Young Welders, Retro Ferrari, and Universities Shine at the 30th MSV in Nitra

MicroStep Honoured for Contributions to the Engineering Fair's Development

From May 20 to 23, 2025, the Agrokomplex Exhibition Centre in Nitra, Slovakia, hosted the 30th edition of the International Engineering Fair (MSV), reaffirming its pivotal role in Slovak engineering. The event attracted hundreds of exhibiting companies and thousands of professional visitors from Slovakia and neighbouring countries. The primary aim was to present the latest trends and technological solutions in engineering, automation, and digitalization to the domestic audience.

Key Themes and Accompanying Events

This year's fair focused on digitalization and robotisation of production processes, cybersecurity in line with the NIS2 directive, sustainable manufacturing, and the deployment of artificial intelligence in industry.

The programme was rich in accompanying events, with one of the main highlights being the conference "From Digitalisation to Sustainability – Industry of the New Generation," held on May 21 in collaboration with SAPIE. Discussions centred on digitalization and innovation as tools for increasing productivity, financing innovations through grants and venture capital, new cybersecurity requirements, and the application of artificial intelligence in manufacturing.

The fair also featured a professional seminar by the Slovak Technical Inspection focusing on safety and legislative requirements for domestic machinery, as well as the 27th national ELECTRON conference dedicated to the revision, design, maintenance, and installation of electrical equipment.

Traditionally, TECHFORUM was present, where Slovak technical universities and colleges showcased their research and development projects. Visitors could explore the evolution of technologies up to current collaborative systems in mobility, robotics, and automation. A notable attraction was the "retro" 1972 Ferrari 365 Daytona, juxtaposed with a modern low-pressure hydrogen refuelling station for the MH2 sportscar developed by the Technical University in Košice (TUKE), which earned the university the main TECHFORUM award.

Cutting and Welding Hand in Hand

A dynamic highlight of this year's fair in Nitra was the Slovak Championship in Simulated Welding, aimed at encouraging young people's interest in practical skills in technical fields. This event complemented the numerous cutting technologies presented, predominantly by foreign manufacturers, with MicroStep being the sole domestic producer. Unlike international competitors, MicroStep showcased solutions in all four cutting technologies – fiber laser, plasma, oxyfuel, and waterjet – not only for sheet metal but also for pipes, beams, profiles, and domes. This comprehensive presentation attracted unprecedented interest from professionals, students, and the general public alike.

Bevel Head in Competition and Recognition for Contributions to Engineering

The focal point of MicroStep's presentation was the MSF Compact laser cutting machine, which featured live cutting demonstrations throughout the fair. Also highlighted was our bevel head for plasma or oxyfuel cutting, equipped with a unique, patented ACTG auto-calibration system, which was nominated for the Best Exhibit Award at MSV 2025. Although it narrowly missed the award, MicroStep did not leave empty-handed – receiving an honorary recognition for its contributions to the development of the engineering fair and its longstanding active role in the industry. The award was accepted on behalf of the company by Sales Director Jakub Daučo and Marketing Director Michal Kováč. In his speech, Jakub Daučo highlighted the company's Slovak roots and the importance of the "Made in Slovakia" label in terms of quality, availability of after-sales services, and compliance with EU safety standards.

Over 25 Years of Bevel Cutting in Sheets, Pipes, Profiles, and Domes

Last year, MicroStep celebrated 25 years of plasma bevel cutting, and today, it boasts over 1,200 delivered bevel cutting machines across more than 50 countries worldwide, employing all four cutting technologies. In addition to sheets, pipes, and beams, a significant application area for the company is the processing of tank heads for the production of pressure vessels, tanks, heat exchangers, and industrial boilers. At the fair, MicroStep showcased the capabilities of dome processing on its machines – a stainless steel dome with a diameter of 2 meters featuring various precisely cut openings for flanges and pipe intersections, achieved through high-precision 3D laser scanning using the company's mScan technology. Also on display was an autonomous autonomous control console with the demonstration of MicroStep's modern CyberFab Control system and the CyberFab Manager for automated production process management, encompassing not only cutting but also managing subsequent production stages such as welding, bending, deburring, and many others.

We extend our sincere thanks to all visitors to our booth during the four exhibition days and firmly believe that our presentation contributed not only to the development of the fair but also inspired Slovak companies to manufacture more efficiently and with higher quality through the automation of weld preparation, material flow, and high-precision cutting technologies. See you again next year!