From Nanjing to Budapest: IO-Link Events 2026 in Review and Outlook

Q: What is the difference between an IO-Link User Workshop and an IO-Link Forum?

In short: the User Workshop is practice-oriented and aimed at users who want to deploy or integrate IO-Link within their own company. It provides concrete implementation knowledge in a small group setting — from building an IO-Link system to parameterizing devices. The IO-Link Forum, on the other hand, is the IO-Link Community’s major industry event: a gathering with presentations, roadmap updates, new specifications (e.g., V1.1.5), trending topics such as IO-Link Safety or Wireless, and an accompanying micro-fair with exhibitors. The target audience includes manufacturers, developers, product managers, and decision-makers alike.

Q: How do I find out about IO-Link-related events?

Feel free to visit the Events page directly on the IO-Link Community website. Since IO-Link is organized under PI, you can also find IO-Link-related events on the PI homepage as well as its regional associations.

Q: Which format requires prior knowledge?

The IO-Link Forum is deliberately designed to be more open and is aimed primarily at participants who have had little or no prior contact with IO-Link. Here you’ll build a solid knowledge base, gain a market overview, and get to know the community — ideal for getting started with the topic. The IO-Link User Workshop delivers its full value when you already bring some foundational knowledge — then we can dive deeper together and work through hands-on topics. If you’re still in the orientation phase, that’s no obstacle: our team on-site will bring you up to speed on the fundamentals so you can still benefit. The IO-Link Interop, in turn, is specifically aimed at manufacturers of IO-Link devices and masters with solid prior knowledge. The focus is on interoperability: your products are combined and tested with those of other providers under real-world conditions. This ensures your development reliably works together with all common systems in the field — an important step before market launch and certification.

Q: How can I arrange a meeting with TEConcept at the event in advance?

That’s certainly possible. Feel free to get in touch in advance to arrange an appointment.

TEConcept has been and continues to be present at various IO-Link events, alongside the IO-Link Interop in Bad Soden 2026!

Luca Hoffmann visited China last week — meeting our distributor Nanjing Loyst, customers on-site, as well as attending the PI Conference and the first IO-Link Interop in China. Many thanks to our partner Nanjing Loyst for the exciting impressions and the excellent hospitality!

Outlook: In October 2026, TEConcept will be represented at two major IO-Link events: the 8th IO-Link User Workshop Hungary on October 15 in Budapest and the IO-Link Forum Walldorf-Wiesloch: Key to Modernization on October 21 at the Palatin Congress Hotel. Both events bring the IO-Link community together — with presentations, exhibitions, and the opportunity to connect directly with experts.

Recap: PI Conference China with IO-Link Event – August 20/21

Last week, Luca Hoffmann from the TEConcept team traveled to China — with a packed schedule centered around IO-Link.

The first stop was our distributor Nanjing Loyst, followed by visits to several customers on-site. On August 20, 2026, the PI Conference with its own IO-Link segment was on the agenda. As a member of the IO-Link Steering Committee, Luca Hoffmann presented the structure of the IO-Link Community, the fundamentals of the technology including IO-Link Safety, current market developments, and the planned further evolution of the standard. At the accompanying micro-fair, participants engaged in in-depth exchange about the development of IO-Link in the Chinese market.

A special highlight followed on August 21, 2026: the first IO-Link Interop in China. Following its successful launch with manufacturers, plans are already underway to open the format to end users as well next year — an important step toward further strengthening interoperability in the fast-growing Asian market.

Are you planning an IO-Link project focused on the Asian market? Get in touch with us — together with our partners on the ground, we’ll support you from concept to certification.

Outlook: IO-Link User Workshop Hungary 2026 – Budapest, October 15

The IO-Link User Workshop Hungary is one of the most important IO-Link events in Eastern Europe. This year’s 8th edition takes place on October 15 in Budapest and is aimed at automation professionals, machine builders, system integrators, and device manufacturers from across the region.

