The BIEHM is the largest exhibition of industrial character in Spain and the third largest fair in Europe dedicated to machine tools, such as the following data demonstrate for this edition: 1,076 brands from 24 countries and more than 44,500 visitors from 54 countries.

AFM Association, co-organizer of the biennial together with Bilbao Exhibition Center, is composed of one hundred companies representing 94% of Spanish production in machine tools. Spain is the third largest producer of machine tools of the European Union and is the basis of many sectors: automotive, aerospace, power generation, rail, equipment, molds and dies or appliances, among many others.
 
AFM is immersed in a competitive and innovative international market: in 2009 the AFM companies exported 74.1% of its production (551.9 million euros) and they invest 6% of revenue in R & D + i, a fact that shows its innovative character.

The IMH Machine Tool Institute, works to strengthen the competitiveness of companies in AFM, providing adequate training and continuing training and skilled technicians to meet their needs. During the biennial, the IMH will dispose its information in the AFM stand and it will receive several visitors who want to see the facilites of its headquarters in Elgoibar and the Machine Tool Museum.