The 14th International Industrial Trade Fair (INTEC) which recently concluded in Coimbatore, the Manchester of South India, got an overwhelming response from the industry. More than One lakh people visited the five-day exhibition, organised by the Coimbatore District Small Scale Industries Association (CODISSIA) and NSIC. INTEC 2013 was inaugurated by P Mohan, Minister for Rural Industries, Tamil Nadu on 06 June at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex, Coimbatore.

The inaugural edition of the fair took place in 1988. Since then, INTEC is being regularly held to assist local SMEs in marketing their products globally, making Coimbatore a global manufacturing hub. The current edition of the trade fair had a special significance as the biggest machine tool manufacturers in the world like Yamazaki Mazak and Hyundai exhibited for the first time. The other sectors in the current edition included hydraulics, foundry equipment, pumps and fittings, industrial consumables and fabrication machinery.

Delivering his inaugural address, Mr Mohan said, "This trade fair will encourage more people to become entrepreneurs apart from educating existing entrepreneurs on latest advancements," he said. On the efforts taken to boost MSMEs in the state, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa recently announced several measures for the development of MSMEs in the State. This included Rs 15 crore or 75 per cent subsidy to industrial estates developed by private sector in the outskirts of a city. He said efforts were on to create more industrial infrastructural facilities in Coimbatore. The event helped the vehicle and auto-component companies deploy appropriate technology and connect to providers of systems and processes to ensure the optimisation of efficiency, quality and costs. Automotive Painting Equipment, Paint shop Integrators, Robotics, Metrology, Quality Inspection & Vision System and many other similar systems provided exhibited their latest offering in the event.

According to Mr Mohan, in order to pay special attention to the needs of the micro enterprises, the process of establishing a multi storied industrial estate at Thirumazhisai near Chennai for micro industries has been initiated at a cost of Rs 20 crore. Steps have also been taken in Coimbatore for establishing industrial estates close to Avinashi Road and Trichy Road to house 600 industrial units.

K Dhanavel, Principal Secretary, MSME, Government of Tamil Nadu, said the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) accounted for ten per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). The Chief Minister had recently unveiled a 10-point scheme for the development of the MSME sector under which capital subsidy has been raised from 15 per cent to 25 per cent. If entrepreneurs came together to form industrial estates outside cities and re-located their units from within the cities, the Government would offer a subsidy of up to 75 per cent of the cost of the estate formation or up to Rs 15 crore.

The Chairman of INTEC 2013, D Gandhikumar said, "This is a fair where sellers get to meet their prospective buyers right away. The exhibition has 508 stalls and 474 participants. This would include companies from 19 countries, including Japan, Korea, and the U.S. and from different parts of the country have exhibited their products. Industrial robotics, foundry equipment, engines, generators and alternators, CNC machinery and accessories, tools, and IT solutions are some of the segments of exhibits." The Chairman further emphasised that the companies like Yamazaki Mazak, one of the global leaders in machine tool manufacture and engineering conglomerate Hyundai, which were participating for the first time. In fact, Hyundai had taken up two large stalls in different locations to ensure better visibility. He said Isuzu Motors of Japan, which is setting up its manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh participated in the exhibition as it was keen to develop a vendor base for its auto components in Coimbatore.

Isuzu, present in India through selling utility vehicles for a short tenure and as a diesel engine supplier to Hindustan Motors, is bullish about its prospects in thriving pickup and SUV market in India. For which the company is setting up a local production unit at Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to manufacture LCVs. Local production would mean Isuzu will need a wide range of local vendors. In a move to search for local vendors, Isuzu participated at the INTEC 2013, since several auto ancillary units are based in Coimbatore and supply to Indian and overseas factories.

INTEC 2013 provided an ideal platform for marketing innovative engineering technologies and products across the globe. The current edition was a trendsetter and showcased the latest in manufacturing technologies which included CNC, special purpose machines, auto components and industrial robotics. An important feature in the fair was live demonstration of latest machine tools by the world's leading brands like Bharat Fritz Werner (BFW), Makino, Lakshmi Machine Works, FARO, Janatics India, Ace Micromatic, Shanthi Gears, Autonics, Bright Burnishing Tools, Rittal India, Tussor Machine Tools, Titan Paints, Elgi, and Roots.

Korea-based Autonics Automation showcased their entire industrial automation solutions including sensors, controllers, control switches and motion devices as well as control and measurement equipment and tower lights. Autonics Automation India sells their products through their distributor, Naren Electronics & Services. Paul JH Chung, General Manager of Autonics Automation India said, "We are focusing on BRIC countries and especially India has the potential to be a major source of growth within ten years and perhaps a dominant one within twenty. Autonics India aims to grow in India by contributing to the Indian economy and making automation of Indian industry."

C Chanakya, Director of Jai Balaji Control Gears said, "INTEC 2013 helped us to showcase our wide range of products and helped us to generate Rs 20 lakh worth of business enquires. Our wide range of products fit into the entire range of industrial application and this time we have received more enquires from the wind industry." Since the industries in Coimbatore faced power and labour shortage, the focus was on energy efficiency and automation. The displays included dies and moulds, pneumatic systems, automobile components, CNC machinery, accessories, seals, packing material, tools, motors, and fabrication machinery and equipment.