EISENforum 2026

Name: International Hardware Fair
Start: 2026-03-03
End: 2026-03-06
Location: Koelnmesse GmbH

The stage for top themes

Once again this year, the EISENforum 2026 in Hall 10 offers a successful combination of events including lectures and panels on the most exciting industry themes. The award ceremony of the EISENawards 2026 rounds the programme off. Anyone interested in the future of the industry and the latest trends has come to the right place here. Experts and insiders offer new insights and food for thought.

The complete lecture programme of the EISENforum 2026 will be available shortly.

BME Buyers' Day 2026

The BME Buyers' Day holds an exclusive series of lectures in store for the trade visitors of the EISENWARENMESSE - International Hardware Fair. The top-class lectures are especially designed for procurement experts and offer valuable insights and practice-oriented approaches for buyers from the tools and hardware industry.

12:00 noon Welcome by Dr. Frithjof Kilp, Department Head Association, German Association Materials Management, Procurement and Logistics (BME).

Sven Steffen Schulz, Department Head Market Research (on behalf of BME e.V. for BMEnet GmbH), BME e.V.

Strategic procurement management - key performance indicators and their influence

Where do I stand? An overview of the top procurement KPIs in the areas: processes & costs, structure, savings, quality, methods
Prioritise measures! Which factors have what influence on procurement KPIs?
Set targets with benchmarks! Which values do the best performers achieve?

Sven Steffen Schulz, Department Head Market Research (on behalf of BME e.V. for BMEnet GmbH), BME e.V.

04.03.2026 | 12:05 - 12:35 p.m.

Andrea Münch, Department Head Procurement, terranets bw GmbH

Procurement in SMEs - structure, challenges and future sustainability

Structure and organisation of procurement - basis for efficient procurement
Future challenges in the SME sector - market changes, risks and opportunities for procurement
Resilience and future sustainability - strategies for the sustainable reinforcement of procurement

Andrea Münch, Department Head Procurement, terranets bw GmbH

04.03.2026 | 12:35 - 1:05 p.m.

Alexander Grimm, Political Advisor, BME e.V.

One bus, many passengers: How Europe's omnibus packages are reshaping the rules

What are "omnibus packages"?
Key omnibus projects
Consequences for companies

Alexander Grimm, Political Advisor, BME e.V.

04.03.2026 | 1:05 - 1:35 p.m.

Hergen Oetjen, Procurement Manager/Vice President Purchasing and Materials Management, F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG

Best Practice

Information to follow

Hergen Oetjen, Procurement Manager/Vice President Purchasing and Materials Management, F. REYHER Nchfg. GmbH & Co. KG

04.03.2026 | 1:35 - 2:05 p.m.

Mark Borgwardt, Director Materials Management, GIFAS ELECTRIC GmbH

Procurement today - tasks and challenges using the example of C parts procurement

C parts - ancillary ballast?
Efficient procurement
Digitalisation as support
Partial costs vs. process costs

Mark Borgwardt, Director Materials Management, GIFAS ELECTRIC GmbH

04.03.2026 | 2:05 - 2:35 p.m.

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bremer, Nuremberg Technical University

"Alexa, write me a procurement strategy!" Artificial intelligence in procurement - reality, potential and perspectives

What has AI actually achieved so far in procurement - and where does it reach its limits?
How do data-driven decisions come about in strategic procurement - and how can they be improved?
Which role distribution awaits us: Humans and machines in category management of the future?

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Bremer, Nuremberg Technical University

04.03.2026 | 1:05 - 1:35 p.m.