The Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers Association (IMTMA) celebrated the 43rd year of IMTEX and inaugurated IMTEX FORMING 2012 and Tooltech 2012, with an extravagant inaugural ceremony. The six-day forming exhibition from 19th January 2012 at BIEC in Bangalore was inaugurated by Dr K Kasturirangan, Member of Planning Commission - Government of India; Mr Jamshyd N Godrej, Chairman Exhibitions, and Mr Vikram Sirur, President - IMTMA.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Dr Kasturirangan said, "One of the most important strategy of the Government of India is to support in bringing more and more innovation to the various processes, manufacturing and operations in various segments of national endeavour. As declared by the government earlier, this entire decade would focus on innovation."

IMTEX FORMING 2012 featured over 500 exhibitors and 600 machine tools weighing 1,000 tonnes with a total value of all exhibits to be approximately Rs 1000 million marking an increase of around 40 % over the last Forming exhibition. 24 countries in the segment of machining tools, and group participation from China, Germany and Taiwan, were noteable features of the show.

Addressing the media, Mr Jamshyd N Godrej, Chairman Exhibitions, said, "IMTEX FORMING 2012 focuses on emerging segments where demands exist today and in vast volumes. It is a manifestation of cost effective alternatives to conventional metal working solutions. This exhibition encourages the companies to move up the value chain towards paradigm shift - in tune with market realities. With over 40% international participation, the exhibition provides a unique platform for the machine tool fraternity to meet and share information about best practices, competition and latest in the industry".