parts, and training.
Hybrid engagement models
Live demonstrations remain decisive, but follow-up webinars, digital catalogues, and year-round supplier portals extend the commercial window after the show.
Latest updates from across the market.
NORTEC is the Stuttgart region's compact manufacturing technology fair, so buyers typically pair it with Germany's larger metalworking and automation shows to compare machine builders, automation suppliers and metrology vendors across one purchasing cycle. Its strength is depth in the Baden-Württemberg supplier base rather than sheer scale, which makes it the efficient show for qualifying regional partners and service providers before committing to a larger order.
Pre-show
Qualify the exhibitor list, book demo slots with machine-tool and automation suppliers, and set a sourcing brief for the Baden-Württemberg supplier base.
Show week
Hall walk-throughs, live machine and automation demos, metrology comparisons, and price and lead-time negotiations with regional suppliers.
Post-show
Consolidate quotes, schedule factory visits in the Stuttgart region, and line up the AMB or Motek date for the next stage of the purchasing cycle.
Peer shows are established manufacturing technology fairs in Germany and France; check each organiser's site for the current dates when building a multi-show itinerary.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
Primary gateway, located directly beside Messe Stuttgart. S-Bahn lines S2/S3 link Flughafen/Messe station to Stuttgart city centre in about 25-27 minutes.
Adjacent to the trade fair grounds (approx. 1 km)
to venue
5-10 minutes
by car
Alternative long-haul hub with onward Deutsche Bahn connections to Stuttgart.
Approx. 197 km
to venue
About 3 hours by train
by car
EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg
Third option for international arrivals, with rail links via Basel to Stuttgart.
Approx. 180 km
to venue
About 3.5 hours
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport & Messe
Closest full-service hotel to the trade fair grounds; ask for a Messe-facing room and reserve show-week nights 8–10 weeks ahead.
Wyndham Stuttgart Airport Messe
Large business hotel minutes from the terminal and the fair; useful meeting rooms if you are hosting supplier talks.
ibis Stuttgart Airport Messe
Reliable budget base within walking distance of Flughafen/Messe S-Bahn station.
B&B Hotel Stuttgart-Airport
Good value for short stays; rooms are compact and breakfast is charged separately.
Maritim Hotel Stuttgart
City-centre option with a 25-minute S-Bahn S2/S3 ride to Flughafen/Messe and easy access to Stuttgart's evening restaurant scene.
Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin
Premium city address directly at the main station, so the S-Bahn to the fair is doorstep-to-doorstep and no taxi is needed.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
taxi / rideshare
5-10 minutes from the terminal to the trade fair grounds; taxis and ride-hail wait at arrivals.
S-Bahn suburban rail
Lines S2/S3 run about every 20 minutes and take roughly 25-27 minutes to the city centre.
car / parking
6,700 parking spaces on site plus adjoining airport car parks, with a dynamic parking guidance system finding free spaces.
taxi
About 3 hours by train; Alternative long-haul hub with onward Deutsche Bahn connections to Stuttgart.
taxi
About 3.5 hours; Third option for international arrivals, with rail links via Basel to Stuttgart.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
| Type | Who needs it | Fee | Processing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen short-stay visa (Type C, business / visitor) | Third-country nationals travelling for business, trade fair or visitor purposes for up to 90 days within a 180-day period | — | 15 working days from arrival at the visa section | |
| Visa-free entry | EU nationals and nationals covered by a Schengen visa exemption agreement | — | Not applicable |
EU nationals and nationals covered by a Schengen visa exemption agreement may enter Germany for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without a visa; all other third-country nationals require a Schengen visa for business, trade fair or visitor travel.
Official visa pageWeather
February in Stuttgart is deep winter: daytime highs sit around 4–6 °C and nights typically fall to −2 °C, with morning frost and occasional snow showers that can leave icy pavements on the walk from Flughafen/Messe station to the halls. Expect around 35–45 mm of precipitation spread over ten or so days, often as drizzle, sleet or low fog over the Neckar valley. Pack a warm wool coat, scarf and gloves, layered knitwear and waterproof shoes with grip for the outdoor transfer; the exhibition halls and congress rooms are well heated, so a lighter jacket works once you are inside.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Confirm mobile roaming or local SIM options for business visitors to Germany.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Greetings and addressing colleagues
German business culture stays formal until you are invited to switch: use Herr or Frau plus surname at a first meeting, and offer a firm handshake on arrival and departure. Punctuality is read as respect — be at the stand or meeting room a few minutes early, and call ahead if you will be delayed.
Tipping and paying
Service is included in restaurant and taxi bills by law, but rounding up by about 5–10 % is standard; state the total you want to pay as you hand over cash or card. Cards are accepted almost everywhere at the venue, while some wine taverns, bakeries and taxis still prefer cash in euro.
