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IMTEX Forming 2026: Charting the Next Chapter of India’s Metal Forming Ecosystem
Articles- Dec 21,25
IMTEX Forming 2026, Asia’s largest metal forming and manufacturing technology exhibition, is set to return to Bengaluru from 21–25 January 2026.
IMTEX Forming 2026, Asia’s largest metal forming and manufacturing technology exhibition, is set to return to Bengaluru from 21–25 January 2026. Organised by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), the exhibition will be held at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) and is expected to reaffirm its role as a pivotal platform for the Indian and global manufacturing communities.
Spanning more than 46,000 sq m across four exhibition halls, IMTEX Forming 2026 will host over 600 exhibitors from 20 countries, showcasing a comprehensive range of metal forming technologies, manufacturing systems, automation solutions, and allied processes. The five-day event will bring together machine tool manufacturers, technology providers, industry leaders, researchers, and young professionals under one roof, enabling focused engagement across the manufacturing value chain.
Momentum from IMTEX Forming 2024
The forthcoming edition builds on the strong foundation laid by IMTEX Forming 2024, which recorded a robust response from the manufacturing community. Held from 19–23 January 2024, the exhibition featured 625 exhibitors from 20 countries and attracted 44,779 visitors. Spread across 45,000 sq m, the event generated enquiries valued between ?45 and ?50 billion, while confirmed orders stood at ?5–5.5 billion by the final day of the show.
IMTEX Forming 2024 witnessed participation from a wide spectrum of industries, including general engineering, fabrication, automation, aerospace, defence, railways, consumer durables, renewable energy, academia, and government and public sector organisations. Visitors ranged from senior leadership—chairmen, managing directors, CEOs and country heads—to production heads, technical directors, engineers, technicians, and machine operators, reflecting the exhibition’s relevance across organisational hierarchies.
This broad engagement underlined IMTEX Forming’s ability to serve not only as a business generation platform but also as a meeting ground for strategic dialogue, technology evaluation, and knowledge exchange. IMTEX Forming 2026 aims to build on this momentum, expanding both scale and depth of participation.
A holistic manufacturing platform
At its core, IMTEX Forming 2026 will focus on metal forming technologies that are central to modern manufacturing. These include sheet metal cutting, forging, extrusion, rolling, die casting, forming tools, joining and welding processes, and associated automation solutions. The exhibition will highlight how these technologies support diverse end-use sectors such as automotive and auto components, aerospace and defence, medical equipment, power, railways, construction equipment, capital goods, electrical and electronics, and white and brown goods.
Enhancing the scope of the main exhibition are a series of concurrent and co-located shows that together create a comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem.
Tooltech will focus on machine tool accessories, metrology solutions, CAD/CAM tools, tooling systems, and emerging trends shaping the tooling industry. The show will address the growing need for precision, quality, and efficiency in manufacturing operations.
Digital Manufacturing will showcase real-time solutions in additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0, reflecting the increasing integration of digital technologies across shopfloor operations. The platform will highlight how data-driven manufacturing, automation, and connected systems are reshaping productivity and competitiveness.
Weldexpo, organised in association with the Indian Institute of Welding (IIW-India), will present the latest welding technologies, processes, and solutions relevant to fabrication-intensive industries.
In addition, Moldex India and Fastenex India, organised by Messe Stuttgart, will be co-located alongside IMTEX Forming 2026. Moldex India will focus on moulding technologies, while Fastenex India will highlight fasteners and fixing solutions, further expanding the exhibition’s technological breadth.
Together, these shows create an integrated platform that enables visitors to explore complementary technologies and solutions within a single exhibition environment.
Knowledge, research and youth engagement
Beyond the exhibition floor, IMTEX Forming 2026 will host several parallel events aimed at strengthening knowledge exchange, fostering innovation, and nurturing future talent.
The International Seminar on Forming Technology, now in its ninth edition, will be held on 22–23 January 2026. The seminar will explore new trends, equipment, processes, and technologies in metal forming and related fields, providing a forum for technical discussions and industry insights.
The i2 Academia Square will once again serve as a platform for academic and research institutions to present their research and development initiatives to industry stakeholders. In earlier editions, the initiative facilitated direct interaction between academia and industry, encouraging collaboration, applied research, and technology transfer.
