PaintExpo: Worldwide, indispensable meeting point for industrial coating technology

Concrete projects, lively conversations, palpable energy – the PaintExpo presented itself in 2026 at its most dynamic. Intensive discussions took place in the halls, new contacts were made, and business was initiated, driven by a high visitor frequency and an international professional audience. The atmosphere: electrifying. And perhaps the most surprising aspect: amidst a challenging economic situation, a clear optimism prevailed, paired with a firm determination to actively pursue the next steps. "Despite strikes in air traffic and difficult economic conditions, PaintExpo 2026 was a complete success. It once again demonstrated that the world’s leading trade fair for industrial coating technology is the most important impulse generator and an indispensable platform for the industry," explains Markus Geisenberger, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe.

With 10,200 visitors from 68 countries and 425 exhibitors from 30 countries, it shows that even in its tenth edition, it enjoys very high acceptance and attracts visitors from all over the world. It is the must-attend event for new visitors and existing customers. Almost 45 percent of the guests do not participate in any other trade fair. "I am very satisfied with the great public interest at PaintExpo 2026. Our booth – as in previous years – was continuously well attended, and we held many targeted high-level conversations. I am especially impressed by the high international share of visitors," states Michael Müller, CEO of the WAGNER Group.

PaintExpo has once again expanded its international significance: the proportion of foreign exhibitors increased from 48 to 52 percent, which also affected the visitor structure. Almost 40 percent of visitors traveled from abroad, making the fair a global meeting point for the industry. Industry professionals from 68 countries used the platform to gather information from companies in 30 different countries, establish international business contacts, and explore new markets. This strong international presence promotes cross-border exchange of know-how and innovations. Thomas Querfurth, Sales Coordinator for Germany at HangOn, confirms this: "There is simply no other spot where you can gather in three exhibition halls and meet all the necessary trades within a few days, exchanging the latest technology. And this applies to companies from Japan to the USA."

Innovations shape the industry: The focus of this year's event was particularly on sustainable, energy-efficient, and digitized coating processes in the areas of powder coating, wet coating, dip coating, and electroplating. Automation and the use of artificial intelligence also defined the trade fair activities and reflected the current industry requirements, which aim to simplify processes for users, redefine standards, or increase flexibility. Numerous world and trade fair premieres demonstrated how companies can make their processes more economical and environmentally friendly at the same time. "Personal exchange is especially important to us and cannot be replaced by digital formats because only in individual conversations can our technologies, solutions, and services be made visible and tangible. But the PaintExpo is also relevant as a trend barometer. Here we see which future application fields can be developed," adds Matthias Haarer, Managing Director at Eisenmann.

Platform for exchange and business initiation: PaintExpo 2026 impressed not only with its comprehensive product and solution offerings but also as a communication and business platform for decision-makers and managing directors – after all, two out of three visitors belong to the top decision-makers in their companies. Intensive technical discussions, concrete project initiations, and active exchange between providers and users characterized the trade fair – a key success factor that has already led to high satisfaction among exhibitors and visitors in previous events. 89 percent of exhibitors state that they achieved their goals for participating in PaintExpo. "PaintExpo simply manages to bring the entire industry to Karlsruhe and offers a comprehensive showcase of surface technology. For Krautzberger, PaintExpo is the most important trade fair there is," explains Thomas Weidmann, Managing Director of Krautzberger GmbH.

Focus on Nachwuchsförderung (young talent promotion): On the final day of the fair, PaintExpo also emphasized the promotion of young talents with its Career Day. Students and graduates received targeted insights into industrial coating technology and could directly contact companies. A compact program of lectures, guided tours, and networking offered practical orientation regarding entry opportunities and career paths. This strengthens PaintExpo’s role as a platform for networking professionals and industry.

The focus is already on the next event: The upcoming PaintExpo will take place from April 25 to 28, 2028, and already attracts interest. Numerous exhibitors are already using the opportunity of rebooking during the ongoing fair to secure their preferred spots early.