Event guide

METALEX 2026: Link Machine-Tool Contacts to the Production Job

METALEX 2026 takes place November 18–21 at BITEC in Bangkok. A machining conversation becomes useful when the contact record identifies the workpiece, material, tolerance and production requirement behind it. This guide covers the visitor essentials and shows how to keep those details with each supplier in Habsy, so a machine demonstration can lead to a focused process review.

Habsy11 min read

METALEX event guide, November 18 to 21, 2026

METALEX at a glance

METALEX key factsChecked Nov 5, 2026
Dates
November 18 to 21, 2026Wednesday to Saturday
Exhibition hours
10:00-18:00 each dayNovember 18-21, Bangkok local time
Venue
BITECBangkok, Thailand
Entry
Trade visitors only; minimum age 15Business attire; pre-register through the official site
Official website
metalex.co.thConfirm details before you travel

Who exhibits and who attends METALEX?

Separate the production problem from the machine being demonstrated. Ask about workpiece material, dimensions, tolerance, output needs and the existing process. Tooling, inspection and automation suppliers may need different parts of that brief. Record the information needed for a process trial, who will assess it and whether a quotation should follow that review.

Who exhibits

  • CNC and machine-tool manufacturers
  • Sheet-metalworking equipment suppliers
  • Tools and tooling specialists
  • Metrology and inspection providers
  • Factory automation and robotics suppliers

Who attends

  • Factory owners and production leaders
  • Manufacturing and process engineers
  • Industrial purchasing managers
  • Quality and metrology teams
  • Machinery distributors and integrators

Use the official exhibitor and product directories to group CNC, sheet-metalworking, tooling, metrology and automation meetings. The official programme lists Future Tech. Confirm your meeting point and keep technical trials separate from commercial quotations when requirements are still being defined.

How to prepare for METALEX with Habsy

Most of the work happens before you reach Bangkok. Set up Habsy once and every conversation at the show ends with a saved contact, the context you need and a next step.

If you are visiting

Before you fly

  1. 1

    Create your Professional digital card

    Share your details by QR code, NFC or link instead of paper cards.

  2. 2

    Add your Business digital card

    Your company profile and brochures, for partners and suppliers you meet.

  3. 3

    Create a METALEX category

    Plus the visitor intent signals below, to sort vendors by fit later.

  4. 4

    Turn on Send my digital card back

    Everyone you scan gets your card automatically.

If you are exhibiting

Before you fly, for every rep

  1. 1

    Install Habsy on every rep's phone

    Give each rep a digital card, plus one Business digital card for the company.

  2. 2

    Set up intent signals and templates

    Every rep qualifies and follows up the same way, by email or WhatsApp.

  3. 3

    Add an enquiry form to your card

    Print its QR code on the booth so visitors leave details when you are busy.

  4. 4

    Create a METALEX campaign

    Bringing several reps? Every scan lands in one live list.

How to set up Habsy before METALEX

Five steps, in the order the app walks you through them. Visitors need steps 1 to 3. Exhibitors should do all five.

1. Create your digital business cards

Every Habsy account includes two free digital cards under MyQR: a Professional digital card for you and a Business digital card for your company, with your services and brochures. Habsy's AI builds them from your LinkedIn profile and website, or from a photo of your own business card. Share them by QR code, NFC or link. The person you share with opens your card in their browser, with no app needed, and saves your contact in one tap. Add an enquiry form so visitors who scan your card leave their details and are saved as a new contact.

Create your digital business cardsHabsy
  1. Professional digital card in Habsy, ready to share at METALEX

    1Your Professional digital card

  2. Business digital card in Habsy with the company profile, ready to share at METALEX

    2Your Business digital card

  3. Sharing a Habsy digital card by QR code, NFC or link at METALEX

    3Share by QR code, NFC or link

2. Add intent signals

Intent signals are tap-to-answer questions you fill in for every contact, so every rep records the same details in seconds. In Settings, open Manage Intent Signals, then tap Create with AI to get suggestions from your website, or Create Manually to add the set below.

