Platformers’ Days in the final stretch: New event date strengthens market position in the D-A-CH region

Karlsruhe, 21 September 2026. At its Karlsruhe venue, Platformers’ Days – the trade fair for aerial working platforms, cranes and forklifts – has established itself as a key industry meeting place. On Thursday 8 and Friday 9 October 2026, over 120 national and international exhibitors will present a wide range of lifting and access technology, as well as complementary products, digital solutions and services, across more than 32,000 m² of indoor and outdoor exhibition space.

“Feedback from the industry even before the event begins shows that Platformers’ Days remain on course for success and have firmly established themselves as a key meeting place for the sector. The newly introduced biennial trade fair cycle lends the event added value and creates a strong platform for gaining an overview of the market, professional exchange and forging new business contacts. With the new date in October and the exhibition days on Thursday and Friday, we are purposefully refining the event concept and creating even better conditions for exhibitors and trade visitors within our series of construction trade fairs,” reports Beate Frères, Division Manager at Messe Karlsruhe.

In future, the Platformers’ Days will always take place on the Thursday and Friday of the second week of October. The organisers have already set the dates for the next edition as 12 and 13 October 2028.

The forklift product group will have its own special exhibition in Hall 1

With the special exhibition for industrial forklifts, the exhibition organisers are welcoming the nationwide dealer organisation Stapler Plus eG as a new cooperation partner for the first time. Together with selected suppliers and partners, key solutions and developments in industrial truck technology will be presented as a unified package.

“The analysis of our 2024 visitor survey showed that equipment rental companies in particular are prioritising an expansion of the forklift product group in combination with aerial working platform technology,” explains Philipp Doll, project manager for Platformers’ Days. “We are happy to meet this demand. Among the partners we have secured for our special exhibition are VETTER Industrie, Durwen Maschinenbau, TREX.PARTS, Michelin Reifenwerke, De Lage Landen Leasing and STILL.”

New exhibitors are not limited to the special exhibition. For this year’s event, more than 30 new manufacturers and dealers have been secured for the Platformers’ Days. The figure has never been higher. Industry giants such as Hyster Yale and the spare parts specialist TVH can also be found in the directory.

“We are, of course, delighted to be experiencing such a surge in the forklift sector. At the same time, key exhibitors such as Genie, Jekko, Klaas, Magni, Manitou, Merlo, Palfinger and Ruthmann have placed their trust in us since the takeover began. They form the foundation for the successful development of Platformers’ Days,” says the project manager happily.

Spotting subtle differences during the practical test in a direct comparison: Low-Level Access Area with a test course for visitors

With the new Low-Level Access Area, the organisers are launching a specialised demonstration area for low-level access equipment. The focus is on compact, manually manoeuvrable or self-propelled personnel lifts for safe use at low heights – ideal for indoor areas, confined spaces and delicate floor coverings. What makes this unique in Germany is that the systems can be tested under real-world conditions on the test course. Ease of operation, manoeuvrability and safety features can be compared and discussed in person with manufacturers and dealers right there on site. Represented are Black Forest with products from Safelift, JLG with its range of Power Towers, as well as industry veteran Faraone and all-rounder TEREX with products from GENIE. The test course is available on Thursday from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm, and on Friday from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm.

The Demo-Area has established itself as a major attraction for visitors

The outdoor exhibition area has undergone continuous development, offering visitors the opportunity to experience machinery and products in action under realistic construction site conditions. The focus is on new products and innovations that are being launched on the market this year or have already been launched. For the first time, Merlo, a manufacturer of telescopic handlers, will also be on display in the demo area, presenting its equipment in combination with a camera system for the fork carriage developed by Vetter Industrie. Alongside aerial work platforms from Avant, Genie and Haulotte, mini-cranes from Hoeflon and Jekko will also be in action. There will be two 45-minute shows daily in the demonstration area. Exhibitors can also use the demonstration area outside show times to offer individual customer demonstrations.

