HEATEXPO 2025 closes with an increase in visitors and international growth – trade fair develops into the leading trade fair for the heating and cooling supply of the future
New positioning and claim underline innovation and industry claim: “Innovation in every degree”.
Dortmund, November 28, 2025 – Three successful trade fair days confirm HEATEXPO’s growth trajectory: more visitors, more international exhibitors, more exhibition space and a significantly expanded range of topics. At its third edition at Messe Dortmund (November 25-27, 2025), the trade fair for the heat supply of the future was the central platform for technological solutions, political impetus and practical implementation in the heating and cooling sector.
With over 200 exhibitors – a further increase compared to the two previous editions – and around 25 percent international participation, HEATEXPO recorded a significant increase in visitor numbers. Specialist delegations and participants from Scandinavia, the Benelux countries and Eastern Europe, among others, were particularly well represented. The proportion of municipal representatives as well as energy suppliers, industrial companies, planning offices and the housing industry also increased noticeably.
Strong response and strategic tailwind
“HEATEXPO stands for the strategic further development of a market that is currently gaining momentum in Germany and Europe,” summarizes Sabine Loos, Managing Director of the Westfalenhallen Group: “The fact that we were once again able to increase the number of international exhibitors and trade visitors is a strong signal for Dortmund as a location and for the role of the trade fair as an innovation platform for the industry.”
The feedback from exhibitors and partners was also very positive. In the exhibitor survey, 91 percent confirmed that they would exhibit at HEATEXPO again next year. The opportunities for good follow-up business and the high number of visitors to the stands were rated particularly positively. In addition, the professional qualifications of the participants in the areas of heating and cooling supply, infrastructure and transport networks, digitalization of heating as well as services, development and investment were once again impressive.
HEATEXPO was once again able to significantly increase the number of visitors compared to previous years. The results of the visitor survey also show a development at a consistently high level: 91.4 percent of the surveyed trade fair participants said they would visit again; the result is therefore a seamless continuation of the previous year’s excellent result.
The fact that HEATEXPO maintained its high professional level on all three days of the trade fair was also demonstrated by the attendance of high-ranking representatives from politics and business. Dr. Rolf Bösinger, State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Dr. Michael G. Müller, CFO of RWE AG, were among those on site in Dortmund. Both used their visit to the trade fair for discussions with exhibitors and also actively participated in a panel discussion in the HEATEXPO Forum on the last day of the trade fair.
Ideal sponsors provide impetus: VKU and VDMA Power Systems
Ingbert Liebing, Managing Director of the German Association of Local Utilities (VKU), emphasizes: “HEATEXPO is increasingly establishing itself as the leading trade fair for the heating industry. It clearly shows that a lot is technically possible in the heating transition. But the heating transition also needs acceptance. This will only succeed if the heating transition is feasible for everyone, including financially. That’s why we need legal reforms.”
Dr. Dennis Rendschmidt, Managing Director of VDMA Power Systems, adds: “The topic of process heat and our diverse formats met with great interest at HEATEXPO. The discussions clearly showed: The topic is gaining momentum.
The opportunities for cross-sector synergies to decarbonize the industry are enormous. Climate-neutral heat generation is technologically mature and can be implemented economically under suitable framework conditions. It is now important to actively shape these framework conditions in order to decisively support the market ramp-up.”
Further development of the HEATEXPO brand: New positioning and claim
With the conclusion of the third event, Messe Dortmund is further sharpening the profile of HEATEXPO. In future, the format will be known as the “Leading International Trade Fair for Innovative Heating and Cooling Supply”. This is the trade fair’s response to a market in which heating and cooling are increasingly being considered, planned and operated together. Throughout Europe, cooling supply is gaining in importance, and in this country too, municipal utilities and energy suppliers are increasingly focusing on integrated systems instead of looking at the two areas separately.
This change is directly visible at HEATEXPO. Many exhibitors will be presenting solutions that combine heating and cooling applications in one system. Large heat pumps, storage and network solutions as well as intelligent control systems are designed in such a way that they can take on both tasks. “With the expanded positioning, we are consistently addressing this market development and positioning HEATEXPO clearly at the cutting edge. The boundaries between heating and cooling are becoming increasingly blurred,” emphasizes Sabine Loos.
