Visitors at the MTA Vietnam 2019, which opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre on July 2. — VNS Photo Xuan Huong

The Viet Nam International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition opened in HCM City on July 2, showcasing smart machinery, equipment and solutions for the manufacturing industry.

William Lim, brand director of Informa Markets, one of the event’s organisers, said this year the event had attracted 514 exhibitors from 22 countries and territories, who have brought popular brands such as Amada, Bystronic, Cybertech, Dine Vina, Hwacheon, and many others.

MTA Vietnam has 14 international group pavilions from the UK, Taiwan, Germany, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and others.

Karen Pai, deputy executive director of industry marketing department Taitra, said Taiwan was the fourth largest supplier of machine tools to Viet Nam, with the top three export items being machining centres, stamping presses and lathes.

“Our machine tool makers have developed several features that make machines smarter. What is more, fully digitalised smart machines also enable us to achieve remote monitoring and control."

Shinji Hirai, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation’s HCM City office, said 24 leading Japanese companies in the precision engineering, machine tools and metalworking sectors were participating this year to explore business opportunities in the market.

They had brought machinery and equipment that help manufacturing firms improve efficiency, reduce costs and extend machine life, he said.

According to experts, while the world is progressing to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Viet Nam is still limited in terms of new technology, information, skill and infrastructure.

But if businesses know how to take advantage of opportunities, Vietnam’s mechanical industry could catch up with the rest of the world, they said.

Lim said seminars and conferences would be organised on the sidelines of the expo, including on “New trends in metal forming technology” and “Product Design and Development - Process and Techniques to Implement for R&D and Innovation Team”.

Visitors can see industry 4.0 technologies and products through short videos, he added.

The expo, on at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in District 7, will run until July 5. — VNS