Taiwan International Machine Tool Show, an important indicator of the machinery industry's economic health, will take place from March 27 for five consecutive days at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center. This year, over 600 exhibitors will participate in 3,350 booths. The organizer, the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA), estimates business opportunities will be worth US$1.5 billion (approximately NT$47 billion).

According to industry insiders, this year’s show will feature three highlights. First, a focus on digital transformation and green transformation in alignment with industry development trends. Second, for the first time, a dedicated area for Universal Machine Technology Interface (UMATI) has been introduced, simultaneously connecting 20 companies and 40 machines. Third, with the resumption of international travel for business, it is estimated that there will be 3,000 foreign buyers from 30 countries attending the exhibition in Taiwan.

In collaboration with the German Machine Tool Builders' Association (VDW) and the German Engineering Federation (VDMA), TMBA is introducing an UMATI Section for the first time. In the future, machinery and equipment are expected to become comprehensively smart. With Internet connectivity, machinery and equipment can be monitored, operated, and interconnected remotely.

UMATI represents the universal specification of Open Platform Communications Unified Architecture (OPC UA) for machinery and equipment. The goal is to establish a global standard that allows various devices from different industries to connect on the same platform. This simplifies and speeds up data transmission between machine tools, 3D printers, and product management systems.

Of the over 3,000 foreign buyers anticipated, TMBA estimates they will come from 30 countries for the show. These countries include Japan, Germany, Turkey, South Korea, Canada, India, South Africa, Sweden, Brazil, Indonesia, and others. Additionally, countries such as Malaysia, the Philippines, and India are planning to organize buyer groups, and the number of overseas visitors making appointments for visits continues to increase. With an optimistic outlook, TMBA expects that this year's Taiwan International Machine Tool Show will attract at least 55,000 visitors from both domestic and international sources.

Source: United Daily News https://udn.com/news/story/7238/7771596