ICOSPA International Congress Marks First Time United States Will Host Event in Nearly 20 Years
CLEVELAND, OH—July 17, 2025—The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) announced today that it will host the International Council of Sheet Metal Presswork Associations (ICOSPA) 22nd International Congress—the world’s foremost gathering of international metalforming manufacturers—in Chicago, IL, on September 15-17, 2027, at the Intercontinental Chicago Magnificent Mile.
The prestigious global event will return to the United States for the first time since 2008, bringing together more than 250 executives from around the world from the metalforming sector, the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating and other value-added processes. The 2027 Congress will showcase cutting-edge innovations, emerging technologies and advanced management practices that are shaping the future of the metalforming industry worldwide.
“PMA is excited to be hosting the 22nd ICOSPA International Congress in 2027, offering participants a terrific opportunity to network internationally, develop new friendships and business relationships, and learn about the latest technologies driving innovation in our industry,” said David Klotz, PMA president. “The conference will take place the same week as FABTECH, allowing visitors the opportunity to experience both events during one trip. We look forward to welcoming metalforming executives from around the world to Chicago for these industry-leading events.”
A steering committee of PMA members is helping to plan the 2027 Congress, which will feature presentations from industry leaders, panel discussions, plant tours of high-tech PMA member companies, and a variety of social and networking events. Steering committee members include Dave Arndt, PMA past chair and ICOSPA delegate; Jeff Aznavorian, Clips & Clamps Industries; Ben Barnett, Principal Manufacturing Corp.; Ralph Hardt, Belleville International; Josh Hopp, HK Metalcraft; Gene Lambert, Batesville Tool & Die; Brian Murphy, Eagle Metals; Joel Wuebker; Nidec Press & Automation; and Chris Zuzick, Waukesha Metal Products.
A range of sponsorship opportunities are available for companies interested in strategically positioning their business in front of hundreds of manufacturing decision makers from across the globe. More information is available www.pma.org/icospa-congress or by contacting Erin Peterman at [email protected].
The FABTECH tradeshow, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event, will be held the same week as the Congress, from September 13-16, 2027.
ICOSPA holds its International Congress every three years, organized on a rotating basis by one of its six member associations from the United States, Germany, France, Japan, China and the United Kingdom.
Details about the ICOSPA International Congress program, speakers, plant tours and more will be available in the coming months on the PMA website. Those wishing to be notified when more information becomes available should fill out this brief form.
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PMA is the full-service trade association representing the $137-billion metalforming industry of North America—the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its more than 900 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, FABTECH tradeshows, and MetalForming magazine.
ICOSPA is the prime platform for the cross-national exchange of the sheet metal engineering industry. Over the past 50 years, the member associations of ICOSPA have represented the voices of more than 12,300 companies of six nations throughout the world including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, China and the United States. Employing over 600,000, the majority of its member companies are small and medium-sized enterprises that supply assemblies, subassemblies and parts to the automotive, machinery, electrical and electronic industries, as well as many other industries.