The recent staging of the wire and Tube trade fairs in Düsseldorf, Germany, was a resounding success: with 1,500 exhibitors from 60 countries on 67,400 square meters, wire 2024 was the largest edition in its almost 40-year history. At Tube, 1,200 exhibitors from 54 nations on about 52,200 square meters showcased their innovation in an industry increasingly gearing toward energy efficiency and sustainability.
A total of 2,700 exhibitors came to Düsseldorf to demonstrate on about 120,000 square meters of net exhibits pace that the wire, cable and tube and pipe industries and their upstream suppliers are ready for future energy-related challenges. The fact that they are also among the system-relevant sectors worldwide also strengthens the position of their world leading trade fairs.
The desire for personal exchange in these – economically and geopolitically – difficult times was clearly noticeable in the industry. “The world seems to turn faster and we turn with it. Every two years our industries get together here in Düsseldorf – the community stands by its location on the Rhine. We are very grateful for this and are working consistently to ensure that wire and Tube will also remain their industries’ No. 1 trade fairs in future,” said Daniel Ryfisch, Director wire, Tube & Flow Technologies.
U.S. exhibitor participation at both trade fairs was again strong: 68 exhibitors showcased their product at wire 2024, with 33 participating in the North America Pavilion, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America (MDNA) and co-sponsored by The Wire & Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA). At Tube 2024, 22 U.S. companies displayed their innovations, with 5 exhibitors participating in the North American Pavilion also organized by MDNA and co-sponsored by the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA).
Exciting ancillary programs in the exhibition halls
It was not only the 2,700 exhibitors who provided insights into exciting transformation processes within their industries. For the first time, a packed ancillary program consisting of lectures, presentations, special shows and digital guided tours accompanied the activities in the exhibition halls. Special Areas and digital trails on such hot topics as ecoMetals, hydrogen, plastic pipes, separating, cutting, sawing and stainless steel provided information on the latest news and trends.
Experts from numerous exhibitors presented their companies’ sustainability strategies, discussed paths towards the green transformation and energy and climate policy with the audience or presented successes already achieved on the way to decarbonization. Whether the wire & Tube Convention, ITA-Forum, BDS Forum, SawExpo Forum, Special Area Plastic Tubes & Pipes or the digital ecoMetals and high potential trails – the exhibition halls were buzzing with innovations.
wire and Tube: fit for the requirements of the future
Trends in wire and cable machinery, in wire and cable manufacturing, in the trade as well as the latest developments in the field of glass fiber technologies, mesh welding machinery, spring making and connection and fastener technologies were presented in exhibition halls 9 to 17.
“wire & Tube is the place where the future of the wire and tube industries is actively shaped and we introduce the innovations of the last two years to our customers,” stated Dr.-Ing. Uwe-Peter Weigmann, board spokesman at WAFIOS AG.
“This year our new developments received extremely positive feedback, which was also reflected by the high number of visitors at our exhibition stand. Alongside new machine concepts such as the modular transfer bending machine BQ10, the theme of “assisted machinery” went down especially well in the context of skilled labor shortages. This machinery assists new staff in setting up, performing individual process steps independently. With four levels WAFIOS has laid the foundation to incorporate machines with their assistive functions long term,” added Weigmann.
The fact that the pipe industry not only “thinks big” but also has convincing, sustainable concepts for the use of renewable energies and the reduction of carbon dioxide became clear at the trade fair stands in exhibition halls 1 to 7.1. The sectors using tubes and pipelines are as diverse as the requirements for the material properties and sorts/grades. Plastic pipes play an increasingly important role here, which was evident by the many visitors in the Special Area Plastic Tubes & Pipes in Hall 1.
Trade visitors from 135 countries in Düsseldorf
The major producing countries have also traditionally been where most trade visitors come from. In addition to Germany, these countries again included Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, Austria, the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, Poland, the Czech Republic, the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Japan.
Noticeably more visitors than ever before came from Central and North America, Turkey and Asia. They gave top marks for the comprehensive line-up and innovative character of the trade fair stands and praised the almost complete presence of the market leaders. Networking, exploring innovations at the stands and meeting new suppliers were the main objectives of trade fair visits.
The next staging of wire and Tube will take place from April 13 – 17, 2026 in Düsseldorf, Germany. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at wire and Tube 2026, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America; Telephone: (312) 781-5180; E-mail:
