Spain’s plastics industry is growing despite regulatory pressure, rising raw material costs and tougher global competition. According to the Equiplast 2026 Study, the sector now generates almost 29 billion euros in turnover and is strengthening its role in recycling, machinery and transformation as circular economy requirements reshape the market.

CNC machining enables Speedpart to manufacture complex components from production-grade metals and engineering plastics with high dimensional accuracy. The process complements additive manufacturing where tight tolerances, fits and functional surfaces are required.

Sustainability, digitalisation and circularity set the tone at Expoquimia and Equiplast 2026, which closed at Fira de Barcelona with nearly 21,000 visitors.

As manufacturing markets in Europe and North America demand greater flexibility, productivity and process integration, Modig, Ibarmia and Licon are strengthening their joint presence on the international stage. At IMTS 2026 in Chicago and AMB 2026 in Stuttgart, the Group will present its combined machining expertise, from flexible production concepts to high-volume manufacturing systems.

Four CMMs, a new CT system and updated metrology software will form the core of LK Metrology’s presence at IMTS 2026. The company will demonstrate shop-floor and multi-sensor measuring technologies alongside its PXR-CT Alpha 320KV system, Camio software, remote inspection monitoring portal and point cloud inspection tools.

The Additive Manufacturing business unit of Sandvik is to be sold to Swedish investment firm Mimir. The unit manufactures metal powders and controlled expansion alloys for specialized industrial applications.

Die-casting moulds are costly, highly stressed assets — and unexpected tool failure can quickly disrupt production. Fraunhofer ILT is showing how laser material deposition, EHLA and AI-assisted repair processes can extend mould life, reduce downtime and make toolmaking more resource-efficient.

German manufacturers will have broader access to ceramic and metal additive manufacturing through a new collaboration between XJet and 3D-Werk Black Forest.

The consolidation in industrial additive manufacturing continues: Stratasys has agreed to acquire Markforged from Nano Dimension in a 42.5 million dollar all-cash transaction.

GPU raytracing is at the centre of Machine Works 8.8. The latest release adds more precise surface-quality visualisation, faster recording playback and new functions for solid extraction, clash tolerances and multi-axis turning simulation.