Set up intent signalsHabsy
  1. Manage Intent Signals in Habsy, set up before METALEX

    1Open Manage Intent Signals

  2. Reviewing the intent signals Habsy suggests for METALEX

    2Review the signals Habsy suggests

  3. Tapping intent signal answers after scanning a contact at METALEX

    3Tap the answers after each scan

Intent signals for METALEX
Organization typeSingle choice
  • Manufacturer
  • Machine shop
  • Distributor
  • Systems integrator
  • Engineering company
RoleSingle choice
  • Production manager
  • Process engineer
  • Procurement manager
  • Quality manager
Interested inMultiple choice
  • CNC machining
  • Sheet metalworking
  • Tools and tooling
  • Metrology
  • Factory automation
Buying timelineSingle choice
  • Within 3 months
  • 3 to 6 months
  • 6 to 12 months
  • Researching
Production linesNumber
Enter a number
Next stepSingle choice
  • Book a demo
  • Send a proposal
  • Share a case study
  • Introduce a colleague

Add them in Settings, Manage Intent Signals, with Create Manually, or start with Create with AI and adjust the options to match what you sell or what you are looking for.

3. Create a METALEX category

Create a category called METALEX and set it as your default for the days of the event, so every contact you scan at the show is filed under it automatically. After the show, use it as a filter to export only your METALEX contacts to Excel, CSV or VCF in one step. Exhibitors on Habsy Platform can also use the METALEX category to track how the event performed: contacts captured, companies reached, intent signals and each rep's results.

Create and add a categoryHabsy
  1. Creating a METALEX category in Habsy

    1Create the category

  2. Choosing the METALEX category when saving a contact

    2Pick it when you save a contact

  3. The METALEX category shown on a saved contact

    3Find it on every contact

4. Set up your email and WhatsApp templates

Connect your email account or WhatsApp Business account in Settings before the show. Then, with Send email or WhatsApp template turned on in your Card Preferences, your follow-up goes out from your own account the moment you save a scanned contact. The visitor often has your message, and your digital card, before they leave your booth. It shows you are organized and quick to respond, and it puts you ahead of every exhibitor who follows up next week. To write the template, open Email Templates or WhatsApp Templates in Settings, describe the message, and Habsy's AI writes it. Add variables such as the contact's name and company so every message is personal. Here is a template you can copy for METALEX:

METALEX follow-up template
NameMETALEX supplier follow-up
SubjectFollowing up from METALEX: workpiece requirements and process review

Hi {{recipient.name}},

It was good meeting you at METALEX in Bangkok.

I would be happy to share machine, tooling or process information for the production requirements {{recipient.company}} is reviewing.

Would you prefer the technical information first, or a discussion about workpiece material, tolerance, output needs and the next step for a process trial?

Best regards,
{{user.name}}
{{user.company}}

Words in braces are variables. Habsy fills them in from each contact and from your profile when you send.

Set up your templatesHabsy
  1. AI writing a follow-up template for METALEX contacts in Habsy

    1Let AI write the template

  2. WhatsApp follow-up templates saved for METALEX contacts

    2Save your WhatsApp templates

  3. Email follow-up templates saved for METALEX contacts

    3Save your email templates

5. Set your Card Preferences

Choose what Habsy does each time you save a contact, once in Settings or per save. It runs in the background while you move on to the next conversation.

Set onceDefaults in Settings, or change them per save
Runs in the backgroundNo waiting between conversations
Works for every saveSingle scans, batches and manual entries
Card PreferencesAfter every save
Company and profile details (AI)Look up the company and the person automatically
Send email or WhatsApp templateYour follow-up template goes out right after save
Send my digital card backThey get your card while you are still talking
Sync to CRMPushed to Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho CRM, Dynamics 365, Odoo, Zapier or any of the 10+ CRM integrations

Anan Suriya saved at METALEX · 4 steps running in the background

Email, WhatsApp and CRM steps need the matching integration.

