EXPO 4.0, the trade fair alliance of TecStyle Visions and wetec, opened its doors from February 13 to 15, 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany.
TecStyle Visions show for textile finishing and promotion provided a comprehensive overview of machines, materials, and accessories for all textile finishing processes. There was also a wide range of textiles for corporate fashion, workwear, and promotionwear. With wetec, EXPO 4.0 also focused on advertising technology, digital printing, light advertising, and digital signage, showcasing new solutions for the entire value chain of advertising technology.
Visitors
12,000 visitors from 46 countries attended the fair in Stuttgart. The number of visitors of this year's event was comparable with the previous edition in 2023. The countries most represented were from the DACH region. More than three-quarters of the visitors are significantly involved in purchasing and procurement decisions. Furthermore, satisfaction among industry professionals increased even further, with an overall rating of 1.8. The intention to return was expressed by 4 out of 5 visitors, highlighting this positive development. “Despite challenging market conditions, EXPO 4.0 remains an important platform for the advertising and textile industry,” added Roland Bleinroth, Managing Director of Messe Stuttgart.
The fair program was enhanced by events organized by the GWW (General Association of the Promotional Products Industry e.V.), including the GWW TREND and GWW NEWSWEEK, which were held for the first time in conjunction with EXPO 4.0. At the two GWW events, new promotional products and basic items for finishing and customization were showcased. "Joining the EXPO 4.0 fair alliance was the perfect start for a future-oriented collaboration. Thanks to the excellent support of Messe Stuttgart and the ideal location, we were able to offer both our regular visitors and new agencies a valuable platform for networking among the various decision-makers in the advertising industry. We look forward to continuing to create added value for our visitors in the future together with EXPO 4.0," said Ralf Samuel, Managing Director of the General Association of the Promotional Products Industry e.V. (GWW).
Renowned market leaders and international newcomers
In addition to well-known market-leading companies and established providers, EXPO 4.0 was once again enriched by new international exhibitors this year. Visitors at wetec were able to meet numerous leading companies such as Harmuth, IGEPA, Siebdruck Service Welle, Buth, Mimaki, and swissQprint, who showcased innovative technology for digital printing and advertising technology. Additionally, promising wetec newcomers such as Magenta Vision from Poland, UPM Raflatac from Germany, and the Dutch company EFKA B.V. were present.
TecStyle Visions also brought together prominent textile manufacturers such as HAKRO, Beechfield, and ID Identity, along with well-known textile retailers such as L-Shop and Cotton Classics. Newcomers included Danish company Bestseller with their brand Jack & Jones and The Outdoors Company with their well-known outdoor brands Columbia and The North Face. In addition to large, established companies such as Print Equipment, Gröner-Schulze, GUNOLD, or STAHL's Europe, smaller specialized suppliers such as J&A and Kapatex also showcased their product portfolios. For the first time, British company ADKINS participated with their transfer technology products.
Special exhibitions and live events
EXPO 4.0 offered a wide range of interactive and inspiring special areas beyond the exhibition floors. At wetec, visitors could explore the WORK AND DO Area, where they had the opportunity to try out various techniques and gain practical experience under the guidance of professionals. This area created a lively workshop atmosphere that inspired and informed. A special highlight was the WRAP & STYLE exhibition, presented by UPM Raflatac. Here, there was a creative competition centered around wrapping and foiling, where professionals could watch and also help choose the best team. The winning team was Rainbow Racers, led by teacher Jana Hopf from the Vocational School for Colors and Design.
The TecCheck Area at TecStyle Visions provided practical insights into embossing, and the popular TecStyle Fashion Show highlighted new trends and collections. Under the theme "Visions of Tomorrow," professional dancers and models presented the latest collections and brands from renowned textile companies, bringing their uses to life. The Fair.Eco.Bio stand focused on "Sustainability." Here visitors could get extensive information about fair trade, sustainable products, and ecological production processes, as well as print their own sustainable T-shirt.
The diverse program was rounded off by the professional forums at TecStyle Visions and wetec. Industry professionals received valuable suggestions on topics such as textile finishing, advertising technology, best practices, and exciting insider information on current industry developments.
Expo 4.0 2027
The next EXPO 4.0 show will take place including TecStyle Visions and wetec shows from February 3 to 5, 2027 in Stuttgart, Germany. GWW's events will also be held again in conjunction with EXPO 4.0 in 2027.
