As Bangalore gets ready to host the most sought after machine tools exhibition of India - IMTEX from 24th - 30th January 2013 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre - the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA) has announced that it has come up with a blue print to set up India's first integrated machine tool industry park and has entrusted the task of preparing the detailed project report (DPR) to IL&FS, which is expected to be ready shortly.

The park will be a cluster of machine tool builders, makers of accessories, components, foundry among others. It will have a common facility centre for all companies setting up shop in the park. The IMTMA has proposed to set up the park on a 300-acre plot at Hosa Narasapur Industrial Area near Tumkur, with a provision to scale it up to 500 acres.

Sharing his views on the Machine Tool industry, Mr. Vikram Sirur, President - IMTMA, said, "The current market size of the machine tool industry stands at Rs.117644 million off which the domestic production makes for around 33% of the total consumption. The Indian players have grown rapidly over the last ten years and now have their presence across all the product categories."

"We have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka government during the Global Investors' Meet 2012. The government has agreed to give land for the project near Tumkur. The project has been approved by the Government of India and we are expecting some concessions from the state government," Mr. Sirur said, IMTMA is also working with the government of India, department of heavy industries, to execute the machine tool park.

On the occasion, Mr Shailesh Sheth, Media Chairman, IMTMA said, "Over the years IMTEX has been a driving force for the exponential growth of Indian Machine Tool Industry. The key emphasis of IMTEX 2013 is to showcase latest technologies and innovations catering to the manufacturing industry. IMTEX 2013 promises to be the largest specialised-trade fair that will attract buyers and manufacturing professionals and will enhance technological efficiency across various sectors."

Exhibitors from across 25 countries including India will be participating in the exhibition. Other key countries participating are Australia, Canada, France, Korea, Holland, Turkey, Belgium, Russia, Japan, Thailand, UK, USA, etc The exhibition will also have group participation from nine countries - China, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, Taiwan, Czech Republic, Singapore, USA

Concurrent to IMTEX 2013, IMTMA is also organising Tooltech 2013 - 15th International Exhibition of cutting Tools, Tooling systems, Machine Tool Accessories, Metrology & CAD/CAM at the same venue. Tooltech features latest trends in cutting tools & tooling industry, from all across the country as well as from various corners of the globe.

The 7-day exhibition is preceded by a day-long International Seminar on 23rd January 2013 on 'Machining technologies'. Dr. Frank Brinken, Starrag AG and Dr. Anil Srivastava, Chief Technology Officer, Techsolve Inc., USA. will deliver the keynote address. Eminent speakers from the industry will provide an insight on the most advanced metal- cutting solutions. The seminar is expected to have delegates from wide-spectrum of metal working industry.

Together, IMTEX and Tooltech 2013 promise to be the ultimate facilitators for B2B cooperation between manufacturers and consumers of all hues connected to manufacturing technologies.