Advanced Factories 2027 – Barcelona, Spain

What to expect

Advanced Factories 2027 is a leading European industrial technology exhibition and congress dedicated to automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0. The event brings together industrial executives, engineers, plant managers, CIOs, COOs, production directors, technology specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and solution providers looking to improve manufacturing performance through advanced technologies.

The exhibition is organised around the transformation of the modern factory, combining industrial automation and robotics with digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, industrial IoT, digital twins, artificial vision, cybersecurity, industrial software, cloud technologies, and data analytics. The organiser describes Advanced Factories as a major meeting point for industrial leaders and a platform for discovering emerging technologies and innovative manufacturing systems.

Visitors can expect a combination of exhibition stands, live technology demonstrations, expert presentations, industrial case studies, business meetings, startup activities, guided technology tours, networking events, and specialist forums.

Key areas include:

• Industrial automation: Production automation, control systems, sensors, industrial components, and connected manufacturing.
• Robotics: Industrial robots, collaborative robots, robotic systems, and intelligent automation.
• Artificial intelligence: Machine learning, industrial AI, AI agents, predictive systems, and intelligent production.
• Digital manufacturing: Digital twins, simulation, industrial software, data analytics, and connected production.
• Industrial IoT: Connected machines, IIoT platforms, industrial connectivity, and real-time monitoring.
• Machine vision: Artificial vision, inspection, quality control, and automated measurement.
• Cybersecurity: Industrial cybersecurity, OT security, data protection, and secure connected factories.
• Sustainable manufacturing: Energy efficiency, resource optimisation, circular manufacturing, and greener production.

The event is particularly valuable for businesses that are evaluating new manufacturing technologies, upgrading production facilities, improving productivity, reducing operational costs, or preparing their factories for increasingly automated and data-driven operations.

Event dates

Advanced Factories 2027 will take place from 31 March to 2 April 2027 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain. The official Advanced Factories website currently lists these dates and venue details for the upcoming edition.

The event is planned as a three-day professional exhibition and congress. The organiser has also published practical visitor hours for the upcoming edition, with the exhibition scheduled to operate from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM on the first two days and from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM on the final day.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & exhibition site

Advanced Factories 2027 will be hosted at Fira Barcelona Gran Via, one of the largest exhibition and congress venues in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

Venue: Fira Barcelona Gran Via
Address: Av. Joan Carles I, 64, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

The organiser currently identifies Hall 2 as the venue location for Advanced Factories.

Fira Barcelona Gran Via is a large-scale international exhibition complex with multiple halls, conference facilities, restaurants, visitor services, parking facilities, and several access points. The venue is located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, immediately southwest of central Barcelona.

Its location is particularly convenient for international visitors because Barcelona-El Prat Airport is approximately 12 kilometres away and the venue has direct connections through the city’s metro and rail networks.

Advanced Factories is also associated with Advanced Machine Tools and other industrial initiatives, creating opportunities for professionals to connect automation and digital technologies with machinery, production systems, and industrial equipment.

Full event programme

The complete programme for Advanced Factories 2027 is still being developed. The organiser has already opened its Industry 4.0 Congress call for speakers and states that the congress covers the full value chain of needs for industrial professionals.

The established programme framework includes:

• Industry 4.0 Congress
• Leadership Summit
• CIO’s Summit
• Plant Managers Summit
• Artificial Intelligence Forum
• Industrial Cybersecurity Forum
• 3D Printing Summit
• Industry Startup Forum
• Factory Innovation Theatre
• Talent Marketplace
• Automotive Innovation Corner
• Guided Technological Tours
• Open Innovation activities
• Subcontracting Meeting
• Factories of the Future Awards
• Networking activities
• Welcome networking events

The Industry 4.0 Congress is the central knowledge programme. It focuses on emerging technologies, industrial innovation, advanced automation, robotics, AI, digital twins, artificial vision, connectivity, and new manufacturing systems.

The wider programme is designed to serve both technical specialists and senior executives. Visitors can therefore combine detailed technology sessions with strategic discussions about investment, industrial competitiveness, workforce development, sustainability, and digital transformation.

Key speakers & keynote speakers

The final 2027 speaker roster has not yet been announced. The organiser has currently opened its call for speakers and is inviting industrial leaders, researchers, professionals, entrepreneurs, universities, associations, and organisations to contribute to the Industry 4.0 Congress.

The most recent edition featured more than 430 international experts, with the official post-event information reporting 436 experts sharing industrial experiences, strategies, success stories, and technology insights.

