INTEC 2026: Energising India’s Industrial Growth

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INTEC 2026: Energising India’s Industrial Growth

INTEC 2026: Energising India’s Industrial Growth

Articles
May 26,26

With a focus on technology-led manufacturing, Ashlin Rajan explores how the 21st edition of INTEC will help MSMEs pursue machinery upgrades, automation, exports and global business linkages.

INTEC 2026: Energising India’s Industrial Growth

As INTEC returns to Coimbatore for its 21st edition from 4–8 June 2026, the biennial industrial trade fair is expected to bring together technology, entrepreneurship and global manufacturing opportunities under one roof. Organised at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, the event will once again highlight why Coimbatore remains one of India’s most dynamic MSME and engineering hubs.

Coimbatore has never been just another industrial city. It is a manufacturing ecosystem built on enterprise, adaptability and problem-solving. From foundries and fabrication shops to machine tool users, precision engineering units, textile machinery suppliers and component manufacturers, the region has developed an industrial character that is both deeply local and increasingly global.

This spirit will be at the centre of INTEC 2026, the International Machine Tools & Industrial Trade Fair, scheduled from 4–8 June 2026 at the CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex. Now entering its 21st edition, INTEC has grown from a regional industrial exhibition into one of South India’s most awaited platforms for engineering, manufacturing and technology-led business engagement.

For manufacturers, MSMEs, technology suppliers and industry professionals, INTEC is not merely a place to view machines. It is where investment decisions are shaped, supplier relationships are built, new technologies are discovered and future business directions are discussed. Over the years, the fair has helped bring advanced machinery, industrial automation, tools, precision systems and global technologies closer to the manufacturing community of Coimbatore and the wider region.

M KarthiKeyan, President, CODISSIA, underlines the significance of the platform by pointing to its long-standing industry relevance. “INTEC is a fair that has been happening since 1988, and this is the 21st edition of the fair,” he says. “What makes INTEC unique is that it is integrated. It brings in the latest technologies in machines, especially in areas such as sheet metal and machine shop technologies.”

That integration is what sets INTEC apart. Many exhibitions focus narrowly on one segment — machine tools, sheet metal, automation, cutting tools or factory equipment. INTEC, however, brings multiple manufacturing technologies together, making it useful for a wide range of industries, from fabrication units to machine shops and component manufacturers. For MSMEs that want to compare solutions, evaluate upgrades or understand how automation can fit into their current operations, this consolidated format offers practical value.

Coimbatore’s industrial base gives the fair a natural advantage. The city is home to thousands of fabrication units, hundreds of foundries and a strong network of small and medium engineering companies. According to KarthiKeyan, the region has around 7,000 companies in the medium and small industry segment, while foundries alone number around 700. These businesses serve both domestic and export markets, creating a strong demand base for machinery, tools and technology.

“Coimbatore is a very strong manufacturing place. So, exhibitors never miss INTEC. The reason is the strong purchasing power of the MSMEs in this region,” says KarthiKeyan. He adds that the local industry actively waits for INTEC because exhibitors often use the platform to showcase new products and technologies.

This makes the event equally important for visitors and exhibitors. While visitors come to explore productivity-enhancing solutions, exhibitors see Coimbatore as a market with serious buyers and technically aware decision-makers. The fair has historically attracted participation from India as well as countries such as China, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan. These international linkages have helped expose local industries to global standards and advanced manufacturing practices.

INTEC 2026 is expected to continue that legacy with a broad display of manufacturing technologies. The focus is likely to include machine tools, CNC systems, sheet metal machinery, grinding machines, cutting tools, industrial automation, robotics, material handling equipment, precision components and smart factory solutions. The larger direction is clear: manufacturing is moving towards productivity, quality, integration and cost efficiency.

For MSMEs, this transition is both an opportunity and a challenge. India’s manufacturing ambitions are rising, but many small businesses still face barriers in finance, technology adoption, skilled manpower and market access. KarthiKeyan is candid about the funding gap. He points out that while India has a large MSME base, only a portion of these enterprises have access to formal finance. “Only around one-third of MSMEs have access to finance,” he says, adding that working capital dominates MSME lending, while term loans for long-term investment remain limited.

