IMTEX Forming 2024 ignited enthusiasm for metal-forming technologies

February 6, 2024 6:55 pm

IMTEX FORMING 2024 presented a dynamic showcase of metal forming and manufacturing technologies. It featured insights from industry leaders and exhibitors and highlighted India’s growth trajectory in precision manufacturing and the pivotal role of machine tools in achieving economic milestones.

IMTEX FORMING 2024 along with concurrent Tooltech, Digital Manufacturing and Weldexpo organised by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), was inaugurated on 19th January 2024 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru.

The event, spanning five exhibition halls at BIEC, featured concurrent shows, including MOLDEX India and FASTNEX India 2024, organised by Messe Stuttgart. These groundbreaking trade fairs united to revolutionise the moulding, machine tools, fasteners, and fixing sectors.

The exhibition was inaugurated by C.K. Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Limited and Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson & Managing Director, Kirloskar Systems Limited. Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman-Exhibitions, IMTMA; Rajendra S. Rajamane, President, IMTMA; Mohini Kelkar, Vice President, IMTMA; and Jibak Dasgupta, Director General & CEO, IMTMA and BIEC. Shared the dais at the inauguration.

Speaking at the inauguration, C.K. Venkataraman, highlighting the importance of the machine tool industry in the manufacturing space, said, “With India expected to become a $5 trillion economy by FY 2026, the manufacturing sector needs to contribute $1 trillion, and this demands a significant contribution from the machine tool industry. For the manufacturing sector to double its contribution and reach $500 billion, the Indian machine tool industry must produce high-precision machines and meet the current demand for sophisticated parts in various metals like titanium and others. Also, with many foreign companies establishing their units in India, the country could become Factory of World 2.0,” he said.

Reminiscing about her journey, which began on the shopfloor decades ago, Geetanjali Kirloskar said, “The manufacturing sector is positioned to do very well in the next few years. The automotive and machine tool industries have a symbiotic relationship, with one sector’s growth pushing the demand in the other. The growth of the automotive sector has been the driving force for machine tools for many years. The automotive industry landscape is changing with the entry of hybrid, electric vehicles and flexi fuel engine vehicles, giving new opportunities for the machine tool industry.”

While delivering his welcome address, Jamshyd Godrej said, “The exhibition size has expanded by around 80% compared to the last edition held in June 2022. This expressly reveals the growth in manufacturing and demand for machine tools in India.” Emphasising the growth of machine tools and metal forming, Rajendra Rajamane said, “The consumption of machine tools during FY 2022-23 increased by around 55%. The numerous opportunities in sunrise sectors would further propel the demand for machine tools. Meanwhile, metal forming production is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 10% in the next 5 years.”

During the inaugural conference of IMTEX, D. B. Cooper was commemorated by IMTMA for his contributions. The inaugural Cooper Award for Best Supply Chain was presented to Team UCAM, with Indradev Babu, Managing Director of UCAM, accepting the award and stressing the importance of an effective supply chain in bolstering the machine tool industry.

The five-day exhibition covered the latest technologies and trends in metal forming, such as presses, bending, welding, and joining, high-speed laser machines, robotics and automation in sheet metal working, additive manufacturing, metrology, CAD/CAM, etc. Developments in forming machinery, near-net manufacturing, additive manufacturing, digital manufacturing, shopfloor automation, and Industry 4.0 were also showcased.

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Quotes-

Niranjan Manjrekar, Managing Director, Bystronic Laser India Pvt. Ltd.

IMTEX is a significant platform for machine tool manufacturers, one of India’s largest. As global leaders, we always seek opportunities to showcase our cutting-edge technology. Participation is a way to engage with customers and highlight our technological advancements and developments. Through machine demonstrations suiting customer requirements, we successfully achieved our overall objective at IMTEX.

Sumon Mitra, COO, Cloos India Welding Technology Pvt. Ltd.

“As with each year, IMTEX stands out as one of the premier exhibitions in the industry, showcasing new products and existing systems. This year, our expectations for the crowd’s size and calibre have been met. The first day was particularly impressive, setting a positive tone. This year’s turnout has been consistently strong, with visitors expressing specific and significant needs.”

Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman-Exhibitions, IMTMA

“The Indian industry has thrived in precision sectors with support from the machine tool industry. IMTEX have notably contributed to this growth. Our presence, especially in South India, has expanded, boasting the largest exhibition centre. Exhibitions demonstrate industry capabilities and foster connectivity with customers. The merging of software, IoT, and mechanical industries underscores the importance of connectivity. Urban transport systems need industry support. Despite challenges, India’s industry must integrate rural and urban sectors for holistic development. Exhibitions like IMTEX promote interconnectedness and India’s industrial growth.”

