Published
05.10.2026
Topic
Tampere came to a standstill as the backbone of the Finnish economy gathered at Alihankinta
Finnish industry has a strong appetite for growth and global ambitions. This was evident once again at Alihankinta, Northern Europe’s largest industrial event, which brought together nearly 1,100 exhibitors and 18,000 visitors. The number of international visitors increased by almost 50% from the previous year.
Alihankinta 2026, which concluded on Thursday, 1 October, brought nearly 29,000 industry professionals to Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre over three days. The scale of the event was evident not only in the exhibition halls but across Tampere, as the crowds caused traffic congestion around the city.
Now in its 38th edition, Alihankinta has grown into a major platform for business and international growth for Finnish manufacturing companies. And the results speak for themselves.
Endress+Hauser participated in the event as an exhibitor for the first time.
“We had been asking for a spot since 2019. This year, we finally got one – and exceeded our lead target on the very first day,” says Jenni Ahola, Marketing Communications Specialist at Endress+Hauser.
Finland competes on quality, not volume
Finnish industrial expertise is attracting growing interest internationally. This was also evident at Alihankinta.
One question came up repeatedly in the keynote presentations and discussions at Alihankinta: what sets Finland apart in global competition?
Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto (Finns Party) highlighted reliable supply chains and networks as a competitive advantage for Finland. Finland cannot compete with the world’s largest industrial nations on volume, but it has something that is difficult to replicate: high-quality subcontracting networks, security of supply and trust.
Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio (Finns Party) emphasised the importance of growth-oriented SMEs to the Finnish economy.
– Growth is created by thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises. We need more companies with an appetite for growth and the courage to see opportunities in international markets, Tavio emphasised.
Courage was also a recurring theme in the panel discussions at Alihankinta. International expansion does not have to start with neighbouring countries. Companies need the courage to go where the markets are.
The entire value chain in one place
One of Alihankinta’s unique strengths is that it brings practically the entire manufacturing value chain together in one place. DIMECC, the organisation behind the event’s main partner MAKE in Finland, sees these encounters as opportunities to create new partnerships and business.
– What stood out at Alihankinta was the strong drive across the industry and its openness to renewal. Companies are actively looking for new ways to build partnerships, apply emerging technologies and turn them into business opportunities. For DIMECC, this is exactly where our ecosystems can make a difference. We bring the right people together and help move promising ideas and collaboration forward, says Eja Tuominen, CEO of DIMECC.
The theme of Alihankinta 2027 is Resilient Supply Chain. It highlights the ability of Finnish manufacturing to withstand disruption, adapt and renew, and deliver on its promises even under intense pressure.
About Alihankinta
Alihankinta is Northern Europe’s largest industrial event and networking platform. The three-day event brings nearly 29,000 manufacturing professionals and more than 1,000 exhibitors to Tampere each year to build partnerships and supply chains and discuss the future of the industry.
Alihankinta will return to Tampere Exhibition and Sports Centre on 28–30 September 2027. The theme of the event is Resilient Supply Chain. The event is organised by Tampere Trade Fairs Ltd.
Media contact:
Katri Tanni, Communications Manager
Tampere Trade Fairs Group
Tel. +358 44 592 8330