Stable industry platform in challenging times: International impetus and marketable solutions characterize LOPEC 2026

A total of 158 exhibitors from 29 countries, more than 2,400 visitors and a clear focus on marketable applications: From February 24 to 26, 2026 at Messe München’s International Congress Center, LOPEC once again confirmed its role as the world’s leading platform for flexible and printed electronics. Compared with the previous year, there was a slight increase in visitor numbers, the atmosphere in the halls was very positive, shaped by a high level of professional quality.

The focus of LOPEC was on applications in which printed electronics is increasingly demonstrating its strengths in the areas of mobility, smart living, medical technology, energy and industry. The overall image of the exhibition and conference was marked by sustainable material concepts, energy-efficient production processes and resource-saving solutions. At the same time, the technology is increasingly being seen as a key industrial component.

LOPEC as a central platform for innovation and industrial practice

Katja Stolle, Executive Director of the Business Unit New Technologies, is very positive in her assessment: “The consistently good exhibitor participation and quality of the discussions show that LOPEC is the industry’s central platform, where innovations are promoted and future topics are presented in a tangible form.” The strong industry participation goes hand in hand with growing industrial practice at the trade fair, as Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of LOPEC, explains: “This year, there was a particularly large number of machines in the trade fair halls. Scaling the technology is a key topic. It shows that printed electronics has made the leap to industrial applications.”

Industry sentiment and market signals

The discussions at LOPEC were characterized by confidence in equal measure, as Dr. Klaus Hecker, Managing Director of OE-A, confirms: “LOPEC 2026 clearly highlighted the strong momentum of our industry. Every time it is very impressive to see the exhibition hall buzzing. The high visitor engagement and strong industrial presence reaffirm the industry’s upward trajectory and the essential role flexible and printed electronics play in enabling a smarter and more sustainable future. The industry is clearly thinking ahead despite geopolitical tensions and economic challenges, as evidenced by a 7 percent sales growth and an improved forecast for 2027 with expected growth of 10 percent.”

Efficient meeting place for decision-makers

As a platform, exhibitors rated LOPEC as particularly efficient, as they were able to meet relevant experts and decision-makers, initiate collaborations and hold concrete business discussions. Stijn Gillissen, Head of Printed Electronics at Henkel, Germany, confirms: “LOPEC unites the complete printed electronics value chain. It’s where I connect with partners, discover new innovations, and see how end users bring the technology to life.”
Filip Granek, CEO of XTPL, Poland, adds: “LOPEC brings together exactly the right mix of people—researchers, engineers, business developers and decision-makers, all in one place and genuinely willing to talk. For anyone working at the intersection of printed electronics and industrial manufacturing, it’s hard to find a more productive place both for conference sessions and business talks at the trade show floor.”

Valuable contacts and a wide range of applications

In addition, the trade fair offers the opportunity to make new contacts and gain an overview of the wide range of applications. Jenn Vail, Senior Director, Business & Marketing Strategy at E Ink, USA, sums it up, saying: “From E Ink’s perspective, we find exhibiting at LOPEC valuable as it is a great forum for us to be able to showcase our latest products and technology developments, and a great forum to meet new customers and suppliers. LOPEC attracts a wide variety of attendees, from very technical engineers, to research institutes, to product designers looking to find their next inspiration. We’ve made great connections at LOPEC through the years and are looking forward to 2027!”

This diversity was also reflected in the Innovation Showcase, where different areas of application for the technologies were presented. There were exhibits ranging from integrated lighting solutions and intelligent surfaces to functional textiles for medical applications.

Specialist conference with transfer function

In addition to the exhibition, the three-day LOPEC conference set the tone in terms of content. There, industry and research discussed the latest developments in materials, printing technologies, integration, design and system solutions. Application-oriented sessions on topics such as mobility and smart living specifically strengthened the user perspective.
“The LOPEC 2026 conference program reflects the full innovation power of flexible, printed and hybrid electronics—from advanced materials and manufacturing technologies to real-world applications in automotive, avionics, healthcare, smart living and sustainable systems,” says Wolfgang Mildner, General Chair of LOPEC: “Our goal is clear: to bridge research and industry, connect material science with system integration, and transform technological potential into reliable, scalable products.”

International presence at LOPEC

In the international arena in particular, visitor countries such as Finland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands and the UK were able to further expand their presence —a strong signal, especially in economically challenging times. The top exhibitor countries after Germany were—in this order—France, the USA, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands and Japan.

The next LOPEC will take place from March 3 to 4, 2027 at the International Congress Center (ICM) of Messe München, with the accompanying conference from March 2 to 4, 2027.