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Bangalore: Exhibitors
from 23 countries, including the US for the first time, will
participate in the Jan 20-26 Indian metal-cutting machine tool
exhibition (Imtex 2011) here, the largest trade fair in South
Asia.
The fair will showcase the range of innovations and technological
refinements in the product segment from the world over.
Organized by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association (IMTMA),
it will feature about 800 exhibitors and 750 machines valued at
Rs.1,400 crore (over $300 million) at the Bangalore International
Exhibition Centre (BIEC) on the outskirts of the city.
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma will unveil
the week-long mega event.
"Momentum of Indian machine tool industry is back. New sectors
such as aerospace, healthcare and energy have helped the industry
focus on high-end technology and innovation," IMTMA chairman
Shailesh Sheth told IANS here.
Delegations from the Automotive Components Manufacturers
Association, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, Ordinance
Factories, Indian Railways, Tractor Manufacturers Association and
state-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd will evaluate the latest
trends in cutting tools and tooling systems.
"The machine tool industry is recovering from the impact of the
global downturn during the two previous fiscal years. We have
drawn a long-term strategy to grow by ten-fold during this decade
with a proactive policy intervention by the government and other
stakeholders," association past president C.P. Rangachar said.
With a view to develop machine tool technology and raise
production to reduce import dependence, counter technology denials
and provide manufacturing competitiveness, the association
recently presented a vision document and perspective plan for
2010-2020 to the central ministry of heavy industries and public
enterprises.
"We have asked the government to grant Rs.2,000 crore towards
technology development through innovation, development of skill
sets and capacity expansion. The industry will contribute an
equivalent amount (Rs.2,000 crore) for the joint initiative,"
Sheth recalled.
The association has also suggested the government to re-constitute
the development council of machine tools and recommended a slew of
measures for strengthening partnership between the industry, the
state and other stakeholders.
"Our target is to secure a domestic market share of 50 percent in
the next five years and 67 percent by 2020 from 30 percent
currently, with imports accounting for 70 percent of the demand,"
Rangachar pointed out.
After posting a record production valued at Rs.1,902 crore, with
imports at Rs.5,992 crore and consumption Rs.7,747 crore during
fiscal 2007-08, the machine tool industry performance declined in
terms of production value to Rs.1,425 crore in recession-hit
2008-09, with imports increasing to Rs.6,271 crore and consumption
to Rs.7,606 crore.
During the last fiscal (2009-10), domestic production value,
however, increased to Rs.1,652 crore, while import value and
consumption declined to Rs.4,852 crore and Rs.6,413 crore,
respectively.
Coinciding with the expo, a two-day international seminar on
machining technologies will be held Jan 18-19, focusing on
evolving trends in the industry the world over.
Experts from Britain, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Singapore,
Switzerland and the US will share their experience and latest
developments in the field spanning auto components, aerospace, new
generation machine tools, electrical and micro machining, die and
mould machining, tooling, coolants, control systems and
measurements and automation.
The association is expecting about 100,000 visitors at the expo,
confirmed orders for Rs.700 crore and business enquiries to the
tune of Rs.7,000 crore during the annual event.
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