Recent speaker and industrial case-study contributors have included representatives from:

• Nissan Motor Corporation
• Boehringer Ingelheim
• Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
• Gestamp
• HORSE
• Michelin
• 3M
• Navantia
• Almirall
• Mars
• Volkswagen
• Airbus
• Amazon
• Jaguar Land Rover
• Roca
• Repsol
• Mercedes-Benz
• Coca-Cola
• Naturgy

The previous congress also included industrial leaders such as Daniel Watkins from Red Bull Technology, Eduard Marfà from Siemens, Nuria Cristóbal from Nissan, Emanuel Pupello from SEAT-CUPRA, Hans Juergen Grundig from Stellantis, Guillermo Prieto from Damm, and José María Montserrat from Repsol. These are examples from previous programming and are not confirmed speakers for the upcoming edition.

Conference sessions & tracks

The Industry 4.0 Congress provides the main conference structure and addresses technologies across the complete manufacturing value chain. The organiser describes it as a major European congress dedicated to advanced and digital industry.

Core subjects include:

• Automation and robotics: Intelligent production systems, industrial robots, cobots, control technologies, and automated processes.
• Artificial intelligence: AI applied to manufacturing, machine learning, AI agents, predictive analytics, and intelligent factories.
• Digital twins: Virtual representations of production systems, simulation, optimisation, and predictive operations.
• Industrial IoT: Connected machinery, sensors, IIoT platforms, data collection, and industrial connectivity.
• Artificial vision: Automated inspection, quality control, defect detection, and machine vision.
• Cybersecurity: Protection of industrial control systems, OT networks, connected production environments, and industrial data.
• Additive manufacturing: 3D printing, advanced materials, digital production, prototyping, and customised manufacturing.
• Data analytics: Real-time production data, predictive maintenance, business intelligence, and operational optimisation.
• Sustainability: Energy efficiency, resource management, circular manufacturing, waste reduction, and sustainable industrial processes.
• Human-centric industry: Workforce transformation, new industrial skills, collaboration between people and machines, and Industry 5.0 principles.

The organiser also runs specialist forums covering artificial intelligence, industrial cybersecurity, 3D printing, CIO priorities, and plant management.

Session times & schedule

The final 2027 session-by-session timetable has not yet been released. Advanced Factories normally operates several conference areas simultaneously, so the complete agenda is important for visitors planning which presentations and demonstrations to attend.

Previous programmes have used several auditoriums and specialist spaces, including the Main Auditorium, Factory Innovation Theatre, Workshop Arena, and sponsored technology auditoriums. Sessions can include keynotes, roundtables, technology presentations, industrial case studies, workshops, interviews, and panel discussions.

The official Advanced Factories mobile application is particularly useful for scheduling. The organiser states that the app provides the updated programme, speaker information, exhibitor information, maps, and tools for creating a personal schedule.

Visitors should therefore review the official agenda before arriving and identify priority sessions in advance, especially when several technical tracks overlap.

Ticket types & registration

The 2027 physical ticket prices have not yet been officially published. Advanced Factories traditionally uses several professional access categories.

The principal pass structure has included:

• Business Pass: Professional access to the exhibition and selected event activities.
• Premium VIP Pass: Higher-level access including the Industry 4.0 Congress and additional benefits.
• Factories of the Future Awards Pass: Access to the awards gala for attendees who already hold a qualifying Advanced Factories pass.
• Speaker, exhibitor and press access: Special accreditation according to participation status.
• Virtual Pass: Access to recorded congress content after the physical event.

A publicly documented previous-edition reference listed the Business Pass at approximately $101 and the Premium VIP Pass at approximately $449, based on published standard prices of $90 and $400 respectively converted at the ECB reference rate. These figures are historical references, not confirmed prices for the upcoming edition.

The official organiser currently confirms that tickets for the upcoming edition will be made available through its website.

Registration deadlines

The final 2027 visitor-registration deadlines have not yet been announced.

The organiser uses different procedures for general visitors, speakers, exhibitors, startups, and other professional participants. Registration normally requires selecting the appropriate pass and completing the required attendee information. After successful registration, attendees receive a confirmation email with a link to their pass.

For the Industry 4.0 Congress, speaker proposals follow a separate submission process. The current 2027 call for speakers is described as forthcoming, with the organiser inviting professionals and organisations to contribute their expertise.

Companies wishing to exhibit can already request a personalised proposal for participation. The organiser is actively promoting exhibition participation and offers different participation options for partners, exhibitors, and newcomers.