How to capture every contact at METALEX

Use one app for every contact you make, wherever you make it: at the booth, in a session, at a reception or over dinner. Every rep and every visitor captures contacts on their own phone, free and with no scan limit, and every contact lands in one list with your category, intent signals and notes.

Capture every contactHabsy
  1. Scanning a business card with Habsy at METALEX

    1Scan a business card

  2. Scanning an event badge QR code with Habsy at METALEX

    2Scan a badge QR code

  3. Typing in a contact with manual entry in Habsy at METALEX

    3Type it in with manual entry

  • Badges: point the Habsy scanner at a badge and Habsy reads the attendee's details from its QR code. If a badge holds only a registration number, scan the person's business card or type them in.
  • Business cards: scan each card in seconds, or switch to Batch and scan up to 150 cards in about 5 minutes without leaving the camera. Habsy reads cards in 200+ languages.
  • QR codes: scan digital business cards from any provider, LinkedIn QR codes and contact QR codes.
  • NFC: turn on NFC on the scan screen, then hold an NFC business card or an NFC event badge to the back of your phone. Habsy reads the contact and saves it, with no camera needed.
  • Manual entry: no card and no QR code? Choose Manual and type the details in.
  • Offline: capture continues when the hall Wi-Fi is busy, and contacts process once you reconnect.

METALEX also offers official lead retrieval through Lead Manager App, ordered through the exhibitor services. Habsy works on its own or next to it. For more, read lead capture vs lead retrieval.

How to add context while you talk

A contact without context is hard to follow up. Before the next conversation starts, add what you discussed and what you promised.

  • Intent signals: tap the answers on the review screen after each scan.
  • Voice notes: tap Add Voice Note and say what they need. Habsy turns it into a searchable transcript.
  • Text notes: type a quick note, such as "Machining trials for 3 lines".
  • Reminders: in 1 hour, in 4 hours, tomorrow at 9 AM or any date and time, with a repeat and an alarm. All of them appear in My reminders.

Here is what a contact from METALEX looks like with context added:

AS

Anan Suriya

Production Manager, Lotus Precision Works

METALEX

Intent signals

  • Manufacturer
  • Production manager
  • CNC machining
  • 3 to 6 months
  • 3 lines
  • Book a demo

Notes

Evaluating 3 production lines; needs machining trials, tolerance data and integration requirements.

0:42 · "Please review our material and tolerance requirements before proposing equipment for the 3 lines."

Reminder

Monday, 9:00 AM · Request process trial and tolerance data

Illustrative example: fictional person, company and buying requirements; not an actual attendee record.

Going to METALEX?

Your digital card and lead capture in one app.

Unlimited scanning, text notes, reminders and exports are free. Categories, voice notes, intent signals and templates require Habsy Plus. Habsy Platform is separately priced for teams.

What to do in Habsy after METALEX

The show ends on Saturday, November 21. What you do in the next 48 hours decides how many of those conversations turn into meetings, partners or deals.

If you visited: pick up the conversations you started

  • See who looked at your card: open QR analytics to see how many people viewed and saved your digital card, how they engaged and where.
  • Save and call back: save vendors to your phone contacts, and set a reminder to call back the ones you want to hear more from.
  • Drop a message: Habsy writes a short email or WhatsApp message for any contact, mentioning where you met.
  • Export and share: export your METALEX category to Excel, CSV or VCF, by date range, with a copy sent to your email, and share the shortlist with your team.
QR analyticsYour card at METALEX
186Card views
64Contacts saved
21Enquiries
47Link clicks

Top locations

Bangkok142
Chonburi18
Rayong11

Example numbers.