Sunday closures, quiet hours and transport tickets
Shops close on Sundays and public holidays in Baden-Württemberg and quiet hours (Ruhezeit) apply from 22:00 and for most of Sunday, so plan dinners and meetings accordingly. Buy and validate a VVS ticket before boarding the S-Bahn — inspections are frequent and on-the-spot penalties are issued to passengers without a valid ticket.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: STR
Stuttgart Airport (STR) sits directly beside Messe Stuttgart, so you clear arrivals, take the S2 or S3 S-Bahn from the terminal to Flughafen/Messe station and walk into the halls — an early-morning landing still gets you to the show floor well before the keynote. Lufthansa, Eurowings, SWISS, Austrian, KLM, Air France, Turkish Airlines and the major Gulf carriers link STR to European hubs and one-stop long-haul routings; because direct intercontinental services are limited, pricing a single ticket via Frankfurt or Munich with an onward 40–70 minute ICE train to Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof is often the better option, followed by the S-Bahn to the venue. February is low season for business travel in Germany, so booking 6–10 weeks ahead captures the better economy fare classes and Tuesday-to-Thursday departures are usually the cheapest. Allow a checked bag for catalogues and demo samples, save your badge confirmation offline for the morning-of-show arrival, and note that the S-Bahn runs frequently enough that no taxi is required between the airport, the fair and the city centre.
A Schengen visa is required for most non-EU visitors travelling for business, visitor or tourist purposes for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period. EU nationals and visa-exempt nationalities do not need a visa.
Estimated cost: Approximately EUR 90 (standard Schengen short-stay visa fee)
Processing: About 15 working days from arrival at the visa section (roughly 3 weeks)
Apply well in advance of travel. Standard Schengen applications are processed within 15 working days from arrival at the visa section; applications lodged via a VFS application centre can need about 2 further working days to reach the mission.
OfficialFind a stay near the venue with options for every budget.
Check-in (recommended)
February 7, 2028
Check-out (recommended)
February 9, 2028
Areas to stay
Airport / Messe Stuttgart · Airport / Messe Stuttgart, walking distance to the halls · Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof / Arnulf-Klett-Platz · Stuttgart city centre (Stadtgarten, near Hauptbahnhof)
Get to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Primary gateways: Stuttgart Airport (STR): 5-10 minutes; Munich Airport (MUC): About 3 hours by train; EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (BSL): About 3.5 hours. Allow road or rail time to Messe Stuttgart; on-site parking is usually available at major exhibition venues.
Hotel → venue: Precinct hotels near Messe Stuttgart: Airport / Messe Stuttgart, walking distance to the halls: Mövenpick Hotel Stuttgart Airport & Messe; Airport / Messe Stuttgart: Wyndham Stuttgart Airport Messe; Airport / Messe Stuttgart: ibis Stuttgart Airport Messe.
Ride-hail: Ride-hailing and taxis serve Stuttgart; confirm local apps and ranks before travel.
Public transit: Use local bus, tram, or metro routes serving Messe Stuttgart; check operator timetables.
Parking: On-site or nearby parking is available at Messe Stuttgart; confirm rates and hall access on the venue site.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: February
Temperature: 0°C to 5°C
Seasonality: Possibility of rain
Packing: Warm clothing recommended.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: February 8, 2028
Main event day with all exhibitors present.
Check passport validity and Schengen visa requirements — Allow about 15 working days for a Schengen visa if you need one; start early.
Book flights into Stuttgart Airport (STR) — STR sits directly beside Messe Stuttgart, so onward transfer is very short.
Reserve a hotel for 7-9 February 2028 — Choose the airport/Messe district or the city centre, both linked by S-Bahn.
Register online for NORTEC 2028 and request your badge — Register through the Messe Stuttgart website.
Download the hall plan and exhibitor list — Shortlist machinery, metrology and automation suppliers to see.
Pre-schedule B2B meetings with target exhibitors — Lock in meeting slots before the show day fills up.
Plan airport-to-venue transport — Use S-Bahn S2/S3 (about 25-27 minutes) or a taxi (about 5-10 minutes).
Shortlist sessions and live demonstrations — Identify talks and equipment demos that match your buying priorities.
Check the February weather forecast for Stuttgart — Expect cold, damp winter conditions and pack accordingly.
Prepare business cards, meeting documents and a lead-capture method — Have digital and printed materials ready for supplier conversations.
Confirm hotel, visa status and travel insurance — Recheck booking dates of 7 February in and 9 February out.
Collect your badge and orient around the halls on arrival — Arrive early at Messe Stuttgart for badge collection and security screening.
