Setting the stage in Milan: the industry looks ahead to Düsseldorf
A press conference held on June 11 in Milan offered a timely and focused preview of glasstec 2026, today’s leading global international trade fair for the glass industry, scheduled to take place in Düsseldorf from October 20 to 23.
Hosted and organised by Honegger Gaspare Srl, the international trade show marketing network headquartered in Milan that leads the promotion of Italian companies at Messe Düsseldorf, the event brought together key glasstec stakeholders for an early look at the themes, priorities and opportunities that will shape the next edition of the fair. The Milan gathering was conceived as a preparatory moment: an opportunity to align industry players ahead of one of the most important global appointments for glass manufacturing, processing, technology and innovation.
A broad platform for Industry and Innovation
In presenting the overall profile of glasstec 2026, Daniel Feische, glasstec Director, outlined the scale and international relevance of the upcoming event. The fair will occupy eight halls at the Düsseldorf exhibition centre, confirming its role as a comprehensive platform for the glass value chain, from production technologies and processing solutions to automation, advanced materials, architectural applications and high-performance industrial systems.
Among the themes expected to play a central role, energy solutions will remain a major focus. At the same time, the growing use of artificial intelligence across glass manufacturing is expected to attract particular attention at glasstec 2026. Rather than pointing to a single segment, AI reflects a broader technological shift across the industry, with potential applications ranging from process optimisation and quality control to predictive maintenance and data-driven efficiency.
Research, synergies and international participation
The fair will also continue to strengthen the relationship between industry and academic research. One of the clearest examples is glass technology live, developed in collaboration with the universities of Darmstadt, Delft, Dresden and Bochum. This special showcase underlines glasstec’s commitment to technology transfer, bringing together scientific research, experimental design and practical industrial applications in a highly visible setting.
Gesine Bergmann, Head of Forum Glass Technology – VDMA, highlighted the importance of technical dialogue and professional exchange within the framework of the fair. The Forum Glass Technology will provide a qualified space for insights into innovation, process development and emerging technologies, reinforcing glasstec’s identity as both a marketplace and a knowledge platform for the global glass community.
Compared with the previous edition, the 2026 edition is also expected to see a more extensive area occupied by Italian companies. This increased presence reflects the continued interest of Italian industry in a trade fair capable of offering international visibility, qualified networking and access to the key technological trajectories shaping the sector.
With its broad exhibition programme, its technical forums, its academic partnerships and its attention to the most advanced fields of industrial innovation, glasstec 2026 is preparing to place Düsseldorf once again at the centre of the global glass industry. The Milan press conference provided an elegant and substantial preview of an event that promises to connect expertise, technology and international vision.