Pick up after the showHabsy
  1. Exporting METALEX contacts from Habsy to Excel, CSV or VCF

    1Export to Excel, CSV or VCF

  2. Setting a call-back reminder for a METALEX contact

    2Set a reminder to call back

  3. Sending a quick follow-up message to a METALEX contact

    3Send a quick message

If you exhibited: follow up within 48 hours

  • Saturday evening: batch scan any cards left in your pockets and check that every contact has a note.
  • Monday: filter by intent signals, such as "Book a demo" and "Within 3 months", and send your METALEX template to the hottest contacts first.
  • Send at scale: select several contacts on the home screen, choose email or WhatsApp and a template, and send to all of them.
  • Next week: work through the rest by reminder, sync qualified contacts to your CRM, and export the list to Excel, CSV or VCF.
Follow up within 48 hoursHabsy
  1. Writing a personal follow-up with AI for a METALEX contact

    1Write the follow-up with AI

  2. Picking an email or WhatsApp template for each METALEX contact

    2Pick a template for each contact

  3. Selecting several METALEX contacts to send one follow-up

    3Select several contacts and send

For more message ideas, see our follow-up email templates.

Exhibiting with a team? Run METALEX on Habsy Platform

When several reps work the booth, the hard part is not capturing leads. It is knowing, during the show and after it, who met whom, who is hot and who follows up. Habsy Platform is the web dashboard for that, at app.habsy.ai. Reps keep scanning in the app, and the manager sees everything in one place.

app.habsy.ai

Habsy Platform campaign dashboard with total cards, companies, enrichment, engagement score and intent signals, as a team sees it for METALEX
A Habsy Platform campaign dashboard: totals, enrichment, engagement and intent signals for one event.
  • One campaign for METALEX: every rep's contacts land in one live list, by rep and by day.
  • Clear ownership: assign contacts, set reminders, and get alerts when two reps meet the same person.
  • Follow-up from one place: sync to your CRM and run email sequences, WhatsApp and LinkedIn outreach for the whole team.

The METALEX post-event report

When the show ends, Habsy turns your METALEX contacts into a post-event report: what your team captured, who you met, what they told you through your intent signals, and a dossier on every company with how well it fits your business. Use it to decide who to call first and whether the next edition is worth the booth. Here is what it could look like for METALEX, with example data:

Post-event report · METALEX

METALEX post-event report overviewEvent details, totals, capture quality and key observations for an example report.POST-EVENT REPORTMETALEXExport all dataVENUEBITECDATESNovember 18 to 21, 2026TYPETrade show · B2BREPS8 reps scanning186COMPANIES212CARDS205/212CONTACT ON CARD57BOOK A DEMOCAPTURE QUALITYEmail on card201/212Phone on card188/212Named person209/212Intent signals filled164/212Voice notes72/212KEY OBSERVATIONS64 of 186 companies are manufacturers.CNC machining is the top interest.41 contacts plan to buy within 3 months.38 contacts hold C-level titles.Wednesday, November 18 was the busiest day at the booth.

Overview: what your team captured at METALEX, how complete it is, and what stands out.

Habsy Platform has one team price, with no per-event or per-lead fees. See Habsy for teams or explore the platform.

Bottom line

Keep workpiece, tolerance, output and integration requirements with each metalworking supplier so METALEX follow-up can focus on a process trial or technical review. Visitors: create your digital card and scan every card and badge you collect. Exhibitors: set up intent signals and templates before you fly, capture every contact in one app, and follow up within 48 hours. See event lead capture with Habsy.

Bringing a team to METALEX and other events this year? See how Habsy works for sales teams, or book a demo of Habsy Platform.

Habsy is not affiliated with RX BITEC. Event details come from the official METALEX website and can change.

Keywords

  • METALEX 2026
  • METALEX Bangkok
  • BITEC metalworking show
  • machine tool sourcing
  • machining process trials
  • METALEX supplier follow-up

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where is METALEX 2026?
What are the exhibition hours?
Who may attend METALEX?
How should I compare machine-tool proposals after METALEX?
What should I record before requesting a machining trial?
Does METALEX have an official lead-capture app?
Can Habsy access the organiser’s badge database?
How do I keep the METALEX team’s contacts organised?
Which Habsy features are free and which require a plan?

Going to METALEX?

Capture every contact you make in Bangkok.

Keep workpiece, tolerance, output and integration requirements with each metalworking supplier so METALEX follow-up can focus on a process trial or technical review.