IMTEX FORMING 2026 Forging the Future of Manufacturing in India

From 21–25 January 2026, the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) reverberated with industrial ingenuity as IMTEX FORMING 26 — Asia’s premier metal-forming and manufacturing technologies exhibition — brought together the world’s manufacturers, innovators and technologists under one roof. Organised by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), this five-day showcase reaffirmed India’s growing leadership in precision engineering, smart manufacturing and digital transformation within the global manufacturing ecosystem.

Spanning nearly 48,000 sq m of exhibition space, the show hosted over 700 exhibitors representing countries from Germany, Italy and Japan to Taiwan, and beyond. Delegates from automotive, aerospace, rail, heavy engineering, defence and emerging sectors such as electric vehicle fabrication gathered in high numbers to witness live demonstrations of equipment and to engage in high-impact business dialogues.

At its core, IMTEX FORMING 26 was a celebration of metal forming excellence and manufacturing innovation — where large servo and mechanical presses, hydraulics, pneumatic systems, precision levellers, laser cutting platforms and hybrid production lines stood side-by-side with integrated automation, AI-driven software, robotics and digital factory solutions.

Industry Leaders Stepping Into the Spotlight

Among the marquee participants, several established global and Indian names drew attention with groundbreaking technologies and tailored solutions that spoke directly to the evolving needs of modern manufacturing.

ISGEC: Powering Precision and Production

ISGEC Heavy Engineering Ltd once again underscored its deep engineering capabilities at IMTEX FORMING 26. Known across the globe for its heavy-duty presses and large-scale manufacturing solutions — with thousands of installations across more than two dozen countries — ISGEC showcased a suite of mechanical and hydraulic press lines designed for high-volume production and critical industrial applications. Customised solutions demonstrated at the show highlighted the company’s commitment to integrating automation and digital controls into traditional forming processes to deliver higher throughput, repeatability and lower lifecycle costs.

AMADA: Reinventing Sheet Metal Productivity

Amada (India) Pvt. Ltd. continued its legacy of innovation with a broad portfolio of sheet-metal solutions. Exhibiting under the theme of future-ready fabrication, AMADA showcased high-productivity fibre laser systems, advanced press brakes with automated tool-changing capabilities, and fully integrated bending cells that reinforce precision and repeatability. Such systems resonated well with India’s growing demand for efficient, sustainable metal forming technologies in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.

Salvagnini: Digitised Sheet-Metal Mastery

Italian powerhouse Salvagnini stood out with its advanced sheet metal production systems, blending precision machinery with digital intelligence. Visitors were treated to live demos of punch-to-bend lines, flexible automation cells and integrated material handling systems that minimise changeover times and optimise throughput. Salvagnini’s solutions are known for simplifying complex production tasks — from unattended processing to smart batching — aligning perfectly with manufacturers pushing for higher automation and lower total cost of ownership.

Mechelonic: Making the Most of Resistance Welding and Automation

At IMTEX FORMING 2026, Gabin Kattukaran, Director at Mechelonic Engineers Pvt. Ltd., spoke about the company’s long-standing association with IMTEX and its commitment to introducing new concepts in every edition.

This year, Mechelonic presented an automated system for producing brake shoes, a new version of their seam welder, for motorcycle fuel tanks and a railway welding line designed to keep pace with India’s rapidly growing rail infrastructure. Customers clearly benefit from ongoing advancements in resistance welding technology through reduced rejection rates and increased productivity.

Gabin also notes that even as investment cycles fluctuate, the demand for automation upgrades and higher efficiency across existing lines remains strong.

Electro Pneumatics : Precision Pneumatics Meets Smart Fabrication

At IMTEX FORMING 2026, Sanjay Saha from Electro Pneumatics talked about the growth of different sectors in India, such as defence, aerospace, and electronics, where advanced technology and the need for precision manufacturing require that these industries be able to produce with increased levels of precision.

At IMTEX FORMING 2026, Electro Pneumatics introduced a CNC (11-axis controlled) all-electric tube bending machine, which is the first of its kind in India to operate on electricity only. The machine has been designed specifically for producing at a very high level of precision and producing at a high level of productivity by being able to bend tubes in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions with significantly faster cycle times than normal tube benders. This tube bending machine is especially useful for use by manufacturers who produce aerospace components and need to bend tubes in their products according to very specific requirements.

Kirpekar: A Trendsetter in Specialised Welding Solutions

At IMTEX FORMING 2026, Ajit Kirpekar, Managing Director at Kirpekar Engineering Pvt. Ltd., spoke about the company’s strong engineering legacy and its role as a trendsetter in specialized welding and forming solutions.

He highlights advanced equipment showcased at IMTEX, including specialised welding machines for automotive turbocharger heat exchangers, roll forming machines for transformer radiator fins, and turnkey solutions for pressed steel radiators—an area where Kirpekar Engineering is among the very few globally offering complete end-to-end lines. The discussion also covers the company’s dominance in switchgear–fusegear, auto-electrical, and transformer radiator manufacturing equipment.

Kirpekar also provides perspective on increasing customer expectations, continuous on-the-job R&D, and the increasing need for indigenous machines. He believes that the market dynamics and preference for domestic machines are favourable, giving him optimism for the growth of the Indian machine tool industry over the next three to five years.

The Broader Technological Landscape

Beyond these headline players, IMTEX FORMING 26 painted a broad and compelling picture of the industry’s dynamic evolution.

Live demonstrations from automation and robotics specialists highlighted how Industry 4.0 principles are reshaping production floors — connecting machines, enhancing data-driven decision-making and improving cycle-times without compromising quality. Digital solutions, from nested CAD/CAM software to inline inspection and analytics platforms, spoke to a future where smart factories are the norm rather than the exception.

In parallel, the International Seminar on Forming Technology (ISFT 2026) brought deep technical insights into topics like digital twins, hybrid materials and advanced joining strategies — further bridging the gap between academic research and industrial application.

A Catalyst for Growth and Collaboration

IMTEX FORMING 26 was far more than a static display of machines. It served as a strategic business platform where manufacturers forged alliances, OEMs assessed future technologies and start-ups engaged with investors. The cross-border participation — especially from German, Italian, Japanese and Taiwanese delegations — highlighted not just technology transfer, but also deepening collaboration between India and global manufacturing hubs.

For many exhibitors, the event was a launchpad to long-term engagement, not solely product marketing — a place to engage with serious buyers, understand nuanced market needs, and co-create solutions poised for the next decade.

Looking Ahead

As India accelerates its march toward self-reliant and high-value manufacturing, platforms such as IMTEX FORMING will continue to play a pivotal role — catalysing not only technological adoption but also fostering an ecosystem where innovation supports jobs, growth and global competitiveness. With technology leaders like ISGEC, Electro Pneumatics, Salvagnini and AMADA leading by example, the metal forming industry stands poised for a future defined by precision, connectivity and sustainability.

– P.K. Balasubramanian