Thank you to all of you, exhibitors, visitors, institutional partners, members of the Rochexpo team, service providers, and everyone else who helped make SIMODEC 2026 such a wonderful event.

Despite a challenging economic climate and a turbulent geopolitical environment, this year’s event maintains SIMODEC’s medium- and long-term momentum.

Although there were fewer exhibitors than in 2024, they also collectively reduced the average stand size. However, their stand designs helped ensure the exhibition went very well.

Our decision to create a Subcontracting Village was a welcome move, enabling us to revitalise the present and paving the way for a promising future.

As for visitor numbers, attendance was lower than in 2024, though this did not prove too detrimental. The total decline amounted to just 434 visitors (19,675 in 2026 compared with 20,109 in 2024). The reduced presence of professionals, exhibitors and visitors was offset by the attendance of 1,827 school pupils, compared to 1,204 in 2024. Thank you to the teams at SNDec and the Campus des Métiers who made their visit possible and ensured they were welcomed in the best possible conditions. The presence of young people at SIMODEC was encouraging for training and recruitment prospects, which remain key concerns for the sector.

Finally, the Innovation Awards ceremony, the exhibitors’ evening, the Simodec late-night opening and the industry women’s lunch were key events that fostered networking and dialogue. So, yes, a big thank you to everyone for making the 2026 event such a success.

Philippe Vachoux, President of Rochexpo