The new claim “Innovation in every degree” makes it clear that in future, innovations for heating and cooling will come together in Dortmund in equal measure. HEATEXPO covers the entire spectrum of modern solutions, from low temperatures in building cooling and data centers to grid-connected systems in districts and high process heat in industry. At the same time, the claim stands for a 360-degree view of the entire value chain of these supply systems.
Looking ahead: HEATEXPO 2026
After the successful trade fair year, the focus is already on HEATEXPO 2026, which will take place in Dortmund from November 24 to 26, 2026. The new key visual and the international focus are already shaping the upcoming campaign.
The voices of the partners & exhibitors at HEATEXPO
Sigurd Schiller, Sales engineer heat pumps, 2G Energietechnik GmbH
“The market for the heat transition is developing rapidly. In just three years, HEATEXPO has achieved the status of a leading trade fair and has become indispensable for us. We were particularly proud to present the 2G Afilia-water-isobutane series for the first time on this platform – a pioneering product premiere that puts us one step ahead in heat transition technology and meets current market needs. The show has established itself as a positive example of how to develop an event properly.”
Dr. Klaus Ramming, Head of Thermotechnology, AGO GmbH
“We have been regular exhibitors at HEATEXPO since the beginning. The continuous development of the trade fair is reflected in the consistently high quality of the discussions. The topics relating to large heat pumps and decarbonization are particularly exciting. For us, this is a clear focus that perfectly matches our solutions.”
Stephan Höflmaier, Head of Business Development, Bilfiger Industrial Services GmbH
“HEATEXPO has established itself as an outstanding event that has been extremely well received. The excellent target group approach is particularly positive: municipal utilities and energy suppliers are fully represented, which makes the trade fair an ideal place for exchange and networking. We are delighted to be part of this platform and can look back on very successful discussions and many new contacts.”
Christian Schmidt, Authorized Signatory / Head of Products, Enerlabs GmbH
“The discussions we had were the best we have ever had at a trade fair in terms of content. Our product range was a perfect fit for the HEATEXPO clientele.”
Jessica Ritzenhofen, Marketing and Communications Officer, ENGIE Refrigeration GmbH
“HEATEXPO has become much more important in recent years. The number of trade visitors was impressive right from the start. Especially for us as a supplier in the field of heat pumps and heat recovery, the trade fair is the perfect place to position ourselves clearly. No other event focuses so intensively and in such detail on these topics.”
Thomas Gierlich, Senior Sales Developer DACH, GRUNFOS GmbH
“HEATEXPO has once again improved significantly this year. The trade fair has developed excellently and is gaining more momentum every year. The immense demand from the very first day was particularly impressive. The event is growing in perfect harmony with the industry and is attracting more and more visitors who are showing a strong interest in innovative solutions. It is exciting to see how the trade fair is establishing itself as an indispensable meeting place for all relevant players in the industry.”
Markus Junker, Area Manager, Hoval /YADOS GmbH
“HEATEXPO has developed steadily over the last few years and is growing every time both in size and in the quality of the discussions. For us in particular, the trade fair is the perfect place to present our portfolio in the field of ‘energy systems for the heating transition’. The discussions with decision-makers and experts are not only purposeful, but also in-depth. Here we meet exactly the partners with whom we can tackle the challenges of the energy transition together. HEATEXPO delivers what it promises – a platform where innovation and collaboration take center stage.”
Timo Giese, Technical Sales Field Service – NRW + NDS South, HUBER SE
“For us, participation in HEATEXPO is already firmly planned for next year. We have been there since the first trade fair and the response has always been excellent. We have now doubled the size of our stand in order to meet the increasing demand. The strong presence of municipal heating planners was particularly pleasing, a clear trend that is becoming increasingly important. Equally noteworthy was the growing interest in the use of waste water as an energy source for cooling and heating; a proven technology that is currently coming back into focus. We are already looking forward to the next HEATEXPO.”