The program includes presentations by international experts from the IO-Link Steering Committee, hands-on application examples from leading manufacturers, as well as an all-day mini exhibition. A special highlight is a roundtable discussion with the Steering Committee — held in English, with simultaneous Hungarian interpretation. The presentations themselves will be held in Hungarian.

TEConcept will be represented twice over: Peter Kaszas and Luca Hoffmann (a member of the IO-Link Steering Committee) will take part in the roundtable. At our exhibition booth, we’ll also be available for conversations — whether about getting started with IO-Link, development stacks, or the path toward IO-Link Safety.

Outlook: IO-Link Forum Walldorf-Wiesloch: Key to Modernization – October 21

The IO-Link Forum Walldorf-Wiesloch is one of the established German IO-Link events. In 2026, it’s held under the motto ‘Key to Modernization’, addressing a topic currently on the minds of many industrial companies: how can existing production facilities be made more efficient and future-proof with IO-Link — without extensive investment in new control hardware?

The program offers presentations (some in parallel sessions), a micro-fair, and a practical report from an end-user deployment. The focus is on plant modernization, retrofitting, and the economic benefits of IO-Link in existing systems. The forum will be held in German.

TEConcept will be represented as an exhibitor at the micro-fair, showing how device manufacturers can quickly and reliably build out their IO-Link portfolio — from the device stack, through the Safety Master, to a structured entry into development with the Pathfinder workshop:

We look forward to meeting you in person at the upcoming IO-Link events. If you can't make it on-site but are interested in IO-Link — just reach out to us directly. We're happy to take the time for your questions.

FAQ on IO-Link Events such as the IO-Link User Workshop and the IO-Link Forum?

What is the difference between an IO-Link User Workshop and an IO-Link Forum?

In short: the User Workshop is practice-oriented and aimed at users who want to deploy or integrate IO-Link within their own company. It provides concrete implementation knowledge in a small group setting — from building an IO-Link system to parameterizing devices.

The IO-Link Forum, on the other hand, is the IO-Link Community’s major industry event: a gathering with presentations, roadmap updates, new specifications (e.g., V1.1.5), trending topics such as IO-Link Safety or Wireless, and an accompanying micro-fair with exhibitors. The target audience includes manufacturers, developers, product managers, and decision-makers alike.

How do I find out about IO-Link-related events?

Feel free to visit the Events page directly on the IO-Link Community website. Since IO-Link is organized under PI, you can also find IO-Link-related events on the PI homepage as well as its regional associations.

Which format requires prior knowledge?

The IO-Link Forum is deliberately designed to be more open and is aimed primarily at participants who have had little or no prior contact with IO-Link. Here you’ll build a solid knowledge base, gain a market overview, and get to know the community — ideal for getting started with the topic.

The IO-Link User Workshop delivers its full value when you already bring some foundational knowledge — then we can dive deeper together and work through hands-on topics. If you’re still in the orientation phase, that’s no obstacle: our team on-site will bring you up to speed on the fundamentals so you can still benefit.

The IO-Link Interop, in turn, is specifically aimed at manufacturers of IO-Link devices and masters with solid prior knowledge. The focus is on interoperability: your products are combined and tested with those of other providers under real-world conditions. This ensures your development reliably works together with all common systems in the field — an important step before market launch and certification.

By when do I need to register, and what does participation cost?

As long as spots are available, free registration is possible up until shortly before the event.

Is TEConcept represented on-site?

Yes, TEConcept is taking part in the IO-Link Forum in Walldorf-Wiesloch, Germany, as well as the IO-Link User Workshop in Budapest, Hungary.

How can I arrange a meeting with TEConcept at the event in advance?

That’s certainly possible. Feel free to get in touch in advance to arrange an appointment.

Questions About Our Participation in IO-Link Interop 2026?

Get in touch with us directly. If needed, we can also bring additional devices to integrate into your test setup, and we’ll coordinate the test setup together with you in advance.