This year’s “Step into the digital reality” competition engages the businesses in digital and automated processes. The five categories stand for late-breaking issues in the digital context of the sheet metal working industry: The first category ‘Digital Transformation’ is open to businesses with excellent ability in applying smart manufacturing methods. The second one, ’25 EuroBLECH shows’, will select the funniest EuroBLECH story, either from visitors or exhibitors who participated in EuroBLECH over its long history. ‘Cyber Security’ as the third category highlights the importance of secure data exchange within a production environment. The fourth category is ‘Best Start-up” and will reward new businesses for their outstanding performance. Pioneers in lightweight and component design for sheet metal working are invited to enter the fifth and last category, “E-Mobility”.

The five succeeding businesses will be formally presented with an award and certificate during a ceremony at EuroBLECH 2018. The winners will also be announced on the EuroBLECH website.

The online competition is now open to all companies or organisations from all over the world in the sheet metal working industry if they match the requirements of at least one category and they are setting an extraordinary example in one of these categories.

The closing date for entries is 31 August 2018. After that, the entries will be published on the EuroBLECH website and the voting will start. The sheet metal working community can select their favourite entry in each category by an online voting system, with the voting closing on 30^th September. At the award ceremony during EuroBLECH 2018 on 24 October, the winners will officially be announced and receive their prize. The entries from all participants will also be published on the EuroBLECH website which is used regularly as an information platform by professionals in the sheet metal working industry. More information about the EuroBLECH 2018 Online Competition as well as the participation can be found at https://www.euroblech.com/2018/english/awards/.

EuroBLECH is the world’s leading exhibition for the sheet metal working industry and takes place 23 – 26 October 2018 in Hanover, Germany. The exhibition functions as a global platform for professionals from the whole sheet metal working industry to meet and discuss late-breaking innovations, current developments and new products. The exhibition covers the entire sheet metal working technology chain: sheet metal, semi-finished and finished products, handling, separation, forming, flexible sheet metal working, joining, additive manufacturing, welding and surface treatment, processing of hybrid structures, tools, quality control, CAD/CAM/CIM systems and R&D. The show targets all sheet metal working specialists at every management level in small and medium-sized companies as well as large enterprises. Visitors include engineers, production managers, quality managers, buyers, manufacturers, technical directors and experts in associations and R&D. Around 1,500 exhibitors from 40 countries are expected to present their latest developments and systems for sheet metal working as well as conventional machines on a net exhibition space of around 89,000m².

Further information is available at www.euroblech.com.