Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
Japanese Cutting-Edge
Solutions for Metalworking
Exhibition
October 28, 2024
The 32nd Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF 2024) will open on November 5 at Tokyo Big Sight in Tokyo. Japan. This year’s exhibition includes several measures to improve the visitor experience, including adjusted opening hours for the West and South Exhibition Halls and the creation of a new Academic Area. Although the current machine tool industry is facing uncertainty and cannot be described as booming, JIMTOF is expected to act as a catalyst to change this atmosphere.
The machine tool industry is currently navigating through a fog of uncertainty. According to statistics released by the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA), orders for new machine tools totaled 125.3 billion yen in September 2024. While this exceeded the 100 billion yen mark, which is generally considered a sign of strong demand, it was lower than the same period last year. Cumulative orders through September were also lower than last year. Foreign orders were slightly higher than last year, but domestic demand has not yet caught up.
Looking at monthly order trends since 2022, there have been instances of growth, but it has not been sustained. Overall, the trend for both domestic and foreign orders has been downward, with no significant improvement through the end of September. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has subsided, geopolitical risks such as the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as volatile exchange rates, continue to pose challenges and make the future outlook difficult to predict.
In this uncertain environment, JIMTOF 2024 is expected to play an important role as a catalyst for the machine tool industry. The number of exhibitors, including joint and internal exhibitors, is set to increase by 175 companies from the previous event, reaching 1,262. The number of booths also increases by 125 to a record 5,743 booths. With Tokyo Big Sight undergoing major renovations during the 2026 exhibition, this year’s event is likely to be the last opportunity for JIMTOF to be held at full capacity for some time.
To enhance the event, several new features and initiatives are being introduced. For the first time, an “Academic Area” has been established in the South Exhibition Hall to deepen the understanding of the machine tool industry and manufacturing. The area will feature events such as the Career Matching Square, where students can interact directly with HR representatives from exhibiting companies, and hands-on exhibits designed to enhance industry knowledge. In addition, a “Student Booth Tour” will guide students interested in the machine tool industry through various booths on the show floor.
One notable change is the adjustment of show opening hours to improve visitor flow. While the East Exhibition Hall will open at 10 a.m. as usual, the West and South Exhibition Halls will open an hour earlier at 9 a.m. Katsutoshi Matsuura, Chairman of the JMTBA Trade Fair Committee, explains, “We expect more visitors to start at the West and South Halls and then move to the East Hall, thanks to the earlier opening hours and the relocation of major NC equipment manufacturers to the South Hall.
The “Additive Manufacturing Area,” a special concurrent exhibition that was introduced at the previous JIMTOF, will also be held again this year.
SEISANZAI Japan will feature product highlights from JIMTOF 2024, focusing on products related to the automotive, semiconductor, and aerospace industries. In addition to showcasing noteworthy exhibits, we will also report on exhibitors’ enthusiasm for the event. With many companies struggling with labor shortages and succession issues, automation and labor-saving solutions are expected to be a major draw for visitors. At the previous JIMTOF, many exhibitors presented industrial robots and automation proposals, and this trend is expected to continue.
Will JIMTOF bring hope in these uncertain times? The festival is about to begin and expectations are high.
By: Takuya Saito
Staff Editor, SEISANZAI Japan
October 23, 2024
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