By Sachin Murdeshwar
Mumbai : Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) is celebrating 50 years of IMTEX as it organizes ‘IMTEX 2019 & Tooltech 2019’ at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bangalore from 
24th to 30th January 2019.
IMTEX today occupies a premier position in exhibition landscape as South Asia’s largest exhibition in manufacturing technology. Since its beginning in 1969 in Mumbai it has showcased every change and shift in metalworking technology to enable Indian manufacturers to innovate, reinvent, evolve and stay relevant for their customers.
Over a period of 50 years the exhibition has brought diverse groups and stakeholders on a common platform for knowledge sharing and transacting business. In its maiden avatar in 1969 IMTEX was organized in a 7,000 square metres premises in Vikhroli, Mumbai with participation from 26 companies. IMTEX 2019 held at BIEC is covering an exhibition space of around 80,000 square metres with participation from over 1000 exhibitors from 23 countries.
Reminiscing about IMTEX, Jamshyd N. Godrej, Chairman, Exhibitions – IMTMA said, “Understanding the needs of manufacturing industry has been IMTMA’s core strength over these years. IMTMA took a lead in showcasing global developments when Indian manufacturing industry was in a nascent stage. We made a start 50 years ago and we are immensely proud of how the show has evolved in 5 decades and fostered an understanding among the manufacturing fraternity”.
Speaking about IMTEX’s relevance, P. Ramadas, President-IMTMA said, “IMTEX is a must attend exhibition for technology enthusiasts. It is at IMTEX that latest technologies which are widely prevalent in overseas countries are launched and displayed live. The current edition of IMTEX will showcase advanced technologies like 3D printing, internet of things, automation, robotics, and Industry 4.0.”
Sharing his views as IMTEX turns 50 years old, V. Anbu, Director General & CEO – IMTMA told, “It is incredibly inspiring to see how a brand impacts trade in a positive way and leaves its imprints in the timeline. The wheel which was set in motion 50 years ago with All India Machine Tool Exhibition as it was known back then was a significant one. We are glad that as we celebrate 50 years of IMTEX we get an opportunity to retell the story to our modern generation and inspire them to take forward the torch which was ignited by our founding fathers when they organized the first exhibition 50 years ago.”
Continuing with its efforts of providing world-class exhibition facilities IMTMA has added a new hall (Hall 5) at BIEC premises to cater to the increasing demands of space at IMTEX.
IMTMA is introducing two exclusive pavilions: Additive Manufacturing Expo and Factory of the Future: An Expo on Industry 4.0. The pavilion on Additive Manufacturing will familiarize the manufacturing fraternity with the techno-commercial advantages of additive manufacturing. The pavilion on Industry 4.0 will be a platform to see and experience all facets of implementation of Industry 4.0
The exhibition will also have seminars on these technologies. The seminar on Factory of the Future: Industry 4.0 will be held on 25th January 2019. The seminar on Additive Manufacturing will be held on 26th and 28th January 2019.
IMTMA has also constituted an Eco Design Award to encourage exhibitors to use eco-friendly materials in construction of their stall. The best eco-friendly stall at the exhibition will be conferred with the Eco Design Award. The award will be presented on 25th January 2019.
