Bernexpo: new, strong leading trade fair association

Now is as expected the Swissmem Association also entered into a partnership with regard to the planned new manufacturing trade fair. It will now take place for the first time in March 2021, not in May 2021 as previously planned, at the Bernexpo site.

The Bernexpo announcement rightly speaks of a new leading trade fair. In addition to the machinery and manufacturing industry, it will also include the electrical industry, which is organized in Swissmem. The associations Swissmem, Swissmechanic and tecnoswiss have signed the contract with Bernexpo Groupe.

The new fair will take place every two years. However, the name is still being awaited. Bern is thus the Swiss hub for technology trade fairs; Sindex (pictured above) already takes place here.

"The aim of BERNEXPO is to offer unique added value to the manufacturing industry and to develop an attractive, future-oriented platform together with strong partners," says Pascal Blanc (pictured), Head of Industry and Technology Trade Fairs at Bernexpo.

Signal for a leading trade fair

It is interesting that the Bernexpo Group was able to motivate all three industry associations - Swissmem, Swissmechanic and tecnoswiss - to seal the alliance. It is a clear signal for a single leading trade fair, for Bernexpo Groupe and for Bern as a location.

Does the involvement of Swissmem, which had previously supported the Prodex/Swisstech trade fair in Basel, mean the end of Prodex? It will be exciting to follow how the MCH Group, owner of Prodex, will react. 

What happens to Memtec.plus now?

Because there is also the digital marketplace launched by the MCH Group before the end of May 2019. Memtec.pluswhich was and (still?) is a year-round marketplace for Prodex exhibitors and buyers.

What happens now with this innovative but trade show-bound project?