MECT2025 final report: Attendance reaches 77,613, surpassing the previous show

December 11, 2025

By: Yuki Matsukawa, Staff Editor, SEISANZAI Japan

Active business discussions over four days

MECHATRONICS TECHNOLOGY JAPAN (MECT) 2025 was held at Port Messe Nagoya, from October 22 to 25. A record 524 companies and organizations exhibited at the show. Total attendance reached 77,613, slightly exceeding the previous exhibition.

Despite challenges in the domestic market for the machine tool and factory automation industries, the venue was filled with active business discussions. This final report reviews MECT 2025 through its exhibits, seminars, and overall atmosphere.

Long lines formed at Hall 1’s entrance gate before opening each day

Record exhibitor participation

MECT2025 hosted 524 exhibitors across 2,092 booths. The number of exhibitors was the highest ever, and the booth count was nearly equal to MECT2023, the largest edition to date with 2,101 booths. Applications for exhibition space were fully booked only two weeks after registration opened last November, showing strong expectations ahead of the event.

Japan experienced extreme heat this summer, and warm weather continued into October, but temperatures dropped significantly just before the opening, providing comfortable conditions for exhibitors and visitors inside the venue.

The opening ceremony on October 22 drew many exhibitors and guests. Following greetings from organizers and co-organizers, congratulatory speeches were delivered by distinguished guests including Chizuru Suga, Director of the Industrial Machinery Division at METI; Shigetomo Sakamoto, President of Shibaura Machine and Chairman of JMTBA; and Shotaro Miyazaki, President of Makino Milling Machine, representing exhibitors.

Even during the opening ceremony, long lines formed at the three entrance gates, and visitors streamed into the halls as soon as doors opened. The well-distributed hall layout helped maintain flow despite crowds, enabling active communication between exhibitors and visitors.

Many companies unveiled new products at MECT2025

Fanuc carried out the first full model change of the ROBODRILL in 25 years

MECT is known for attracting shop floor operators and production engineers, and exhibitors widely recognize it as an event that brings many serious business inquiries. Based on their individual strategies, exhibitors showcased new products and leading models at MECT2025.

Fanuc exhibited its new compact machining model “ROBODRILL DC Series”—the first full model change in 25 years since the DiB Series. Redesigned from the ground up including castings, the machine reduces cycle times to improve productivity while also reducing thermal displacement and improving chip evacuation.

Sugino Machine President Gaku Sugino promoting the new product

Sugino Machine (Namerikawa, Toyama; President Takeshi Sugino) displayed its next-generation machining system “X10.” Based on the 5-axis machining center “SC-V40a” featuring ultra-fast cutting technology called “Bakusoku Machining,” the system can improve productivity tenfold (company estimate) compared to conventional systems. It excels at one-off production and high-mix, low-volume production. “We’ve comprehensively combined various core technologies,” said president Sugino.

Mitutoyo’s new product enables simple setup

Mitutoyo (Kawasaki; President Yoshiaki Numata) exhibited the smart vision system “QM-Fit” released in September. The product’s key feature is ease of setup. It recognizes workpiece surfaces placed on the table in 2D, automatically detecting contours and holes. Operators simply designate any location to obtain measurement results. Its compact size allows flexible installation. “This can reduce the effort of repeatedly applying calipers to a single workpiece,” a representative explained.

Mitsubishi Materials’ new drill features a unique centering mechanism

Mitsubishi Materials displayed the replaceable-head carbide drill “DXAS.” It adopts the proprietary “Perfect Centering” mechanism, preventing center axis deviation when fastening the head and body. Two screws provide strong fixation to ensure machining accuracy. “Pre-launch market testing received very positive user feedback, making this a product we’re confident in,” said a representative of Domestic Sales Department, Sales Division.

Major machine tool builders draw strong visitor traffic

Leading machine tool builders also brought new and notable products to MECT2025, attracting large numbers of visitors throughout the show.

Okuma displayed automation solutions combining a horizontal machining center with a loader and stocker

Okuma proposed solutions for improving productivity through automation, labor-saving, and process consolidation to address manufacturing labor shortages. For automation solutions, the compact horizontal machining center “MS-320H” was exhibited with an on-machine loader and stocker. The MS-320H reduces installation area by 56% compared to previous models, enabling diverse automation from single-machine cells to multi-machine production lines. “It enables stable long-hour operation in minimal space,” said a representative of the MR Division.