Exhibitor list & major companies

The final 2027 exhibitor list has not yet been published. The organiser has already opened participation for companies that want to present industrial automation, robotics, AI, machine learning, digital twins, machine vision, industrial software, IoT, industrial cloud, data analytics, cybersecurity, and industrial plant management technologies.

The latest completed edition was a record-breaking edition, bringing together 34,657 industrial professionals and 758 exhibiting companies.

The latest exhibition ecosystem included leading industrial and technology companies across automation, manufacturing, engineering, digitalisation, robotics, and industrial software.

Companies and organisations represented across the event and its recent programmes have included:

• Siemens
• Schneider Electric
• ABB
• Beckhoff
• Festo
• Bosch Rexroth
• Rockwell Automation
• Mitsubishi Electric
• Weidmüller
• 3DZ
• Agile Robots
• Fracttal
• Aritex
• Tecnalia
• Nissan
• SEAT-CUPRA
• Stellantis
• Airbus
• Amazon
• Michelin
• Repsol
• Coca-Cola
• Gestamp

The companies above represent recent participation, speakers, technology presentations, or programme involvement and should not be treated as the confirmed 2027 exhibitor list. The organiser states that exhibitor information is made available through the event website and mobile application as participation is finalised.

Exhibition halls & floor plan

The official Advanced Factories site currently provides a pavilion map and exhibitor list for the latest completed edition, while the upcoming layout is still being prepared.

Advanced Factories is currently identified with Hall 2 at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.

The exhibition layout typically incorporates:

• Industrial automation exhibitors
• Robotics and cobotics
• Artificial intelligence
• Industrial software
• Machine vision
• IIoT and connectivity
• Cybersecurity
• Digital twins
• Data analytics
• Additive manufacturing
• Technology demonstration areas
• Innovation theatres
• Startup areas
• Networking spaces
• Conference auditoriums
• Workshop areas

Because the exhibition includes both stands and conference facilities, visitors should consult the official map before arrival. The organiser’s mobile app provides maps and helps visitors locate conference auditoriums, exhibitors, and other key areas.

Networking & business meetings

Networking is a central part of Advanced Factories, with the event specifically designed to connect industrial decision-makers with technology providers and potential business partners.

The organiser promotes B2B meetings as an important benefit for exhibitors, giving participating companies access to purchasing decision-makers and industrial managers.

The wider programme includes:

• Subcontracting Meeting: Connections between manufacturing brands and suppliers of components and services.
• Leadership Summit: Meetings and discussions for CEOs and general managers.
• CIO’s Summit: Sessions focused on the priorities of technology and IT leaders.
• Talent Marketplace: A dedicated area for industrial recruitment and new professional profiles.
• Industry Startup Forum: A platform connecting industrial startups with the wider manufacturing ecosystem.
• Tech Tours: Guided visits highlighting practical industrial technologies.
• Open Innovation: Activities designed to connect industrial challenges with innovative solutions.
• Welcome networking events: Informal opportunities to meet exhibitors, executives, speakers, and other professionals.

These activities make Advanced Factories useful not only for technology discovery but also for supplier identification, partnerships, recruitment, investment, and industrial collaboration.

Industry sectors & highlights

Advanced Factories serves a broad range of manufacturing and industrial sectors.

Automotive: Robotics, flexible production, AI, machine vision, digital twins, predictive maintenance, and automated assembly.

Aerospace: High-precision manufacturing, advanced materials, robotics, inspection, additive manufacturing, and digital engineering.

Food and beverage: Production automation, packaging systems, traceability, quality control, energy efficiency, and smart manufacturing.

Pharmaceuticals: Process control, clean manufacturing environments, automation, quality systems, data management, and digital production.

Chemicals: Process automation, industrial safety, monitoring, predictive systems, and connected production.

Energy: Industrial digitalisation, automation, energy efficiency, asset management, and sustainable manufacturing.

Electronics: Precision production, machine vision, robotics, testing, automation, and data-driven manufacturing.

Rail and mobility: Automated production, advanced materials, digital engineering, robotics, and connected industrial systems.

Metalworking: CNC technologies, industrial automation, machine tools, robotics, inspection, and production optimisation.

Logistics: Warehouse automation, robotics, industrial software, connected systems, and intelligent material handling.

The event’s technology scope is deliberately broad, allowing companies from different industries to examine how the same technologies can be adapted to their particular manufacturing challenges.

Event rules & visitor information

Advanced Factories is a professional B2B event. Visitors should register using the appropriate professional pass and bring their registration credentials when attending.

The organiser states that attendees receive a confirmation email containing a link to download their pass in PDF format. Visitors are advised to print their pass and keep their accreditation visible at the venue. Exhibitors may scan visitor badges using contactless technology to record interest in their products and services.

