IMTEX 2025 is set to surpass its previous editions: Rajendra S Rajamane

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IMTEX 2025 is set to surpass its previous editions: Rajendra S Rajamane

IMTEX 2025 is set to surpass its previous editions: Rajendra S Rajamane

Industry News
Dec 19,24

The exhibition will have interesting parallel events such as i2 Academia Square comprising Academia Pavilion with institutions presenting innovative projects undertaken by students, helping bridge the gap between academic and industrial circles.

IMTEX 2025 is set to surpass its previous editions: Rajendra S Rajamane

Over 1,100 exhibitors from 23 countries showcasing new products and technologies in the form of live machines are expected to participate. Countries like Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and the United States of America have separate pavilions. IMTMA anticipates participation from several trade delegations representing various user industries, says, Rajendra S Rajamane, President, IMTMA, in dialogue with Rakesh Rao.

The Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA), founded in 1946 by 19 machine tool manufacturers, has been a key driver in the growth of India's machine tool industry. IMTMA has played a vital role in providing user industries with advanced machine tool technologies, fostering competitive manufacturing solutions. Representing nearly 500 members, IMTMA is recognised as the leading authority for the Indian machine tool sector, covering 90% of the organised industry and allied equipment manufacturers.

How was FY24 for the Indian machine tools industry?

Financial year 2023-24 was good for the Indian machine tool industry, with an estimated increase of around 10% year-on-year in production, reaching around $1.6 billion. It was a good period for exports, with a reported 13% growth, amounting to about $200 million while consumption was estimated to have increased by around 11% to reach $3.3 billion. India ranked 9th in production and 6th in consumption, globally, as per estimates from Gardner Intelligence’s World Machine Tool Survey 2023.

Besides automotive, what growth opportunities do emerging sectors offer to the industry?

Auto industry has been the largest consumer of machine tools in India for several years. While the machine tool industry will continue to engage closely with the auto sector, it is also broadening its scope to do business with many of the rainbow sectors. In recent years, particularly, there has been an increase in demand from strategic sectors, which has resulted in the machine tool industry diversifying its portfolio. As a result, the machine tool industry works more closely with sectors like aerospace, defence, railways, electronics, medical equipment manufacturing, semiconductors, toy manufacturing units, and many others.

Which trends are having a profound impact on the Indian machine tools industry?

We are seeing a wider adoption of Industry 4.0, including the integration of artificial intelligence, internet of things for predictive maintenance and process optimisation, besides smart factories with interconnected devices and real-time monitoring.

Automation is gaining wider traction with increased use of automated solutions and robotics. Sustainable practices, green manufacturing, the use of energy-efficient machines, and waste-reduction techniques are gaining popularity.

Adoption of 3D printing for prototyping, low-volume production, and hybrid machines combining additive and tractive processes is seen in manufacturing space in a big way. Digital twin technologies with virtual simulations to optimise machine performance before production as well as high-precision and speed machine tools are being used.

Companies are also shifting towards deploying machines that can perform multiple processes like milling, turning, and drilling simultaneously. Last but not least, companies are collaborating with institutions that can impart practical hands-on training to workforce so that they can be easily deployed on shopfloors.

What are the hurdles on the growth path of the Indian machine tools industry?

Indian machine tool industry is good when it comes to design and manufacturing competence for a wide range of products. However, the product range and homegrown technologies have a substantial gap with ones manufactured overseas. User industries need the highest quality products at competitive prices thus making it imperative to develop them indigenously.

Strategic sectors, such as aerospace, defence, nuclear industries, etc., have complicated profile components that need simultaneous interpolation of 4, 5, or more axes. There are challenges in importing certain machines for key strategic sectors and to overcome that, Indian machine tool industry needs to invest substantially in R&D. This is a long-term plan, and we would reap the benefits of substituting imports over a period of time.

How has been the export performance of the Indian machine tools industry? What steps does the industry need to take to propel exports?

The machine tool industry needs to create demand initially in the domestic market by building cost-effective standard products, and besides this, it needs to create a good supply chain. Once it aligns itself with global standards compliance, such as CE marking, the industry will gain the necessary confidence to venture into untapped markets and explore new growth opportunities. India presently exports around 10% of what it produces to global markets, and we have a long way to meet the size of markets in Asia, Europe, and America.

A universal approach to evaluating the export potential of homegrown machines is to first test them domestically. When such products have features that will be difficult to replicate overseas then one is highly likely to find success.

What are the highlights of IMTEX 2025? Would you like to give any message to the industry on the eve of IMTEX 2025?

IMTEX 2025 is very special as it is set to surpass all its previous editions, occupying 90,000 square meters of space in eight halls. Over 1,100 exhibitors from 23 countries showcasing new products and technologies in the form of live machines are expected to participate. Countries like Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, and the United States of America have separate pavilions. IMTMA anticipates participation from several trade delegations representing various user industries.

Tooltech, focusing on tools and dies, and digital manufacturing, showcasing Industry 4.0 and additive manufacturing advancements, will be held as concurrent shows. International Seminar on Machining Technologies held on 24 and 25 January will throw light on the emerging technologies in metal cutting technologies. International experts from various countries will deliberate upon the innovations and global best practices.

IMTMA will be holding the 'Engagement with Overseas Buyers' on 25 and 26 January 2025 as part of the buyer-seller meet promoting exports of the Indian machine tool industry. Further, the Jagruti-IMTMA Youth Programme, an initiative to raise awareness about the latest advancements in the manufacturing industry would help students stay updated with technological developments.

Two new seminars will be organised in IMTEX 2025 for the first time.

IMTMA, along with ACMA (Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India), will be holding an Auto Components Industry Transformation Summit on 26 January. The seminar is expected to further buttress machine tool and auto component industry relations. JMTBA Seminar on Export Controls for Japanese Machine Tools will be held at IMTMA Technology Centre in Bengaluru on January 27, 2025. The seminar is expected to strengthen business relations between India and Japan.