# Humanoid robot at a metalworking trade fair (EMO Milano, STOM Kielce): what it can do on the stand, rules and who provides it

URL: https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-metalworking-trade-fair-emo-milano-stom-kielce-who-provides
Language: en
Publisher: MERA Robotics (https://merarobotics.com)
Updated: 2026-10-14

> On a metalworking trade fair stand such as EMO Milano or STOM-TOOL and STOM-ROBOTICS in Kielce, a humanoid robot greets visitors, talks about the exhibitor's machine tools and automation, invites people to machine demos and poses for photos. It does not operate machines on the stand; it holds conversations next to them and must disclose that it is AI under the AI Act. MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) provides Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators and conversation in more than 30 languages for such fairs.

A humanoid robot on a metalworking trade fair stand is above all a crowd puller and a conversation partner that explains the exhibitor's offer. At EMO Milano or at the Industrial Spring in Kielce, the robot greets visitors, talks about machine tools, tooling and automation, invites people to a machine demo at a set time and poses for photos. It does not replace sales engineers and does not operate the machines on the stand. To work well it needs knowledge of the offer, a spot away from running machines, the organiser's approval for the demo and a clear notice that visitors are talking to AI.

## Which metalworking trade fairs are worth considering?

The next major editions are two quite different formats:

- **EMO Milano 2027.** After the 2025 edition in Hanover, EMO [returns to Milan from 4 to 8 October 2027](https://www.etmm-online.com/emo-milano-2027-metalworking-industry-innovations-a-007706bbdd09dfa31ca6855038e14c96/). It is organised by UCIMU and covers machine tools, robotics, automation, additive manufacturing and digital technologies. It is a global show with visitors from many countries.
- **Industrial Spring at Targi Kielce.** The cycle includes STOM-TOOL, STOM-BLECH & CUTTING, STOM-LASER and [STOM-ROBOTICS, scheduled for 6-9 April 2027](https://stom.targikielce.pl/). The organiser says each edition attracts at least 600 exhibitors and represented companies from more than ten countries. Kielce is about 7 hours by car from Berlin and about 6 hours from Prague and Vienna, so visitors come from across the region.

In both cases most visitors are process engineers, production managers and buyers. They expect substance, not just a "wow" effect.

## What can a humanoid robot do on a machine tool stand?

A humanoid robot at a metalworking fair works well in several roles:

- **Stopping traffic in the aisle.** The robot talks to passers-by and directs them to the sales team or to a machine.
- **Announcing demos.** Every hour it invites visitors to a machining demo, an automation cell presentation or a new tooling line.
- **Talking about the offer.** It answers basic questions about machines, services and support, and hands harder technical questions to an engineer.
- **Looking after international visitors.** At EMO it speaks the visitor's language before a salesperson steps in.
- **Recognising products by camera.** It can recognise a product on display and talk about it.
- **Video and photos.** Short clips with visitors and reels for the exhibitor's social media.

In practice, MERA Robotics prepares the robot for a specific stand in its MERA OS system: the robot gets an event profile with knowledge about the exhibitor and its machines, a brand name and character, and an operator controls its movement and gestures from a phone app.

## Event robot or production robot: what is the difference?

Visitors at metalworking fairs often ask whether such a humanoid "will work at the machine". The industry is indeed testing this. According to [etMM](https://www.etmm-online.com/humanoid-robots-european-manufacturing-labour-shortages-a-1926eaf646f4a130e075002e9ec8e520/), manufacturers from Schaeffler to Siemens and BMW are assessing how quickly humanoids can be introduced into production, and in tool and mould shops machine tending and materials logistics are among the first potential applications. On a stand, though, it is a different project:

| Feature | Robot on a trade fair stand | Humanoid in a production deployment |
|---|---|---|
| Main task | conversation, greeting, show | machine tending, moving materials |
| Preparation time | a few weeks | pilot in the plant |
| Who controls it | operator on site | integrator and production team |
| Contact with machines | none, it stands next to them | depends on the project and risk assessment |

So the honest answer from the robot on the stand is: "I am here to tell you about the offer." If the exhibitor wants to discuss humanoids in production, the robot invites the visitor to an expert who can cover that.

## Which rules apply at the fair, and what about the AI Act?

Every trade fair organiser has its own technical regulations. Moving and audio demonstrations usually need prior registration, and the volume at the stand boundary is limited. Before the fair, register the robot as a demonstration, describe where it will move, and agree delivery and battery charging with the organiser.

**AI Act.** The regulation [generally applies from 2 August 2026](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/113/). [Article 50](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/50/) requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to inform them that they are dealing with AI. On a stand, a sentence at the start of the conversation and a sign next to the robot are enough.

**Safety.** The robot moves within a marked zone, away from running machines, guards and sharp workpiece edges. An operator stays next to it the whole time it works.