This has direct implications for technology adoption. Machinery upgrades, robotics, enterprise resource planning systems and digital manufacturing tools require capital. Without affordable finance, many MSMEs may understand the need to modernise but remain unable to invest. KarthiKeyan argues that government support is needed to make advanced manufacturing accessible. “It is not about technology alone. It is about affordability and bringing it to the doorstep of MSMEs,” he says.

This is where platforms such as INTEC become critical. They help MSMEs see technologies in action, interact directly with suppliers and understand practical adoption pathways. Rather than treating Industry 4.0 as an abstract idea, trade fairs allow business owners to evaluate how automation, robotics, digital systems and process integration can improve shopfloor operations.

KarthiKeyan believes the future will not be limited to machine manufacturers alone. “The future is going to be more of robotics and integrators’ business rather than only manufacturers of machinery,” he says. This observation reflects a larger shift in manufacturing. Companies no longer need machines in isolation; they need solutions that connect processes, improve accuracy, reduce dependency on repetitive labour and deliver measurable efficiency.

At the same time, the President of CODISSIA cautions that Industry 4.0 readiness remains uneven. While small and medium enterprises may be moving towards digital systems, micro units still need support. “Inclusive growth is more important. That will be our ask,” he says. This perspective is important for a region like Coimbatore, where micro and small enterprises form the foundation of the manufacturing supply chain.

Beyond traditional manufacturing, Tamil Nadu and Coimbatore are also looking at emerging opportunities in defence, aerospace, electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar, battery technology and advanced components. KarthiKeyan sees defence and aerospace as major areas of growth, especially given India’s push towards localisation and the opportunities emerging from Make in India. CODISSIA’s Defence Innovation and Atal Incubation Centre is already aimed at encouraging MSMEs to explore this sector.

Coimbatore’s long manufacturing history also gives it confidence to enter new industries. The city has demonstrated its ability to build industrial capacity even when raw materials are not locally available. KarthiKeyan cites the example of textile and foundry industries to argue that the region can also develop capabilities in future-facing sectors. With the right infrastructure, policy support and technology linkages, Coimbatore can expand its role in India’s next phase of manufacturing.

Infrastructure, however, remains a key concern. Land availability, industrial estate development, power costs, renewable energy support, water conservation and urban mobility will all influence the region’s industrial growth. KarthiKeyan notes that Coimbatore’s manufacturing sector contributes around Rs 450 billion to Rs 500 billion annually. With better infrastructure and handholding, he believes this can rise to Rs 600 billion and eventually Rs 700 billion.

This ambition gives INTEC 2026 a broader meaning. The fair is not just about the technologies displayed inside exhibition halls. It reflects the aspirations of a manufacturing region that wants to grow, modernise and compete globally. It also provides a meeting ground for industry associations, policymakers, suppliers, entrepreneurs, technical experts and business visitors.

In previous editions, the fair has drawn strong participation from exhibitors and visitors, helping strengthen the industrial infrastructure of the region. Events such as CEO conclaves and industry discussions have added a knowledge dimension, allowing business leaders to deliberate on competitiveness, manufacturing trends and future opportunities. INTEC 2026 is expected to build on this by encouraging conversations around automation, MSME finance, exports, skills, smart manufacturing and global market access.

For CODISSIA, the larger goal is to take Coimbatore’s industry to the world. The association has been organising trade visits, outward delegations and international engagements to help manufacturers understand global requirements and build export capabilities. KarthiKeyan says Coimbatore’s export share is already slightly better than the average MSME export level, but the region has the potential to improve further. “We want to take our MSMEs to the global market. That is the idea, and we are really working on it,” he says.

As the countdown begins for INTEC 2026, the fair is expected to offer manufacturers a practical window into the future of production. For exhibitors, it will be an opportunity to reach one of India’s most active industrial clusters. For visitors, it will be a chance to identify solutions that can improve competitiveness. For Coimbatore, it will be another moment to reinforce its position as a city where entrepreneurship meets engineering excellence.

At a time when India is seeking to strengthen its manufacturing base, reduce import dependence and scale up MSME competitiveness, platforms like INTEC carry strategic importance. They connect ambition with technology, buyers with suppliers and local enterprises with global possibilities. INTEC 2026 is therefore more than a trade fair. It is a curtain raiser to the next chapter of Coimbatore’s manufacturing journey.