IMTEX FORMING 2020: Strengthening Medical Equipment Manufacturing

Healthcaresector comprises of industries making products, equipments, devices, accessories, tools and surgical instruments offering diagnostic, therapeutic and related services for the needs of laboratories, hospitals, doctors, medical staff and patients.Medical technology is evolving rapidly with the development of advanced equipments having features adhering to high precision, accuracy, reliability, biocompatibility, lightweight, etc. Performance of equipments are critical and uncompromising in healthcare industry.

Currently, India imports around 80% of the medical equipments used for critical care, imaging, and high-end surgeries apart from surgical tools and devices. These equipmentswhen manufactured indigenously carry distinct advantages, cost wiseprimarily,and also enhancing affordability. Manufacturers are intensifying their R&D and research institutions are supplementing their efforts in developing new and affordable solutions.For bridging the gap quickly apart from focussing on building equipments indigenously for local needs, it is also essential to network and collaborate with reputed global companies to bring advancements in technology to Indian shores.Market size of medical devices industry in India is estimated to be $5.2 billion[1]

With medical devices market projected to reach US$50 billion by 2025,[2] the medical industry, which comprises some 750 - 800 medical devices manufacturers, is expected to procure more machines.IMTEX organized by Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) serves as a platform for visitors to see technologies ‘live’ and explore its usage, features and functioning and configurethe right solutions.

IMTEX FORMING 2020 & Tooltech 2020 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, from 23^rd to 28^th January 2020 will feature exhibitors displaying new machines, products and technologies related to metal forming processes, near net shape manufacturing, die and mold, fixturing, joining and welding, sheet metal working, CAD / CAM and application software which will be of interest for the Healthcare sector. Developments in the area of metal Additive Manufacturing will be of special interest for the Medical sector.

Speaking about the opportunities in medical equipment manufacturing, IMTMA President, Indradev Babu said that government initiatives such as strengthening medical devices sector by reducing dependence on imports, providing a single-window mechanism to focus on making India a global hub for production in medical devices, interest subsidy for MSMEs, etc. have given the right directions and machine tool industry has been working accordingly. The government move to consider manufacturing of medical equipments as distinct from medicines from a regulatory perspective is helping manufacturing and we are certain that IMTEX FORMING will satisfy several needs of the medical sector in India.

Highlighting the rise in expected business, IMTMA Director General V. Anbu said that demands from the medical sector will increase with the establishment of medicaldevice parks in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.[3]Furthermore, demand for machine tools will also arise from the various medical hubs in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

It is a significant opportunity for the medical industry to visit IMTEX FORMING 2020 in January, connect with the global manufacturing fraternity and experience for themselves the best available technologies for their requirements.

Highlights of IMTEX FORMING 2020 & Tooltech 2020

·         500+ exhibitors

·         Exhibitors from 22+ countries

·         500+ live demos

·         Focus on additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0

·         Over 33,000 square metres of exhibition space

·         International Seminar on Forming Technology

·         i2 Academia Pavilion (an event for academia and industry to interact and explore possibilities for tie-ups)

·         Connect (an awareness programme on machine tool industry) 

·         Reverse International Buyer-Seller Meet (an interaction platform for machine tool manufacturers and international buyers)

·         40,000 + business visitor footfall expected

[1]. Make in India Sector Survey, Medical Devices, http://www.makeinindia.com/article/-/v/sector-survey-medical-devices

[2]. Ibid.

[3]. Economic Times, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/governments-go-ahead-for-4-medical-device-parks/articleshow/71992570.cms?from=mdr