IMTEX FORMING 2022: BACK IN FORM

Back with renewed vigor, IMTEX FORMING 2022 enthralled the visitors who had come from all over the country and beyond with innovative solutions from the metal forming field. Eager to update themselves on cutting-edge technologies, the participants reciprocated with the same measure of enthusiasm and hailed it as a much-needed event.

Organized by Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), IMTEX FORMING 2022 garnered an overwhelming response from the exhibitors and visitors who had gathered under one roof to witness the latest in the field. Held from June 16-21, 2022, at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, the six-day trade fair had Tooltech and Digital Manufacturing as its concurrent shows.

Institutional buyers from 250 companies across India from sectors like Aerospace, Defence, Railways, Power, Electronics, Medical Equipment, Textiles, Agriculture, Turbines, etc. visited the show. Delegations from leading public and private entities like Ashok Leyland, Bajaj Auto, BEL, BHEL, Havells, Hawkins, HAL, Hero Motors, Infosys, Rolls Royce, ISRO, L&T Construction, Railways, Tata Sikorsky, Titan, Toyota, TVS Motors, among others, visited the exhibition.

Bringing back positivity

Optimism loomed large as the prominent veterans of the industry physically gathered to flag off IMTEX FORMING 2022. Their reflections on the recent challenges, the resilience demonstrated by the industry, its current stable state, and the opportunities that await us in the global scheme of things, set an encouraging tone for the event.

The exhibition was inaugurated in the presence of the Guests of Honor Shri Ashwathnarayan CN, Hon’ble Minister of Higher Education, IT & BT, Science and Technology and Skill Development, Government of Karnataka; Dr K Sivan, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai Distinguished Professor & Former Chairman, ISRO; Ravi Raghavan, President, IMTMA; Rajendra Rajamane, Vice President, IMTMA; PJ Mohanram, Principal Advisor, IMTMA; and
Guru Prasath KR, Executive Director – Trade Fairs.

Raghavan, in his welcome address, shared that the Indian Machine Tool industry is on a recovery path from the pandemic-induced setbacks and revealed that its production is to reach around `9,500 – `10,000 crore in the year 2022-23. IMTMA and the industry are working towards improving the domestic market share from 50 percent to 65 percent in the next few years.

Together to grow

IMTMA and Indian Institute of Welding (IIW), Pune, signed an agreement at the event to jointly organize WELDEXPO, an exhibition on welding and cutting, from IMTEX FORMING 2024 onwards at BIEC. In this backdrop,

Guru Prasath KR, Executive Director, Trade Fairs, IMTMA, shared, “The ecosystem of the Welding industry is used by the metal forming community. This MoU will facilitate direct interaction between them, benefitting both industries.”

Live demo on Industry 4.0 concepts

Keeping up with the industry trends, IMTMA organized a live demo on Industry 4.0 as part of IMTEX FORMING 2022 at its Technology Centre. A model smart factory was set up where a CNC turning center, a CNC machining center, a digital height gauge, and CMM machines were digitally connected and monitored in real time. The real-time data was acquired through the data acquisition devices and CNC controls.

Partnering for progress

IMTMA, in its endeavor to forge a strong connection between the industry and the academia, offers the platform of the i2 (industry-institution) Pavilion to the Indian academic/R&D institutions to showcase their R&D capabilities in the metalworking field at IMTEX every year.

CMR Institute of Technology, Bangalore, won the First Prize for: Additive Manufacturing for Medical Implants; Vemana Institute of Technology, Bangalore, won the Second Prize for: Dynamic Behavior of Materials; KLS Gogte College, Belagavi, bagged the Third Prize for: Joining of 3D printed parts by FSW technique to overcome the bed size limitation of an FDM 3D printer applied to UAV wings; Dr Vishwanath Karad MIT World Peace University, Pune, won a Consolation Prize for: Micro Forming Analysis of Aerospace Materials; Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, won a Consolation Prize for: Advanced Manufacturing.

Industry delegates’ take

IMTEX 2022 enthralled industry insiders who visited the trade fair to update themselves on the latest developments in the field. Vikram S Kasbekar, Executive Director, Operations (Plants), HeroMoto Corp, made the most of his short visit to IMTEX and found the machine and technology suppliers he was looking for. Rajagopalan R, Chief Manufacturing Officer, Watches & Wearables, Titan Company Ltd, who had just returned from a Geneva watch industry exhibition, drew parallels between that and IMTEX 2022. He shared, “I find all the technologies that I witnessed at the Geneva exhibition here at IMTEX. We are on par with them. I am proud to say that a few technologies being shown here are better than those displayed there.”

