The 19^th edition of IMTEX and the 21^st Tooltech, organised by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) opened yesterday at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC). This is the largest IMTEX ever and IMTMA is celebrating 50 years of IMTEX, which is being held from January 24-30.

The exhibition was inaugurated by HD Kumaraswamy, Chief Minister of Karnataka, RV Deshpande, Minister for Revenue, government of Karnataka, KJ George, Minister for Large & Medium Scale Industries, government of Karnataka, Vikram Kirloskar, vice-president, Confederation of Indian Industry, and Ram Venkataramani, president, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). Jamshyd N Godrej, chairman, Exhibitions - IMTMA, P Ramadas, President, IMTMA, Indradev Babu, vice-president, IMTMA and V Anbu, director-general and CEO, IMTMA were also present at the inauguration.

In his welcome speech Mr Godrej said, “IMTEX shows industry in a different light and IMTEX is an expression of showing a new India and what its industry is capable of.”

HD Kumaraswamy said, “The exhibition has been a gateway for attracting investments in Karnataka since the first IMTEX 12 years ago.” He added that Bangalore is historically a manufacturing hub and is making its mark as a startup and biotech hub as well.

CII vice-president Vikram Kirloskar said that exhibitions will never become obsolete as machines will always be required in the manufacturing industry. Technologies are needed to enhance productivity. Large-scale exhibitions such as IMTEX will provide all this in one place.

ACMA president Venkataramani said that ACMA and IMTMA will continue to work to understand and provide solutions to ever-growing demands of the auto component industry.

Marking 50 years celebration, IMTMA has planned a series of activities as part of the show including several new initiatives all of which will be unravelled in the week from 24^th January to 30^th January 2019.

Celebrating 50 years of IMTEX, IMTMA has set up an Experience Zone adjacent to Hall 4 in BIEC. The experience zone is a collection of IMTEX archives including display of vintage machines from a bygone era, pictures and a short film on the IMTEX journey. IMTEX 2019 also features two robots which talk to visitors, answer their queries and move around in the exhibition campus.