The Taipei International Machine Tool Show kicked off March 4, with a record 1,230 local and overseas exhibitors showcasing the latest manufacturing technologies at about 7,000 booths, according to co-organizer Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA).
 
Running through March 9, the show is taking place at four venues across the city including the newly completed Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2. The extra space makes TIMTOS the third largest trade fair of its kind in the world, TAITRA said, adding that more than 60,000 buyers from home and abroad are expected to attend.
 
Speaking at the opening ceremony, President Tsai Ing-wen said the biennial show spotlights Taiwan’s industrial prowess and key role in global supply chains for manufacturing devices.
 
According to Tsai, the country’s machinery exports rose 7.2 percent to US$27.4 billion in 2018. This is testament to the effectiveness of government initiatives such as the five-plus-two industrial innovation program aimed at fostering economic revitalization and technological upgrading, she added.
 
The government is committed to bolstering local expertise in smart manufacturing and ensuring that the nation’s dynamic small and medium enterprises have the resources to maintain their competitive edge, Tsai said.
 
Among the highlights of the 27th edition of TIMTOS are an augmented reality system revealing the internal structure of Taiwan-developed smart machines; a robotic lathe created by state-backed Industrial Technology Research Institute that is twice as efficient as comparable devices; and new grinding machines designed for aircraft component production.
 
The event also features a series of forums March 5-6 at Taipei International Convention Center on topics spanning automotive and aviation machine tools and additive manufacturing, an emerging field incorporating such technologies as 3-D printing, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. Keynote speakers include representatives from industry heavyweights like Airbus, Bosch Rexroth and Dassault Systemes.
 
In addition to smart manufacturing, the government’s five-plus-two industrial innovation program targets the high-growth sectors of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense and IoT, as well as two core concepts: the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development. (CPY-E)