The supporting programme is complemented by the inclusion of speech slots at the stands of the industrial and construction lift specialist GEDA and software manufacturer Infosystem. Furthermore, Niederstätter, CARGOTRANS (Bremen) and the Platformers’ Days are jointly presenting the Girls Wanted project: Talent over Gender – for greater equality of opportunity in the hire industry. Further information can be found here: Programme | Platformers’ Days

Exhibitor highlights for 2026

One of the premieres will be celebrated by the Japanese manufacturer Tadano – primarily known for its product portfolio in the crane sector – with products from the Manitex Group, which it acquired last year. Alongside a number of aerial working platforms from manufacturers Oil&Steel and Nagano, the Tadano stand will also feature two machines from the crane segment: the V130RX ‘Pick & Carry’ crane from Valla and the 83.5SP lorry-mounted crane from PM.

If you’re looking for crane expertise amongst the exhibitors, the aluminium truck mounted cranes from manufacturer KLAAS are usually not far away. But it’s not just cranes that feature in their wide-ranging product portfolio. At the start of the year, a new aerial working platform in the 7.5-metric-tonne class, the “Lutz”, was unveiled. ‘Lutz’, the big brother of ‘Theo’ – whose technology has been continuously refined, according to Philipp Wanger, sales manager at Klaas, headquartered in Ascheberg – boasts an impressive lateral reach of 22 metres with a platform load of 300 kg, or 26.50 metres with a load of 100 kg.

An lateral reach of up to 24.5 m can be found at XCMG. The XGA48K telescopic working platform also boasts a working height of more than 48 m. These are top figures in the field of self-propelled work machines. But the Chinese manufacturer is also stepping up its game in terms of technology: compared with conventional hydraulic systems from competitors, total fuel consumption is reduced by more than 30 per cent under all operating conditions. For greater efficiency and sustainability.

Those who prefer fuel-free solutions will find everything they need for their rental fleet at the Manitou stand. Spanning more than 300 m², the stand features a wide range of electric aerial working platforms, telescopic handlers and forklifts. The spotlight is on the fully electric, rigid telescopic handler MT625e, which sets new standards in its class with its numerous features.

“For us, the Platformers’ Days are the ‘small bauma of the rental sector’. Nowhere else can you meet the most important decision-makers in such an accessible, informal atmosphere. During the day, we hold high-calibre technical discussions on an equal footing, and the evening event rounds off the occasion perfectly every year,” explains Simon Rath, Key Account Manager and Deputy Sales Director D/A/CH at Manitou Deutschland GmbH.

The organisers have also further expanded the spare parts and components section for Platformers’ Days. Vetter Industrie, the leading manufacturer of forklift tines, has been secured as an exhibitor for the trade fair. Among other things, this global player will be showcasing a new application for the LUXX front-end camera. The retrofittable camera system now supports not only forklifts operators but also telehandler operators, particularly when working at great lifting heights. Together with market leader Merlo, they will demonstrate in the demo area the potential that the flexibly retrofittable camera system offers beyond the traditional forklifts.

The Swiss manufacturer Infosystem – known to many simply for its leva dispatch programme – has now firmly established itself on the market. At the heart of their offering is their AI ‘Genius’, which they are expanding within leva+, ressys and performis. The system automatically recognises orders and emails, creates pre-filled jobs and suggests ready-made routes or dispatch proposals directly on the planning board. Furthermore, leva+ has been expanded to include solutions for entire sub-sectors.

PD-Networking-Night as the perfect finale on Thursday

As is tradition, the first day of the trade fair will be rounded off by the popular PD-Networking-Night, which this year has the theme ‘Sports & Skills’. Around 1,000 guests from the industry are expected to attend. The impressive entrance hall of the Karlsruhe Exhibition Centre, with its view of the illuminated atrium, will be entirely dedicated to sport and promises a varied programme covering all disciplines. Anyone who wishes to do so can also show their support for their favourite sport by wearing the appropriate sports kit. The aim is to offer exhibitors and visitors a unique setting for discussion and networking in a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Doors open for the PD-Networking-Night at 6.30 pm. The trade fair is open on Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm and on Friday from 9 am to 3 pm. Tickets for the evening event are already sold out; any remaining tickets are only available through the exhibitors.

The venue is easily accessible via the A5 motorway. There is also a free trade fair shuttle running between Karlsruhe Central Station and the exhibition grounds.

The Platformers’ Days 2026 are held under the patronage of Dr Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut MdL, Minister for Economic Affairs, Skilled Trades and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

Further information and tickets for the Platformers’ Days are available online at https://www.platformers-days.de/en.