News
The 2025 Hardware Grand Show is projected to exceed $60 billion in business
Bogotá, September 2025. From November 6 to 8, Corferias will host the eighth edition of El Gran Salón Ferretero powered by Eisenwarenmesse, the fastest-growing B2B trade fair for the hardware sector in Colombia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
This year, the fair will bring together nearly 200 exhibitors representing more than 300 brands from Germany, Italy, Spain, India, and Albania (present for the first time), as well as the United States, Mexico, Brazil, China, and Colombia. Among the leading companies are Awelco (Italy), Jokari GmbH (Germany), and Mota Herramientas (Spain), marking a milestone in the event's internationalization process.
Lilián Conde, project manager for El Gran Salón Ferretero at Corferias, said: "Our goal is not only to grow in numbers, but also to attract an increasingly specialized audience, with real buyers and decision-makers from the sector. This year we expect more than 10,000 professional visitors, 13% more than last year, with the participation of large retailers and distributors from all over Latin America and the Caribbean."
A key sector for the Colombian economy
The hardware sector in Colombia accounts for between 2.1% and 2.5% of the national GDP and generates around 200,000 direct jobs and 450,000 throughout the value chain, according to figures from DANE and Fenalco. It is estimated that there are between 35,000 and 38,000 retail hardware stores in the country, most of which are family-owned SMEs that serve as engines of local development.
In this context, El Gran Salón Ferretero is a strategic space for the modernization and professionalization of the industry.
The partnership with Koelnmesse, organizer of Eisenwarenmesse in Germany, has expanded the reach into strategic markets such as Chile, Argentina, Central America, and Spain, as well as linking associations such as German Hardware Experts.
Ana María Jiménez, Project & Sales Manager at Koelnmesse LAC, highlighted that “in just two years, we have strengthened the international profile of the event, generating links with markets that previously did not look to Colombia. Today, El Gran Salón Ferretero is no longer just a national benchmark, but a regional hub with global reach.”
A business and training fair
In 2024, the fair achieved business expectations of $60 billion. By 2025, the challenge is to exceed that figure through the Business Roundtable, which will connect exhibitors with buyers from Colombia, Latin America, and the Caribbean on November 6 and 7.
In addition, training and refresher courses are being strengthened, such as the Hardware Academy, with content related to strategy, marketing, sales, and leadership; and the Hardware Laboratory, with live demonstrations of materials and products. Additionally, the Hardware Store and Exhibitor Night have been added, designed to enrich the networking experience and recognize participants.
Darío Bastidas, commercial manager of Concept2B, explained: “The sector is undergoing a complete transformation. It is no longer enough to operate as a traditional business; today, organized processes, clear strategies, and prepared teams are required. The fair accompanies this transition, offering tools for hardware stores to become competitive and sustainable companies.”
Key figures for El Gran Salón Ferretero 2025
? +200 exhibitors from more than 10 countries.
? +10,000 professional visitors projected (+13% compared to 2024).
? $60 billion in business expectations achieved in 2024, with a goal to exceed them in 2025.
? 200,000 direct jobs and 450,000 throughout the value chain generated by the sector in Colombia.
? Estimated contribution to national GDP: between 2.1% and 2.5%.
With a robust academic agenda, business roundtables, and innovation experiences, El Gran Salón Ferretero 2025 is projected to be a high-impact economic event for the country and the main bridge between the Colombian hardware industry and international markets.
From November 6 to 8, Corferias in Bogotá will be the venue for El Gran Salón Ferretero 2025. Professional visitors can now pre-register at https://www.gransalonferretero.com/es/preregistro and guarantee their participation in the fair that connects the entire hardware industry in Colombia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
About the organizers
Corferias – Bogotá International Business and Exhibition Center: With more than 70 years of experience, Corferias is the leading exhibition center in Colombia and one of the most important in Latin America. Its mission is to promote business, social, and cultural development by organizing trade shows, events, and conferences that foster innovation and business in the region.
Concept2B – Strategy and sector connection: A firm specializing in the design and execution of networking and sector development projects. Concept2B has been a key ally in positioning El Gran Salón Ferretero as the most important trade fair in the industry in Colombia.
Koelnmesse – Trade fairs for the hardware industry: Koelnmesse is one of the leading organizers of international trade fairs and a world leader in the tools and hardware sector, with EISENWARENMESSE – International Hardware Fair in Cologne (Germany) as its flagship event. Its portfolio includes specialized platforms in key markets such as Shanghai, Bergamo, New Delhi, and Bogotá, where El Gran Salón Ferretero has achieved a prominent role as a benchmark in Latin America. In 2025, the company will expand its presence with new events in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, reaffirming its strategic role in the global growth of the industry.
