EuroTier 2026 to compare GEA, BouMatic and Lely milking robots in live demonstrations

EuroTier 2026 will be held under the theme “Intelligence in Animal Farming”. The Barn Robot Event will run on all four exhibition days in Hall 13, Stand E43. It is part of the new EuroTier Milky Way format, a curated exhibition that brings together innovations and solutions across the entire dairy value chain.

GEA, BouMatic and Lely will present their automatic milking systems in moderated demonstrations. Rather than showcasing individual products, the organisers focus on comparing different automation concepts within the same production scenarios. According to DLG, this will help farmers determine which approach best suits their herd size, barn and management strategy.

The robots’ operation will be broadcast live on a large LED screen. At the same time, visitors will be able to watch the equipment directly on site. The demonstrations will be accompanied by experts from the participating companies, to whom visitors can put their questions.

“The Barn Robot Event offers a neutral overview of different technologies, and this year the focus is on automatic milking. Its key advantage is that visitors can see and compare all solutions in one place,” said Marieke Werth, project manager for the Barn Robot Event.

The demonstrations are built around three typical investment scenarios:

• converting an existing dairy barn from a conventional milking parlour to automatic milking: two robots, around 100 cows;
• building a new dairy facility: six robots, around 300 cows;
• automatic milking concepts for large dairy operations: around 800 cows.

These herd sizes serve as reference points for comparison. In addition, exhibitors will present further examples for farms of different sizes and production systems. The organisers stress that the aim of the event is to provide a transparent overview of available approaches, not to recommend one system over another.

The Barn Robot Event has been held at EuroTier since 2022, each time with a new focus: automated manure removal in 2022, feed-pushing robots in 2024, and automatic milking systems in 2026.

Alongside the demonstrations, the event stage will host expert presentations on milking technology, equipment selection and current trends in dairy production. Separate sessions will cover value-added opportunities: on-farm milk processing, direct marketing and artisan ice cream production.

DLG was founded in 1885 and today has more than 30,000 members worldwide. The society organises trade fairs and events in agriculture and food technology, and tests food products and agricultural machinery.