Taiwan's two largest machinery-related trade expos, TIMTOS and TMTS, will debut together in 2022 in Taipei on February 21 to 26.

Taiwan's two largest machinery-related trade expos, TIMTOS and TMTS, will debut together in 2022 in Taipei on February 21 to 26.

Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) expects organizers and exhibitors will benefit from the combined events. Booth numbers are expected to exceed over 5,000, making it the biggest in history. Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI) hopes that by then, the government will lift international travel restrictions to allow visitors to attend by implementing double-dose vaccines and vaccination passports.

TIMTOS is traditionally hosted by TAMI and TAITRA, while TMTS is hosted by the Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association. Negotiations to host the combined events were brought forth by the central government.

In the past eight months of this year, Taiwan's machine tool industry accumulated an export value of around USD$1.755 billion, marking a 22.2% increase.

The two events were traditionally hosted in Taipei and Taichung City, boasting venue growth expanding over the years, however, due to the pandemic, both TIMTOS 2021 and TMTS 2020 were hosted virtually. Furthermore, with the global machine tool market seeing a rise in demand, exhibitors have told TAITRA that they were keen to see in-person events resumed.

Aside from metal cutting machine tools, comprehensive processing machines, and metal forming machine tools, the combined event next will also showcase smart machinery solutions.