A team of delegates consisting of technology experts, consultants, and trainers from Bangalore Chamber of Industries & Commerce (BCIC) also visited IMTEX 2022. Dr S Devarajan, Co-Chairman, Manufacturing Expert Committee, BCIC, and Senior Vice President, Production Engineering, said that IMTEX is an opportunity to see the changes happening in the field of technology and the way new technologies can deliver competitiveness among manufacturers.

Self-reliance is crucial

The maiden ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Pavilion’ at IMTEX 2022 showcased indigenous technological capabilities and solutions developed in India. At the show, Nimble Electric, part of UCAM, was at the fore and introduced its high-performance, energy-efficient, compact, and superior quality Orion, Phoenix, Topaz, and Opal Torque Motors that have been exquisitely crafted using magnetic grade steel, H class insulated copper, and high-temperature, high-strength neodymium iron boron magnets.

S K Saha, Vice President, Marketing, Electropneumatics & Hydraulics (I) Pvt Ltd, emphasized that AatmaNirbhar Bharat, or Self-reliant India, is the vision of the new India and that the Government of India’s bold reforms will greatly benefit the industry. The company featured a live demonstration of Hydroforming technology, which it has pioneered in India since 2000.

Arthi Sairaman, Director, MTAB Engineers Pvt Ltd, said “Our hope is that IMTEX and this pavilion will drive awareness of important technology and product development and reach. We would like to thank IMTMA and the Government of India for making it possible for small businesses to bring their products to this show and drive awareness.” The company showcased Kriya AR10-1400, a 10-12 kg payload 6-axis articulated robot with a welding application. It has been developed and commercialized by MTAB under the Government of India’s Department of Heavy Industries initiative and in collaboration with AMTDC (IIT-Madras).

Delighted to be part of the pavilion, Renganathan C, CEO, Chennai Metco, displayed a Robotic Grinder/Polisher and a high-precision 3-Axis Automatic Cutting machine. “It is a step towards Industry 4.0. It offers intelligent, hands-free grinding/polishing solutions with high repeatability,” he said, elaborating.

Exhibitors’ views

Dr Arvind Patel, CEO, Valgro India Ltd, has high regard for IMTEX. “It is India's most anticipated Expo for the sheet metal forming market,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Rajesh Sharma, General Manager, IPG Photonics India Pvt Ltd, shared that IMTEX 2022 was a great platform for IPG India to enlighten people and propagate the message of the application of fiber lasers replacing conventional methods.

IMTEX FORMING is one of the most notable exhibitions in India to connect with the audiences, according to Tushar Pawar, National Head, AMPCO METAL India Pvt Ltd. “It plays a critical role in the development of the Metalworking industry and helps the stakeholders connect,” he added.

TV Mohan, Country Head & Managing Director, Guthle Pressenspannen GmbH, said, “IMTEX is the premier exhibition in the machine tool, cutting tool, and accessories space. We have been an active participant and supporter of this event and IMTMA for several years and will continue to do so.”

According to Maulik Patel, Executive Director, Sahajanand Laser Technology (SLTL) Group, IMTEX has been a platform to showcase the company’s innovative laser solutions to the industry. “Every year, we unveil new laser machines at IMTEX, a tradition we hope to continue. We receive a lot of attention and business opportunities at the expo,” he said.

For Niraj Seth, President, AMADA India Pvt Ltd, IMTEX FORMING 2022 spelt opportunities after a dry spell of almost no exhibitions. The company launched its flagship model VENTIS 3015 AJ series fiber laser cutting machine for the Indian market.

AV Srinivasan, CEO, Meiban Technologies, was keen to be part of IMTEX since many of its customers had been waiting to interact personally and look at its new technologies. It displayed its AC Servo Press Brake BB6020 for the first time in India along with its best-seller machine Muratec 20-tonne high-end AC Servo Turret Punch Press Motorum 2048TS.

The tradition continues

The recently held IMTEX FORMING & Tooltech was delayed by six months due to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic. It brought along some relief to the industry stakeholders who could finally connect with each other physically, have a look and feel of the products, and witness live display of cutting-edge technologies. The next edition of the trade fair will be held from January 18 – 23, 2024, at its usual venue of Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bangalore, India.

Poonam Pednekar
Chief Copy Editor
Magic Wand Media Inc
poonam.pednekar@magicwandmedia.in 

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