Rajendra S. Rajamane, President, IMTMA

“IMTEX Forming has expanded its exhibition portfolio with WeldExpo, making it more comprehensive for the metal forming manufacturing industries. Alongside IMTEX Forming 2024, Messe Stuttgart organised Moldex India and Fastnex as co-located shows. Our machine tool industry has traditionally served the automobile and auto component sectors. Still, it’s time to cater to emerging industries like electronics, renewable energy, defence, aerospace, electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, toys, and agriculture. This diversification will expand the machinery industry’s capabilities. We must focus on producing high-quality, reliable products to compete globally. Innovation, R&D investment, and upskilling workforce are crucial for success in the ever-changing technology landscape. Our goal is to manufacture machines that can be exported globally. In 2023, the machine tool industry saw a 55% increase in consumption. India ranks 9th in production and 7th in consumption in the machine tool industry. The metal-forming sector is performing well and is expected to grow by an annual compound growth rate of 10 per cent in the next few years. Domestic market share is improving, with auto bookings indicating growing consumption expected to continue in 2024. The Tumkur Machine Tool Park, supported by the Government of Karnataka and the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, attracts investments from OEMs and equipment manufacturers. Foreign entities are interested in setting up manufacturing bases in India. IMTEX Forming showcases these trends in digital manufacturing.”

Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson & Managing Director, Kirloskar Systems Limited.

“The government’s initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, and Skill India, along with strategic geopolitics, support India’s goal of becoming a global manufacturing and design hub. The manufacturing industry’s contribution to GDP is expected to increase significantly in the next five years, driven by factors like the 55% increase in machine tool consumption from 2020 to 2023, reaching an all-time high of $3 billion, and the projected 10% compound annual growth rate of India’s metal forming sector. The automotive and auto components industries, being the largest consumers of machine tools, have a symbiotic relationship with the machine tool industry, with the growth of one driving demand for the other. The industry is evolving with new technologies like hybrid and electric vehicles, creating opportunities in electronics, semiconductors, renewable energy, aerospace, defence, and battery manufacturing. However, challenges such as land acquisition, human resource development, infrastructure, and supply chain competitiveness persist. Industry players must align with government policies and strive for competitiveness on a global scale. India cannot achieve its GDP targets for manufacturing without a robust manufacturing industry and its supporting machine tool sector.”

C.K. Venkataraman, Managing Director, Titan Company Limited

“The essence of TITAN company lies in its focus on technology and manufacturing. TITAN has evolved to encompass lifestyle products while maintaining its core values. Exciting innovations are underway in watchmaking, promising world-leading products in 2024. However, I’m mindful of the role the Indian machine tool industry needs to play in these advancements. While the industry contributes significantly to manufacturing, it needs to elevate its sophistication to meet the demands of high-end products. As India aims to increase its manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 21% and achieve a $5 trillion economy, the machine tool industry’s role becomes pivotal. Collaboration with global companies, attracting top engineering talent, and upgrading skill development programs are essential to enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities. This will enable Indian manufacturers to rely more on domestic machine tool industries, leading to more competitive prices and boosting the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP. The release of the IMTEX Forming 2024 report highlights the potential for the Indian metalworking machine tool industry to become a global leader.”

Mr. Mani Narayan, Managing Director, Messer Cutting Systems India Pvt. Ltd. 

“IMTEX provides a great opportunity to introduce the latest products. Messer only attends IMTEX when unveiling something new. We always refrain from participating in IMTEX with an existing product. The event occurs once every two years, giving us time to conceive and develop new products for launch here.”

Anup Verma, Managing Director – Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence India

“At IMTEX Forming 2024, we saw an exciting convergence of trends that are set to redefine the manufacturing industry. A major highlight was the advanced forming technologies, which are pivotal for developing lighter and safer electric vehicles. These technologies, showcased through practical demonstrations and innovative products, emphasized efficiency and sustainability. Another trend that garnered attention was the integration of artificial intelligence in forming processes, which is a game-changer for optimizing manufacturing workflows. The spotlight was also on high-tech welding solutions, showcasing how they are evolving with digital advancements. Hexagon, with its two prominent stalls, played a crucial role in this event. We displayed our cutting-edge solutions that align with these trends, demonstrating our commitment to driving quality, innovation, and competitiveness in the Indian manufacturing sector. Our presence and contributions at IMTEX Forming 2024 truly reflected our dedication to shaping a smarter future for manufacturing.”