"Integrate to innovate"

TIMTOS, a major global smart manufacturing and machine tool exhibition in Taipei (Taiwan), will take place from 3-8 March 2025. Based at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Centre (Halls 1 and 2) and Taipei World Trade Centre (Hall 1), it will celebrate its milestone 30th edition in 2025.

The event is organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). Taiwan is a major producer in the machine tool industry with around 1,950 companies on the island and over 43,000 people employed in the sector. It supports the global machine-tool supply chain and is well known for its customisation and innovation. Total exports of Taiwanese machine tools in 2023 reached US$ 2.599 billion, a decrease of 14% compared to 2022.

The previous edition of TIMTOS attracted 45,000 on-site visitors, including nearly 6,000 international visitors from over 100 countries, and 1032 exhibitors. Delegations came from countries such as Turkey, Vietnam, Indonesia, Spain and Algeria.

“The 2025 exhibition will feature nearly 1,000 exhibitors in over 6,000 booths. It will showcase pioneering advancements in digital manufacturing and automation, as well as integrated AI (artificial intelligence) and robotics solutions, driving innovation in multiple sectors beyond traditional machine tools,” commented the show organisers.

Unveiling new opportunities

Celebrating its 30th edition, TIMTOS 2025 carries special significance. For the first time, the show will feature a new “TIMTOS Keynote” event, inviting global leaders from the smart manufacturing industry to present keynote speeches. Mr. Akihiro Teramachi, Chairman and CEO of THK, and Mr. Takashi Teramachi, THK’s President and COO, will be the inaugural international keynote speakers at TIMTOS 2025. In addition, TIMTOS will host various events such as procurement meetings, ESG activities, green product competitions and guided tours, further strengthening the industry’s ecosystem.

TIMTOS 2025 is centred around the slogan ‘Integrate to Innovate’, emphasising how integration and innovation are key to unlocking new business opportunities in five major sectors: semiconductors, transportation, medical, aerospace and green energy.

The exhibition will feature two new exhibit areas— “AI, Control Systems & Smart Manufacturing” and “Innovation Technology”. These will focus on AI technology integration, smart solutions development for the machine tool industry and modern technologies such as manufacturing system integration, laser processing, the circular economy and energy-saving solutions.

In response to the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries, TIMTOS 2025 aims to accelerate industrial transformation with three key themes: “AI & Robotics,” “Future Smart Manufacturing” and “Green Power & Sustainability.”

“Tech giants, such as Apple and Nvidia, are making strides in the AI robotics field, and many Taiwanese exhibitors have successfully entered the supply chains of leading U.S. robotics manufacturers. This has sparked a new wave of growth in Taiwan’s robotics supply chain,” outlined the show organisers.

The factories of tomorrow

The “Future Smart Manufacturing” theme focuses on AI-driven smart factories where robotics and cloud-based automation systems take centre stage. As part of the Industry-4.0 revolution, these future factories will leverage Big Data, AI and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) to drive manufacturing upgrades.

From component design to polishing and quality control, each production process will be automated via cloud and edge computing, addressing labour shortages and paving the way for fully automated, unmanned factories.

The “Green Power Sustainability” theme will guide manufacturers toward achieving ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals, accelerating the green transformation of the machine-tool industry.

To read the rest of this show preview in ISMR’s December 2024/January 2025 issue, please see https://joom.ag/Vg7d/p60