IMTEX 2025 Report (1/2) : A fierce battleground for global factory automation companies

March 5, 2025

By: Masanobu Nishizuka, Staff Editor, SEISANZAI Japan

IMTEX 2025, India’s premier machine tool exhibition, took place from January 23-29 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in southern India. Over the seven-day event, the exhibition attracted 133,166 visitors – more than 30,000 more than the 2023 edition – highlighting the region’s strong appetite for investment. India has become a key market for manufacturing companies around the world. The competition between leading domestic manufacturers and global players at the show signals an increasingly fierce market battle.

Record scale with over 100,000 visitors

IMTEX is India’s largest machine tool exhibition, organized by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA). The event alternates annually between a metal cutting exhibition in odd years and a metal forming exhibition in even years, both under the banner of “IMTEX”. The metalworking edition is held alongside “ToolTech 2025,” which features cutting tools and accessories, and “Digital Manufacturing,” which showcases industrial robotics, digital technologies and sensors.

IMTEX 2025 marked a new milestone with a record 90,000 square meters of exhibition space and more than 1,100 exhibitors. Throughout the week, the event attracted 133,166 visitors. IMTMA estimates that orders placed during the show reached 35 billion Indian rupees (approx. 63 billion yen), with inquiries totaling 37.7 billion Indian rupees (approx. 67.9 billion yen). The strong attendance and significant investment figures highlight the region’s robust investment trends.

Indian manufacturers strengthen market presence

BFW exhibited its large multitasking machine ST 500X.

At the exhibition, Indian manufacturers demonstrated their strong market appeal. Ace Micromatic Group, India’s largest machine tool manufacturer, occupied one of the largest booths at 2,300 square meters and displayed over 40 machines. The company’s new gear skiving machine, the “APS 300,” attracted considerable attention. “Although many gear skiving machines are imported, there is a strong demand for domestically produced models. We have developed a high-precision, high-productivity machine to meet this need,” explained a company representative.

Another leading Indian manufacturer, Bharat Fritz Werner (BFW), showcased the large “ST 500X” multitasking machine. Co-developed with Sweden-based Sweden Machine Tools (SMT), the model on display supports workpieces up to 2,500 mm, with an additional 3,500 mm model available.

Emerging local player Cosmos exhibited packaged systems that integrate vertical machining centers (VMCs) with industrial robots for job shops.

Across the show floor, Indian companies demonstrated increasing technical capabilities, with more manufacturers displaying five-axis machining centers and multitasking machines. Product lines also became more specialized, with manufacturers distinguishing between high-precision and high-torque models, for example. Design quality and presentation styles have also improved. However, as one Japanese machine tool executive noted, “In terms of accuracy, rigidity, and durability, it will take Indian manufacturers another 10 to 20 years to reach Japan’s current technical standards.”

Global competitors eye India’s expanding market

With India being one of the world’s few reliably growing markets, international manufacturers are eager to gain a foothold.

One such company is South Korea’s DN Solutions, which announced plans in March 2023 to build a factory in India. The facility, which is expected to be completed in 2026, will be located near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. For this year’s exhibition, DN Solutions increased the size of its booth by 1.5 times compared to the previous edition, showcasing ten machines. Their multitasking machines and automation solutions attracted a large crowd.

Phillips Machine Tools, the Indian subsidiary of the US-based technology trading company Phillips, represents brands such as Haas (USA) and Hermle (Germany) in India. At IMTEX 2025, it showcased automation technologies, including automatic pallet changers (APCs).

GROB Werke, a German manufacturer, exhibited its “G350” five-axis machining center alongside models illustrating automated production lines. A company representative commented, “European manufacturers are expanding into India for aerospace and engine-related manufacturing, and our machine sales in this segment are growing steadily.”