BIG STAGE FOR BIG BIRDS
BERLIN-SCHÖNEFELD (jw) | There’s no doubt about it: the aerospace industry is booming. After a temporary downturn during the COVID-19 years, German aerospace manufacturers have resumed their previous upward trajectory and have even increased their pace of growth. This upswing benefits everyone involved—from small suppliers to major aircraft and drone manufacturers. This situation opens up opportunities, particularly for the LEIBER Group as a specialist in lightweight aluminum construction. The trade show team was thrilled to be swept up in the spirit of optimism at ILA26, Germany’s largest aerospace trade show.
As part of the Baden-Württemberg joint booth “The LÄND,” in cooperation with the North German association HanseAerospace, LEIBER had an ideal starting position for its debut as a co-exhibitor at the ILA. In 2026, there will be hardly any other comparable opportunity to showcase the advantages of LEIBER’s lightweight aluminum forged components to such a large international audience of industry professionals. According to the organizers, 110,000 visitors attended the ILA this year. At the same time, a trade show of this caliber brings together major and minor players in the aerospace industry: from key suppliers such as Liebherr, Safran, and Collins Aerospace to the industry’s most important manufacturers—Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Leonardo, to name just four.
As a result, ILA26 was very well attended from the very beginning. The “The LÄND” joint booth was also bustling with activity throughout the event. In addition to the many trade visitors wandering around on their own, LEIBER benefited from the attention that the Baden-Württemberg association LR BW (Forum for Aerospace Baden-Württemberg e. V.) drew to its member companies. Business delegations from various countries made a point of visiting Hall A, where LEIBER was able to showcase its expertise alongside other German suppliers. LEIBER also received valuable attention from high-ranking representatives of the trade show’s industrial sponsors. Managing Director Simon Balk is therefore very satisfied: “There were many productive discussions and valuable contacts. We raised LEIBER’s profile among new target groups and fully achieved our goals for ILA26!”
The Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg and other important persons visit LEIBER
Particular highlights included visits from top politicians in Baden-Württemberg. For example, the new Minister President, Cem Özdemir, personally learned about the potential and applications of LEIBER lightweight construction solutions. Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Baden-Württemberg’s Minister of Economic Affairs, Labor, and Housing, also visited the LEIBER booth and engaged in conversation.
Key strategic industry gets backing from the very top
Anyone who had the opportunity on the first day of the air show to squeeze into the crowd in front of the well-secured grandstands on the tarmac could even catch a glimpse of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The presence of top federal political figures shows that the ILA Berlin still carries international weight. The figures cited in the recently published aviation strategy are encouraging: The German aerospace industry recorded an impressive 19% growth in 2025. It also set a new record by employing 130,000 people in Germany and is driving the export of internationally sought-after “Made in Germany” innovations for civil and military applications. Suppliers in particular stand to benefit from this: With a view to the decarbonization of air travel—in which the weight of aircraft also plays a major role—lightweight construction concepts made of forged, high-strength aluminum can make valuable contributions. Aluminum components forged to near-net-shape are at the heart of the LEIBER Group’s manufacturing expertise. They contribute to a significant reduction in machining requirements compared to standard components. This ensures faster production with substantial material savings.
TIP: To learn more about the potential of LEIBER lightweight solutions, check out our informative fact sheet on the LEIBER seat structure.
From LEIBER’s perspective, the official photo spot at ILA26 couldn’t have been better positioned: Head of Innovation Andreas Kroner, Managing Director Simon Balk, and Sales Manager Carmelo Maffia (from left) in front of the successful Airbus A320neo. It features many LEIBER aluminum components on board.
A distinguished visitor from the state government (photo above): The new Minister-President of Baden-Württemberg, Cem Özdemir, paid a visit to the LEIBER booth and learned, among other things, about the mock-up of the aircraft seat structure (see photo on the left). The day before, State Minister Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut had also visited (picture below), seen here in conversation with Managing Director Simon Balk (right) and the head of the LEIBER Customer Focus Team, Carmelo Maffia (left).
The appeal of the Baden-Württemberg joint booth, “The Länd,” at ILA26 drew valuable attention to the exhibitors from “Ländle.”
LEIBER’s high-quality lightweight aluminum components—including delicate, near-net-shape components for aircraft seat structures—caught the attention of trade show visitors. As a fan favorite, the LEIBÄR “BEAR”lin was, of course, a must-see at the ILA.
In modern wide-body aircraft—in this case, the Airbus 350-1000—there are many applications for high-strength lightweight aluminum structures, such as seat structures, hydraulic systems, and even the landing gear.