Badge collection, show-guide pickup and coffee at the entrance foyer — arriving before the halls open avoids the morning queue at the Messe Stuttgart security gates and gives time to plot priority stands on the hall plan.
NORTEC entrance foyer, Messe StuttgartKeynote and technology forum block on automation, digitalisation and energy-efficient production. Sit near the front for the Q&A and use the break to introduce yourself to the panel — the forum audience is production and engineering management rather than sales floor traffic.
NORTEC Forum stageStructured hall walk through machine tools, automation and robotics, cutting tools, metrology and digital production software; pre-book two or three live demo slots so the highest-priority suppliers are covered in one pass, then take a quick lunch in the hall restaurant.
NORTEC exhibition hallsSupplier follow-up meetings, machining and automation demonstrations, and quote collection with the engineers who actually run the machines. Finish with a wrap-up coffee in the networking area to agree next steps while the technical detail is fresh.
Exhibitor stands and networking areaBaden-Baden and the northern Black Forest
Spa Town, Nature and Gastronomy
About 1 hour 15 minutes by train from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof; roughly 1 hour 30 minutes by car on the A8
Germany's classic spa town on the edge of the Black Forest — thermal baths, the Lichtentaler Allee park, casino and good Black Forest restaurants. Ideal for a post-show weekend with colleagues, with hiking trails and wine villages a short drive away.
Ludwigsburg Residential Palace and gardens
Baroque Palace, Museums and Gardens
About 20–25 minutes by S-Bahn S4/S5 from Stuttgart Hauptbahnhof
Germany's largest preserved baroque palace, with the Baroque Gallery, fashion and porcelain museums and the Blooming Baroque gardens. A comfortable half-day trip that fits around a morning of meetings at the fair.
NORTEC Forum and Speaker's Corner
Conference and knowledge exchange
Session breaks are the highest-value matchmaking window of the day: attendees are engineering, production and purchasing managers, so a short question after a talk converts faster than a cold stand visit.
Exhibitor networking area and stand bars
Informal hall-floor networking
Late afternoon is when exhibitors step off the stand; the coffee and beer points between the halls are where supplier conversations turn into appointments for the following day.
ICS Stuttgart congress lobby and Messe restaurant terrace
Seated business conversation
Quieter seating on the congress level for contract talks and small group discussions, with the venue restaurant terrace suitable for team dinners during show week — reserve a table ahead.
Important for maintaining connections.
Budget
Shell scheme
EUR 150–250 / m²
Raw space
EUR 100–200 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
Booth Space
exhibitor · standard
EUR 900–1800 / sqm
visitor_ticket
visitor · General Admission
EUR 20 / per person
booth_space
exhibitor · raw space
EUR 100–200 / per sqm
booth_space
exhibitor · shell scheme
EUR 150–250 / per sqm
exhibitor_stand
exhibitor · Shell Scheme
EUR 1500 / per stand
exhibitor_insurance
exhibitor · Mandatory liability
USD 20 / per exhibitor
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booth Space | exhibitor | standard | EUR 900–1800 / sqm | official | 2028-01-01 |
| visitor_ticket | visitor | General Admission | EUR 20 / per person | official | |
| booth_space | exhibitor | raw space | EUR 100–200 / per sqm | official | |
| booth_space | exhibitor | shell scheme | EUR 150–250 / per sqm | official | |
| exhibitor_stand | exhibitor | Shell Scheme | EUR 1500 / per stand | official | |
| exhibitor_insurance | exhibitor | Mandatory liability | USD 20 / per exhibitor | estimate |
Decision
Use this quick check to decide whether NORTEC - Trade Fair for Manufacturing Technology fits your visit, exhibit or skip plan.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
What is your primary role?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
Your category focus aligns with the official product themes.
Best for
Buyers, researchers, and delegates evaluating the programme and networking value.
Min. budget
$400.00
Timeline
4–8 weeks before opening day for registration and travel.
Risks
Limited session times published — confirm agenda before booking.
exhibit
You have a clear lead-generation or launch goal for this market.
Best for
Suppliers and brands seeking qualified meetings with the event audience.
Min. budget
$2,500.00
Timeline
3–6 months for stand booking, freight, and marketing prep.
Risks
Booth pricing not published in captured sources — confirm with organiser.
skip
Programme, audience, or commercial goals do not match your plan.
Best for
Teams whose category or region fit is weak this edition.
Timeline
N/A
Risks
No major risks listed.
Book with
Recommended providers
Assistance with visa applications.
Find the best deals on hotels.
Book your flights through our partner.
Logistics support for exhibitors.
Get travel insurance for your trip.
Explore Stuttgart and surrounding areas.
Lead capture solutions for exhibitors.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Trust footer
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References
1
Publishers
1
Date checked
Messe Stuttgart
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