KUALA LUMPUR: The 30th Metaltech and Automex 2026 exhibition is showcasing a new era of advanced machinery, robotics and digital manufacturing solutions as industries accelerate their shift towards smarter and more sustainable operations.
Held under the theme Powering Industrial Excellence, Redefining Smart and Sustainable Manufacturing, the trade show runs until tomorrow at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
Organised by Informa Markets Malaysia, the exhibition brings together more than 1,500 exhibitors and brands from 20 countries, including Germany and South Korea, and is expected to attract over 20,000 trade visitors from more than 50 nations.
Participants can explore more than 5,000 advanced technologies on display, including CNC machinery, robotics, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things systems, smart sensors and energy-efficient manufacturing solutions.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to watch live product demonstrations and attend technical seminars and knowledge-sharing forums.
This year’s edition also features a strategic collaboration with the Advanced Machinery and Engineering Summit 2026, an initiative by the Machinery and Engineering Industries Federation (MEIF).
Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Sim Tze Tzin said the event serves as a bridge connecting manufacturers, technology providers, investors and SMEs under one roof to exchange ideas and forge partnerships.
He said the strong local and international participation reflected global confidence in Malaysia’s industrial future.
“By connecting small local businesses with global technology leaders, exhibitions like this help companies learn about the latest innovations and secure the investments they need to grow,” Sim said in his keynote address at the launch yesterday.
Sim added that Malaysia is facing two major transitions.
“First, the rapid pace of technological advancement. Modern technology requires a level of precision and complexity that manual labour alone cannot achieve.
“Second, our transition to a high-income economy. As labour shortages intensify and minimum wages rise, businesses face increasing costs that make fully manual operations unsustainable.
“So automation is the answer. It allows us to carry out high-tech, complex tasks while helping businesses manage rising costs.
“By embracing automation, we move workers away from repetitive labour into more skilled and higher-paying jobs. We are not replacing people – we are upgrading them. That is why this event matters,” he added.
Despite global economic headwinds, Sim said Malaysia’s manufacturing sector remains resilient.
“In 2025, the sector contributed 22.5% to the GDP and drove record trade worth RM3.061 trillion, accounting for 85% of exports. Investments also surged past RM131bil in the same year,” he said, adding that the figures underscored the manufacturing sector’s critical role in the country’s economy.
Meanwhile, MEIF president Mac Ngan Boon said the exhibition provides opportunities not only to showcase technologies and products, but also to strengthen industrial capabilities, exchange practical knowledge, build partnerships and prepare Malaysian companies for the future.
“Industrial capability is not built overnight. It requires long-term investment in technology, talent, processes, standards and industry development,” he said.
On manufacturing sustainability, Informa Markets Malaysia country general manager Gerard Leeuwenburgh said sustainability was no longer a future aspiration but had become central to how businesses operate, innovate and grow.
“Manufacturing today is not just about producing more. It is about producing smarter, more sustainably and with greater resilience,” he said, adding that the event would help industries navigate these changes.
The event invites industry professionals, investors and stakeholders to be part of the milestone edition and explore opportunities shaping the next phase of industrial development.
For more information and full event details, visit the website www.metaltech.com.my.