DMG MORI proposed an easy-to-use automation system with a collaborative robot

DMG MORI introduced an easy-to-use automation system combining its turning center “NLX 2500 2nd Generation” with a collaborative robot. Robot programming can be completed entirely on proprietary software, enabling smooth setup. “Teaching the collaborative robot is simple, and the system is highly flexible. Compared with the previous show, business discussions now proceed with ‘labor-saving’ and ‘automation’ as prerequisites,” said Executive Officer Satoshi Hashimoto.

Yamazaki Mazak exhibited its new multitasking machine with enhanced machining capability

Yamazaki Mazak exhibited the newly released multi-tasking machine “INTEGREX i-250 NEO.” Through a redesign of the milling spindle, rigidity and machining capability were enhanced. Cooling performance was also improved for the turning and milling spindles, and temperature sensors were added to ball screws to reduce thermal displacement. “The new model allows tools to be attached or removed with simple button operation, reducing operator workload during setup and helping secure machining time,” said a company representative.

Nidec Machine Tool’s new product integrates hobbing and skiving into a vertical machining center

At Nidec Group, which has been expanding its lineup through group integration, Nidec Machine Tool (Ritto, Shiga; President Haruhiko Niitani) exhibited the multitasking machine “Multi Task Gear Center MGC300” released in June. Based on a vertical machining center, it adds functions such as hobbing and skiving. “Its strength is the ability to integrate various processes into one machine,” said Aya Fukuda, Manager of the Sales Promotion Group.

Aggressive proposals for order acquisition

Some exhibitors took proactive approaches tailored to MECT’s strong attendance from manufacturing professionals.

Brother Industries highlighted the benefits of subsidy utilization

Brother Industries, in addition to exhibiting the compact machining center “SPEEDIO Series,” proposed capital investment utilizing subsidies. The “Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Labor-saving Investment Subsidy (Catalog Order Type)” covers approximately half of product price and installation costs. “The biggest point is the wide lineup of eight models eligible for the subsidy, including 4-axis/5-axis machining centers, multitasking machines, and deburring machines. The subsidy amount fits well with SPEEDIO’s price range,” explained Hideyuki Ishiguro, Group Manager of the Domestic Sales Group, Machinery Business Industrial Equipment Sales Department.

O-M offered a limited-time discount campaign during the show

O-M (Osaka; President Yuji Sawaki) exhibited the vertical lathe with milling function “RT-915M.” During the show, the company offered a limited campaign: a 5% discount on four units of RT-915M and a 3% discount on two units of the RT-915 without milling function. “We want to promote this to visitors thinking, ‘we need a vertical lathe right now!’” said Yusuke Ueda, General Manager of Sales Division. The campaign was made possible because inventory machines were secured after expanding the Nagaoka Plant in Niigata.

First-time exhibitors see positive response

Phoxter presented its one-stop image-processing system

With digitalization progressing in the machine tool industry, more companies strong in digital technologies such as AI exhibited for the first time.

Phoxter (Toyonaka, Osaka; President Junichi Sonoda), a first-time solo exhibitor, introduced the AI-embedded image processing controller “StellaControlle 2.0.” The company’s strength is providing cameras and lighting in one-stop service, enabling users to easily set up including AI learning. “It was our first independent exhibit with a small booth, but we received very good inquiries,” said the representative.

“We saw strong response,” said an ITP representative

ITP (Kyoto; President Koichi Jinno), also a first-time exhibitor handling CG and video production, displayed CG created from CAD data. CG enables detailed PR of product features difficult to convey through photos or text. “We’ve been involved in CG and video production for diverse industries including automotive and medical device manufacturers. Our work can be utilized for product explanations and technical descriptions on websites, exhibitions, and showrooms. We saw sufficient response from exhibiting,” said the representative.

Concept Zone and seminars attract visitors

Seminars were nearly full, with waiting lines forming outside the venue

MECT2025 also featured organizer-planned programs such as the Concept Zone and seminars aimed at providing useful information to visitors. Under the theme “Processing Techniques Supporting the Medical Field,” three companies conducted machining demonstrations and presented sample workpieces. The special seminar “Expanding opportunities in the medical business,” held on the third day, also attracted many attendees. The three companies participating in the Concept Zone took the stage and discussed their strengths, success factors, and strategies.

MECT regularly invites speakers from industries such as automotive and aerospace—major users of machine tools—to provide seminars. Learning the perspectives of these manufacturers can serve as guidelines for parts and die manufacturers advancing capital investment and technology development.

This year’s themes were automotive, aerospace, and advanced factories. All seminars were nearly full every day, demonstrating high visitor interest.

MECT2025 was held with the expectation of stimulating sluggish domestic demand. The show attracted many visitors, but the real challenge for exhibitors is how many orders they can secure going forward. The next MECT2027 will be held from October 20 to 23, 2027.