The Jagruti-IMTMA Youth Programme will continue its focus on creating awareness among young professionals and students about the latest advancements in manufacturing. The programme reflects IMTMA’s emphasis on skill development and its commitment to strengthening the talent pipeline for the manufacturing sector.
International participation and industry reach
IMTEX Forming 2026 will feature exhibitor group participation from Germany, Italy, Japan, and Taiwan, bringing global manufacturing technologies and innovations to the Indian market. This international presence reinforces IMTEX Forming’s position as a globally relevant exhibition with strong local industry linkages.
Visitors are expected from a wide range of sectors, including automotive and auto components, aerospace and defence, medical equipment, power, railways, construction equipment, general and heavy engineering, capital goods, electrical and electronics, and consumer goods. This diversity reflects the cross-sectoral importance of metal forming technologies and the exhibition’s ability to address multiple industry requirements.
Insights from IMTEX Forming 2024 indicated that fabrication, general engineering, and automation accounted for a significant share of visitor representation, followed by aerospace, defence, railways, academia, consumer durables, and renewable energy. Product categories that drew strong interest included sheet metal cutting machines, robotics and manufacturing automation, Industry 4.0 solutions, joining and welding, die casting, forging, and forming tools.
Market perspective and technology trends
According to IMTMA, metal forming currently accounts for 29 per cent of the Indian machine tool market and is expected to grow measurably in the coming years. In FY25, consumption of metal forming machine tools stood at Rs 91.39 billion, while production was valued at Rs 26.96 billion. Exports of metal forming machine tools increased by approximately six per cent year-on-year, with presses leading export volumes, followed by press brakes, bending machines, and shearing machines.
Commenting on the market outlook, Mohini Kelkar, President, IMTMA, highlighted the growth potential of the metal forming segment and its increasing relevance across manufacturing industries.
Technology trends are also shaping the exhibition’s focus. Jibak Dasgupta, Director General & CEO, IMTMA, noted that laser and laser-based applications are gaining wider acceptance across sectors. Participation by laser-based manufacturers has steadily increased at IMTEX Forming, with exhibitors showcasing fibre laser machines, precision levellers, pick-and-place units, servo presses, machine production monitoring systems, welding solutions, and 3D printing technologies. He added that IMTEX Forming 2026 will help accelerate the manufacturing of homegrown products and their exports.
Accelerating digital transformation
IMTEX Forming 2026 positions itself as a platform to accelerate the adoption of digital transformation and high-productivity solutions in manufacturing. With Industry 4.0, automation, and data-driven manufacturing becoming central to competitiveness, the exhibition offers manufacturers an opportunity to evaluate technologies that enhance efficiency, quality, and operational visibility.
By bringing together equipment manufacturers, technology providers, system integrators, and end-users, the exhibition facilitates practical discussions on technology implementation across different scales of manufacturing operations.
IMTMA and the industry ecosystem
Established in 1946, the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) is the apex industry association for the machine tool sector in India. With a membership of more than 500 companies from public and private sectors, IMTMA represents manufacturers of metal cutting and metal forming machines, accessories, cutting tools, and related equipment.
IMTMA plays an active role in industry development through policy advocacy, exhibitions, knowledge platforms, publications, research reports, training programmes, and skill development initiatives. Its flagship exhibition, IMTEX, has evolved into one of the leading global machine tool exhibitions, reflecting the association’s long-standing commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing capabilities.
Looking ahead
As IMTEX Forming 2026 returns to Bengaluru, it does so at a time when manufacturing is increasingly shaped by technology adoption, productivity imperatives, and global integration. By combining a large-scale exhibition, international participation, knowledge platforms, and youth-focused initiatives, IMTEX Forming 2026 is positioned to play a defining role in shaping the future of metal forming and manufacturing in India.
For exhibitors, visitors, researchers, and industry leaders, the exhibition offers a platform to connect, collaborate, and explore the technologies that will drive the next phase of manufacturing growth.
IMTEX Forming 2026
metal forming
manufacturing technology
IMTMA
Bengaluru
BIEC
exhibitors
automation
Industry 4.0
global participation in IMTEX
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