Tokyo (SCCIJ) – Nearly 100 Swiss companies and organizations participated in this year’s Japan International Machine Tool Fair (JIMTOF) at Tokyo Big Sight, the largest machine tool exhibition in Japan and of regional importance for Asia. More than nine percent of all exhibitors this year came from Switzerland.
Swissmem, the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industry association had its own booth at JIMTOF.
Swissmem as a supporter
With participants from 22 countries and regions and 5,619 booths, 95 more booths than at JIMTOF 2018, this year’s JIMTOF 2022 was the largest exhibition in its history. The number of Swiss participants was the same as in 2018.
The “Swiss Machine Tool Manufacturers” sector of Swissmem, the Swiss mechanical and electrical engineering industry association supported the participation of Swiss companies at the exhibition and organized events to increase the visibility of the strong Swiss presence. The Swiss Business Hub Japan, the Japanese arm of Switzerland Global Enterprise, the official Swiss export and investment promotion organization, acted as the realization partner in Japan.
A Swiss stronghold
The exhibition focuses on machine tools (metal cutting and metal forming), machine tool accessories, and other equipment, including precision tools and measuring instruments, and presents the entire spectrum of metalworking technologies. This composition explains the high level of Swiss representation, as the machine tool industry is one of Switzerland’s economic domains.
In the first half of 2002, the MEM industries exported goods worth CHF 36.5 billion, 9.0% more than in the same period of the previous year. The MEM industries increased their exports to all major markets, with Asia showing the strongest growth at around 14%. Exports increased in all product groups. Exports of metals rose by 13.3%, electrical and electronic products by 8.9%, precision instruments by 7.6%, and machinery by 7.4%.
Mr. Hidehiro Imoto, Chairman of the Japan Machine Tool Importers' Association, spoke at the traditional Swiss Luncheon at JIMTOF 2022.
Return to normality
The traditional Swiss Luncheon at JIMTOF was jointly organized by Swissmem and the Japan Machine Tool Importers’ Association (JMTIA). Mr. Hidehiro Imoto, Chairman of JMTIA and President of YKT Corporation, said in his opening address that it had been difficult to travel to and from Switzerland during the pandemic (due to Japanese visa restrictions). “But we were able to continue our business through communication,” he emphasized. JIMTOF 2020 was held online, although with 60% fewer participants than before COVID-19.
Mr. Christoph Blättler, Secretary General of Swissmem, gave a welcome address at the Swiss Luncheon at JIMTOF 2022.
Limited exhibition space
Christoph Blättler, Secretary General of Swissmem, also expressed his delight that JIMTOF had returned to its former glory. “I am so happy to see you here after four years,” he exclaimed. “The presence of so many companies is a great testimony to Switzerland’s activity and innovation in a market like Japan, which has always been at the forefront.”
He urged the Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association (JMTBA) and Tokyo Big Sight, the organizers of JIMTOF, to double the size of the exhibition space for Swiss companies because “we have more and more companies that want to participate and existing exhibitors that want to double their booth”.
Text and photos: Martin Fritz for SCCIJ