Akko Rattink, International Sales Manager, KARA FUTURE ENERGY SYSTEMS
“HEATEXPO is a trade fair that is particularly valuable for us, as it directly addresses the right target group. The quality of the discussions was excellent and led to many important contacts. The topics of biomass and decarbonization in particular are currently in the spotlight, and the trade fair offers an excellent platform for international exchange and cooperation.”
Abdelmalek Bahri, Technical Sales Expert, Mayekawa Deutschland GmbH
“HEATEXPO was a complete success for us. The in-depth discussions with planners and decision-makers from the industry were particularly valuable. We were able to deepen existing partnerships as well as develop new project approaches. An all-round positive environment that promotes genuine exchange and long-term cooperation.”
Karl Kroll, Segment Marketing Manager Heating, Mitsubishi Electric Europe B.V.
“This was our first time exhibiting at HEATEXPO 2025 and it was exactly what we expected. The show attracts high quality visitors, including utilities and municipal representatives, who come to us with specific and challenging questions. In particular, we were able to present our expertise in chilled water systems and heat pumps directly to the right audience and offer customized solutions. An all-round successful event that provided us with the right discussions and contacts.”
Florian Kröger, Managing Director, SKG Umwelttechnik GmbH & Co. KG
“HEATEXPO has developed into a very successful, internationally recognized trade fair over the last three years. The steadily growing interest in the event underlines how forward-looking the topics covered – particularly in the area of the heat transition – are. Today, HEATEXPO is an indispensable event in the industry’s annual calendar. The trade fair was a great success for us: it gave us the opportunity to maintain existing contacts, acquire new customers and further position ourselves as a brand. Overall, the event was a complete success.”
Sebastian Kouřil, Managing Director, Terra Calidus GmbH
“Our first visit to HEATEXPO was a complete success. The trade fair offered an ideal platform to present the potential of geothermal energy and to anchor the topic in the long term. The direct contact with existing and new customers was extremely productive and opened up many new project approaches for us.”
Angelika Zippl, Marketing Manager, VK Energie GmbH
“HEATEXPO offers an excellent opportunity to meet our customers in person and exchange ideas. We particularly appreciate the intimate atmosphere that is maintained despite the large number of participants. We not only meet new customers here, but also all the relevant players such as municipal utilities and energy suppliers. The focus was on topics such as optimizing the operation of energy systems and efficient operating processes – perfect for initiating forward-looking projects.”
Dr. Dennis Rendschmidt, Managing Director, VDMA Power Systems
The topic of process heat and our diverse formats met with great interest at HEATEXPO. The discussions clearly showed: The topic is gaining momentum. The opportunities for cross-sector synergies to decarbonize the industry are enormous. Climate-neutral heat generation is technologically mature and can be implemented economically under suitable framework conditions. It is now important to actively shape these framework conditions in order to decisively support the market ramp-up.”
HEATEXPO – Leading International Trade Fair for Innovative Heating and Cooling Supply
HEATEXPO is the leading international trade fair for innovative heating and cooling supply in Dortmund. It brings together manufacturers, planners, utility companies, local authorities, the housing sector and industry and shows how modern heating and cooling systems can be implemented efficiently, reliably and economically. Exhibitors from plant engineering, energy supply, infrastructure services and engineering and consulting firms will present technological solutions, services and specific projects. Under the claim “Innovation in every degree”, HEATEXPO brings together solutions along the entire value chain of the industry.
NEXT DATE:
November 24 to 26, 2026
ORGANIZER:
Messe Dortmund GmbH
IDEAL CARRIERS:
- Association of Municipal Enterprises (VKU)
- VDMA Power Systems
EXHIBITORS:
more than 200 exhibitors
VISITORS:
4,000 participants
PROFESSIONAL PARTNER:
- Working group for economical use of energy and water (ASEW)
- Federal Geothermal Energy Association
- German County Association
- German Association of Towns and Municipalities (DStGB)
- German Association of Cities
- Association of the Housing and Real Estate Industry Rhineland Westphalia (VdW Rheinland Westfalen)
