Advanced Factories: dates, what is exhibited and how to prepare
Advanced Factories is Barcelona's annual trade fair for industrial automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Held March 31–April 2, 2027, at…
Published on 14 September 2026Updated on 21 September 2026
Advanced Factories is Barcelona's annual trade fair for industrial automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0 technologies. Held March 31–April 2, 2027, at Fira de Barcelona – Gran Vía, it brings together suppliers of AI, IoT, machine vision, and predictive maintenance solutions. Spain imported over 46 billion USD in machinery in 2025, making this fair a direct route to buyers in the region.
Fact sheet
- Dates
- 2027-03-31 → 2027-04-02
- City
- Barcelona, Spain
- Venue
- Fira de Barcelona – Gran Vía
- Organiser
- NEBEXT – Next Business Exhibitions
- Frequency
- anual
- What is exhibited
- Las últimas soluciones en automatización industrial, robótica, Industry 4.0 (como IA, IIoT, visión artificial, fabricación avanzada, mantenimiento predictivo, ciberseguridad y tecnologías sostenibles)
- Official website
- https://www.advancedfactories.com/
Source: NEBEXT – Next Business ExhibitionsData for 2026-09-15Verified on 21 September 2026
Sector imports in the country
USD · 2025| Chapter | Imports (USD) |
|---|---|
| 87 · Vehicles; other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and… | 53,279,975,581 |
| 84 · Machinery and mechanical appliances, boilers, nuclear… | 46,814,136,049 |
| 39 · Plastics and articles thereof | 16,587,931,947 |
| 72 · Iron and steel | 11,110,870,488 |
| 73 · Iron or steel articles | 7,693,293,453 |
| 76 · Aluminium and articles thereof | 6,217,722,132 |
| 88 · Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof | 5,444,696,878 |
| 40 · Rubber and articles thereof | 5,380,884,012 |
| 48 · Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper or… | 5,076,048,381 |
| 74 · Copper and articles thereof | 4,820,497,025 |
| 83 · Metal; miscellaneous products of base metal | 2,295,481,765 |
| 82 · Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons and forks, of base… | 1,587,865,907 |
| 47 · Pulp of wood or other fibrous cellulosic material… | 1,045,624,332 |
| 86 · Railway, tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts… | 1,028,561,750 |
| 89 · Ships, boats and floating structures | 666,374,067 |
Imports declared by each country from the world. Countries report with a delay: the period is the latest with consolidated data.
Source: UN ComtradeData for 2025Verified on 21 September 2026
Other fairs in the sector
- baumaMúnich
- BIEMH – Bienal Internacional de Máquina‑HerramientaBarakaldo
- EMO (Exposition Mondiale de la Machine Outil)Hannover
- Hannover MesseHannover
- interpack – PROCESSING & PACKAGINGDüsseldorf
How to export machinery and automation to Spain via trade fairs
Spain's machinery sector is concentrated in the regions around Barcelona, Valencia, and the Basque Country. Buyers at Advanced Factories are industrial integrators, equipment manufacturers, and plant managers looking for components and solutions to increase production capacity or comply with Industry 4.0 standards.
Machinery and mechanical appliances (HS chapter 84) account for 46.8 billion USD in Spanish imports annually, and automation equipment is a growing subset. This fair is direct access to that market without relying on distributors or local agents.
Prepare product demonstrations, technical datasheets in Spanish and English, and pricing for bulk or long-term supply. Buyers at industrial fairs expect to see ROI calculations and after-sales support models, not just specifications.
Register as an exhibitor at least four to five months before the fair. Early bird discounts are common, and you may need to arrange product logistics into Spain, which typically takes two to three weeks from central Europe.
Common questions about Advanced Factories
Do I need to speak Spanish to exhibit?
No. Most international exhibitors work in English with technical staff and sales representatives. However, having printed materials in Spanish and at least one Spanish-speaking team member at the stand will improve customer conversations, especially with smaller buyers unfamiliar with English.
What are the main buyer profiles at this fair?
Integrators and systems companies that build custom automation solutions, plant managers from manufacturing clusters, procurement teams from tier-one suppliers to automotive and appliances, and regional distributors looking for new product lines. They come to source components, evaluate new technologies, and compare suppliers.
Is it worth attending if I already have a distributor in Spain?
Yes. Trade fairs let you meet end customers, understand their current pain points, and build relationships independent of the distributor. You may also identify new distributors or direct customers in other regions attending the fair.
What logistics should I plan for shipping to Barcelona?
Equipment and stand materials typically need to arrive five to seven days before the fair. Use a freight forwarder familiar with FIRA Barcelona's receiving procedures. Most exhibitors ship from their home country or a regional warehouse. Factor in about two to three weeks for ocean freight from outside Europe, or a few days by road from France or Germany.
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