Exhibitors feedback
Clemens Kellerhoff, Service Manager, IGEPA Systems GmbH: "The fair was well-attended, and the quality of the customers was high. A large portion of our invited guests attended the fair, and we also had many interesting new customer contacts. We see great potential here and believe we were able to initiate good business."
Klara Steinschneider, Event Coordinator, Mimaki Deutschland GmbH: "It was a lot of fun! We received great support here, exactly from our target group – wetec is the right place for us! Some visitors wanted to gather information, others were looking for specific offers for new machines. The potential customers were very well informed, knowledgeable, and asked specific questions. A presence here in Stuttgart is definitely worthwhile, as wetec is an important trade fair for the DACH region."
Jurjen van den Honing, Managing Director, Lucoled NV: "As a regional trade fair for the German market, wetec is very important for us – also as a networking platform, as we meet our dealers here. I particularly appreciate that wetec takes place early in the year because it’s easier to sell light when it’s dark outside! We attend many international trade fairs, and exhibiting in Stuttgart is always rewarding, also as part of brand building."
Moritz Welle, Member of the Management Board, Siebdruck Service Welle GmbH: "Wetec 2025 was wonderful! Our booth was a real magnet and received great feedback. With our new colored protective foil, we attracted a lot of interest and received many inquiries – a real hit! We were able to reach our target audience, gain new customers, and generate many leads, from which concrete business opportunities are emerging. This fair is a great platform!"
André Lehmann, Sales Manager, Avery Dennison Materials Sales Germany GmbH: "We had a high number of visitors at our booth, had great conversations, and were able to demonstrate our products and inform visitors about their applications. For the DACH region, wetec is an important fair where trade partners and industry meet. We welcomed many existing customers, and also made new customer contacts. The trip to Stuttgart is always worthwhile!"
Andree Bölkow, Managing Director, easy inks GmbH: "This was our first time here, and we had heard a lot of good things about the fair in advance, and our expectations were fully met. We met with our end users, who came with specific questions. This makes wetec the most meaningful and productive trade fair for us in the DACH region. We welcomed many existing customers at our booth, but we also had about 60% new inquiries. Wetec is definitely a fixture for us!"
Franziska Adolff, International Sales Department, Gor Factory S.A. (Roly): "The fair started off well: We were visited by many existing customers and also numerous new customers at our booth, which showed us that we have arrived and established ourselves in the German market. It was our fourth appearance at TecStyle Visions, which has now become the leading trade fair for us in the areas of promotional textiles and promotional products. We were able to make and strengthen contacts, present our range, and are once again very satisfied!"
John Eriksen, Jack & Jones GmbH: "The Stuttgart audience is exactly our target group! We are new to the market with the topic of corporate fashion, and our styles were very well received here. When promoting something new, trade fairs are a must. Our main goals for our appearance were presentation and branding, and we felt a strong interest in our products. We also used the fair as a networking platform, which worked really well."
Robert Schroedter, Managing Director, Gröner-Schulze GmbH: "TecStyle Visions 2025 was excellently attended, and it is an important event for us in the German-speaking region. The quality of the visitors at our booth was consistently high. A special highlight was the ideal location of the fair with its diverse transport connections."
Nicolai Bue, Head of Sales, ID® Identity: "I have a very positive assessment. TecStyle Visions is one of the most important trade fairs for us. We have been exhibiting here for many years, and once again, we experienced high customer interest, which clearly reflects the current market situation. On the first day, we were able to gain ten to fifteen new customers – that’s very good! Thanks to the many contacts we were able to make here, we expect good follow-up business."
Tobias Seidel, Managing Director, Cotton Classics Textil GmbH: "From our perspective, the fair was better attended than the previous edition. We met a definitely good audience, including many existing customers who visited us. As the main fair in the DACH region, TecStyle Visions is a very important event for us, offering a great opportunity for networking. The who's who of the industry was on-site, and everyone was very satisfied."
Ulrike Müller-Mantel, Project Manager, Mountek GmbH: "For our company, TecStyle Visions is the most important trade fair, as this is where we meet our target audience. We met with our top customers, were able to approach many new prospects, and also take care of existing customer relationships. We received consistently positive feedback on our presentation, and our raffle was also very popular with the audience."
