Growing from Strength to Strength

After having garnered immensely favorable response in the first edition of Pune Machine Tool Expo (PMTX), Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) organized its sequel at Auto Cluster Exhibition Centre, Pune from September 27-30, 2018. Highlights of the event that had its focus on the country’s flourishing western region…

IMTMA’s regional machine tool expos is an endeavor towards addressing the manufacturing requirements of the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of various industry sectors in Tier II and Tier III cities of India. With this aim, the second edition of Pune Machine Tool Expo (PMTX) was organized to celebrate manufacturing capabilities of the region around the city of Pune and facilitate its connection with the manufacturing players of the rest of India and beyond. The presence of leading manu- facturing companies makes the expo a significant one for the western region.

Strong stats
With over 85 exhibitors, PMTX 2018 covered the entire gamut of metal working machine tools for both metal cutting and metal forming including automation and robotics, tooling systems, CAD/CAM and other technologies which are essential for today’s manufacturing.

The four-day expo, spread across three halls covering 4,200 sq mt, hosted over 11,019 visitors (49 percent increase as compared to 2016) and a trade delegation from 86 companies from various industry sectors such as Auto Component, Automobiles, Capital Goods, Dies And Tool, Defence and Aerospace. Along with host city Pune, the event attracted an impressive number of delegates and visitors from the Tier II and Tier III cities such as Aurangabad, Nagpur, Kolhapur, Mumbai, Satara, Ahmednagar, Nasik besides the neighboring states of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Business orders worth `250 crore were generated.

Visitors from Germany and Poland attended the event, while latest technologies from countries like Germany, the US, the UK, China, Switzerland, Spain, Japan, France and Italy were also on display.

Optimism abounds
Indradev Babu, Vice President, IMTMA, did the honors of inaugurating the expo along with V Anbu, Director General & CEO, IMTMA and other executive council members of IMTMA.

Highlighting the current positive sentiment in the industry, Babu said, "The year 2018-19 has so far been promising for the machine tool industry. Machine tool production for the financial year 2017-18 was around `7,293 crore. There was a growth of around 26 percent in production and around 27 percent in consumption. For the year 2018-19, production is estimated to grow by 20 percent and consumption may grow around 15 percent during the period."

Seconding Babu’s view on the industry’s growth, Anbu said, "India today is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. We are growing at 8.2 percent. If we look at the user segments such as Auto or Auto Components, it’s never been this vibrant."

"The speed at which Indian manufacturing is growing, manufacturers are increasingly in need of smart solutions comprising Industry 4.0, additive manufacturing and robotics. This is the context in which the role played by the machine tool industry becomes very important," he noted.

Exhibitors' views

Hydax Hydraulics Pvt Ltd displayed its wide range of hydraulic accessories at the event. For company Director, Meetali Mukherjee, PMTX 2018 proved to be a perfect platform to consolidate existing ties and forge new bonds.

India’s leading manufacturer of CNC Turning Solutions, Micromatic Machine Tools Pvt Ltd, also participated at the expo. “Regional shows like PMTX help in bridging the gap between us and the region’s local industry and enable us to showcase customized solutions and machines to cater to its needs,” said Harish B, Vice President, Micromatic Machine Tools.

Jyoti CNC Automation Ltd took part the second time in the expo since being at Pune, it offers the company a great locational advantage to get in direct touch with the industries of the surrounding states. “PMTX 2018 was yet another opportunity to meet quality customers, consultants and decision makers from the region,” stated Pankaj Bandal, Regional Manager – Sales, Jyoti CNC Automation.

For Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW) Ltd, the Pune region being an automobile hub, is one of the largest markets for the company’s impressive range of CNC Lathes and CNC Machining Centers. It was LMW’s first time at PMTX but the company, well versed with its reach, participated with considerable enthusiasm. Indraneel Bhattacharya, Vice President – Marketing & Sales, LMW, Machine Tool Division said, “Our focus at the event was on the Automotive sector and its ancillary suppliers, as well as Die & Mould, Pumps & Valves and other Engineering sectors.”

The leading manufacturer of Precision CNC Rotary Tables, Index Tables and Pallet Changing Systems, UCAM Pvt Ltd also displayed its latest innovations at the expo. Explaining why regional shows like PMTX matter to the company, Vijay Zaritaklikar, National – Sales Head, UCAM, said, “Customers make a point to visit regional exhibitions like PMTX. The show is for 4-5 days generally. Due to this, not only the decision makers, but also the opinion makers, users like shop floor supervisors and operators make a point to visit and see the latest products on display. This enables us to engage with all levels of people which otherwise is very difficult.”

Pune being a focus market for Zavenir Daubert’s Cut Clean Protect & Pack proposition, the show was of significant help to the company in examining Pune area’s recent market trends and emerging opportunities in metal working, shared Balwant Bains, GM – Product Management & Marketing, Zavenir Daubert India. The company displayed next generation technologies and trends in Metal Working Fluids, Rust Preventives and VCI Packaging.

Apsom Infotex was another keen first timer. A distributor of technology products, it aimed at meeting serious visitors and also students seeking information on advancements in CNC Milling, CNC Engraving etc.
Engineering company Batliboi Ltd hails regional shows highly important in its overall strategy to have deep penetration in the market. At PMTX 2018, the company had its focus on Automotive, CVs, Tractors, Engineering, Moulds, Power, and Oil & Gas industry sectors.

FARO Technologies made its presence felt by displaying its prowess in leading-edge measurement technology and solutions that can improve the overall efficiency of manufacturing processes.

Kabelschlepp India had its wide range of cable carriers on display and aimed at expanding its customer base through PMTX 2018.

Visitors’ take

Ashish Bhosale of Ashish Industries had earlier visited IMTEX and felt PMTX 2018 as a similarly well-organized show. “The 4- and 5-axis machinery displayed were worth viewing. The overall experience was significantly good,” he said.
“We were highly satisfied with the exhibition. We were impressed with the innovative products displayed and hope to gain substantially from the show,” noted Sujit Mohanpurkar, Director, Prohab Services LLP.

For Shubhangi Jadav, Gestamp from Chakan, the expo opened up new business opportunities, “It was very well organized and the management was extremely cordial,” was what she had to say.

Growing need for regional events

The success of PMTX 2018 has further affirmed the need for regional expos. To continue fulfilling it, the next Regional Machine Tool Exhibition by IMTMA will be the third edition of Delhi Machine Tool Expo, which will be held in 2019at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, before returning to Pune in 2020.