Advanced Factories is a fully in-person event. Sessions are not streamed live during the physical event, although recordings are subsequently made available through the Video On Demand platform. Premium VIP attendees, speakers, and exhibitors receive complimentary access under the organiser’s applicable conditions.

International visitors who require a visa should complete registration first and follow the organiser’s visa-support procedure. The organiser makes clear that visa approval remains the responsibility of the relevant authorities.

How to get there

Fira Barcelona Gran Via is located in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, immediately southwest of central Barcelona.

The venue can be reached easily by road from the main motorway network, including the AP-7, AP-2, A-2, C-16, C-58, C-31, C-32, and C-33.

For international visitors, Barcelona-El Prat Airport is the closest major airport. The airport is approximately 12 kilometres from Fira Gran Via and has direct metro, bus, road, and taxi connections to the exhibition area.

Visitors arriving from central Barcelona can use metro or FGC rail services to reach the venue. Taxi services are also available at designated ranks around the Fira complex.

Public transport & parking

The most convenient metro connections are L9 Sud, serving Fira and Europa/Fira stations, and L10 Sud, serving Foc. The Europa/Fira area is particularly convenient for the Gran Via venue.

FGC railway services also connect the venue with Barcelona and surrounding areas, with Europa/Fira serving as an important station for the exhibition complex. Bus connections include several TMB services serving the Fira area.

Barcelona-El Prat Airport can be reached directly using L9 Sud, TMB bus line 46, taxi, or road transport.

For drivers, Fira Barcelona operates parking facilities around the Gran Via venue. The latest Advanced Factories practical information gives a parking reference of approximately $4 per hour, with a maximum of about $34 for a full day, converted using the ECB reference exchange rate available in early October. These are the latest published parking figures and may change for the upcoming edition.

Accommodation areas

Barcelona city centre is a convenient choice for international visitors because it provides extensive hotel accommodation, restaurants, attractions, and public transport connections.

The areas around Plaça d’Espanya, Sants, Gran Via, and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat can be particularly practical for visitors who want shorter journeys to Fira Barcelona.

Staying near an L9 Sud or FGC station can make travelling to the exhibition centre easier, particularly for visitors with early meetings or a busy conference schedule.

The organiser has previously provided travel and accommodation benefits to registered attendees through preferred providers. Previous arrangements included hotel discounts and transport offers, although the exact partner offers for the upcoming edition should be checked after registration.

Previous year’s highlights

The latest completed edition was described by the organiser as a record-breaking tenth edition. It brought together 34,657 industrial professionals, 758 exhibiting companies, and 432 international experts according to the organiser’s event highlights page. The ticket platform separately reports 436 international experts contributing to the Industry 4.0 Congress, reflecting different counting points across the organiser’s materials.

The exhibition presented a large range of technologies aimed at making factories more sustainable, efficient, intelligent, and human-centred. Automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, industrial software, machine vision, data analytics, cybersecurity, and connected manufacturing were among the major areas represented.

The Industry 4.0 Congress featured more than 200 industrial experiences, strategies, success stories, and technology presentations. Speakers addressed practical transformation challenges rather than limiting the programme to theoretical technology discussions.

Previous programmes included industrial case studies from organisations such as Nissan, Siemens, SEAT-CUPRA, Stellantis, Repsol, Airbus, Amazon, Michelin, Coca-Cola, Roca, Mercedes-Benz, and other major industrial companies.

The event also expanded its ecosystem beyond the main exhibition and congress through startup programmes, technology tours, talent activities, AI and cybersecurity forums, the CIO and Plant Managers summits, and the Factories of the Future Awards.

Official registration & tickets

Official registration for Advanced Factories should be completed through the organiser’s website. The 2027 edition is already being promoted, and companies can request information and participation proposals from the organiser.

The exact 2027 physical ticket prices have not yet been published. As a previous-edition reference, publicly documented standard prices were approximately $101 for the Business Pass and $449 for the Premium VIP Pass after conversion from the published standard prices using the ECB reference rate. These amounts should be treated only as historical guidance, not confirmed 2027 pricing.

The organiser also currently offers a $67 Virtual Pass for access to the recorded Industry 4.0 Congress content from the latest completed edition. The amount is based on the organiser’s published $60-equivalent price converted using the current ECB reference rate and is not a physical attendance ticket for the upcoming edition.

Visitors should register through the official Advanced Factories platform and check the access rights associated with each pass before purchasing. Premium access is particularly relevant for professionals who want extensive access to the Industry 4.0 Congress and executive-level activities.