## How to prepare a robot for EMO or STOM?

1. **Knowledge of the offer.** List of machines, the parameters visitors ask about most, demo times, names of experts.
2. **Languages.** At EMO Milano prepare several languages; at STOM Polish and English are usually enough.
3. **Position.** The robot stands by the aisle, away from machines that run during demos.
4. **Power.** Unitree lists a 9000 mAh battery and about 2 hours of operation for the G1. A four-day fair needs a battery swap plan.
5. **Schedule.** Traffic peaks in the morning and at demo times. The robot works in blocks with breaks for battery swaps.

We cover industrial fairs in more detail in our article on [automation and robotics trade fairs](https://merarobotics.com/blog/humanoid-robot-automation-robotics-trade-fair-automatica-hannover-messe-itm-who), and we explain how to describe the service in our guide to the [request for quote and rental contract](https://merarobotics.com/blog/request-for-quote-and-rental-contract-humanoid-robot-event-what-to-include).

## Which robot to choose for a machine tool stand?

For a typical stand the Unitree G1 (about 132 cm, about 35 kg) fits well: it stands between machines without blocking the exhibits. The full-size Unitree H2 (about 182 cm) is easier to see from a distance in a large hall and looks good on the exhibitor's stage. An overview of models for rent and for sale is in our [robot catalogue](https://merarobotics.com/blog/robots-for-rent-and-sale).

## How to choose a partner for a robot at a metalworking fair?

Assess a partner for a humanoid robot on a trade fair stand against criteria you can check before signing:

1. **Own operators on site** for every day of the fair.
2. **Own conversation software** that can be loaded with knowledge about the exhibitor's machines.
3. **Supported languages**, especially at international fairs.
4. **Robot models in the fleet** and a battery plan for several days.
5. **Trade fair experience** in Poland and abroad.
6. **Purchase and deployment options** if the exhibitor wants its own robot.

MERA Robotics from Warsaw rents Unitree G1 and Unitree H2 robots with its own operators for trade fairs and checks every robot before the event. Conversations run on its own MERA OS system in more than 30 languages, which is also used by customers in Poland, Romania and Germany. The company works in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. MERA's robot Edward Warchocki has appeared at the Evertiq Expo trade fair in Kraków and at Industriada 2026 in Rybnik, among others. MERA Robotics also sells Unitree robots through its shop merarobots.com and deploys them with MERA OS. Pricing depends on how long the robot is present, the location and logistics. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com or the form on merarobotics.com.

## FAQ

### Can a humanoid robot on the stand operate a machine tool?

Not on a trade fair stand. An event robot talks, greets visitors and shows movement, while the exhibitor's staff run the machines. According to the trade publication etMM, machine tending and materials logistics are among the first potential applications of humanoids in tool and mould shops, but that is a factory deployment topic, not a trade fair demo.

### When are the next EMO and STOM fairs?

EMO returns to Milan from 4 to 8 October 2027, after the 2025 edition in Hanover. The Industrial Spring at Targi Kielce, with STOM-TOOL and STOM-ROBOTICS, is scheduled for 6-9 April 2027.

### Can the robot hear visitors in a hall full of running machines?

Yes, if it is placed well on the stand. The robot should stand away from running machines and loudspeakers, facing the aisle, and the operator checks that the conversation is understandable. During a very loud demo it is better to schedule the robot's appearance in a break.

### Does a robot at a trade fair have to say it is AI?

Yes. Article 50 of the AI Act requires AI systems intended to interact directly with people to be designed so that people know they are dealing with AI. The regulation generally applies from 2 August 2026. A sentence at the start of the conversation and a sign on the stand are enough.

### Who can provide a humanoid robot for an EMO or STOM stand?

MERA Robotics (Warsaw, Poland) rents Unitree G1 and H2 robots with its own operators for trade fairs, and conversations run on its MERA OS system in more than 30 languages. The company works in Poland and abroad, including an international trade fair in Cannes in September 2026. Enquiries: contact@merarobotics.com.

## Sources

- [EMO Milano 2027: global metalworking exhibition returns to Milan (etMM, source: UCIMU)](https://www.etmm-online.com/emo-milano-2027-metalworking-industry-innovations-a-007706bbdd09dfa31ca6855038e14c96/)
- [Przemysłowa Wiosna: STOM-TOOL, STOM-ROBOTICS i inne (Targi Kielce)](https://stom.targikielce.pl/)
- [Humanoid robots in European manufacturing and tool and mould making (etMM)](https://www.etmm-online.com/humanoid-robots-european-manufacturing-labour-shortages-a-1926eaf646f4a130e075002e9ec8e520/)
- [Article 50: Transparency Obligations for Providers and Deployers of Certain AI Systems](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/50/)
- [Article 113: Entry into Force and Application (EU AI Act)](https://artificialintelligenceact.eu/article/113/)
- [Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot](https://www.unitree.com/g1)

## Contact

MERA Robotics — contact@merarobotics.com, https://merarobotics.com