Highlights from TIMTOS 2025: Adapting to Changing Market Demands with AI
A showcase of cutting-edge advancements in precision machinery, AI-driven automation and digital twin integration at TIMTOS 2025 proved Taiwan’s machine tool industry global competitiveness. From full-scale smart manufacturing to cross-industry applications, the event underscored Taiwan’s ability to pace with the evolving industrial landscape.
The focus this year was on three key themes: AI & Robotics, Future Smart Manufacturing and Green Power & Sustainability.
Many Taiwanese exhibitors already have ties to supply chains with leading U.S. robotics manufacturers, thanks to global supply chain expansion efforts over the past decade. The show organizers reported 4,163 international buyers from 90 countries, a 5.1% increase from the previous edition.
For example, in the United States, HIWIN’s key robotics components—including harmonic reducers, ball screws and AI logistics robots—have successfully integrated into major U.S. manufacturers’ robotics supply chains, said Emma Yang, a team leader in the Exhibition Department at TIMTOS.
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Compared to the North American market, Taiwan’s machinery industry is much more agile, in part owing to the country’s machinery cluster in Taichung. More than 750 suppliers showcased their high-efficiency technologies and products at the show, Yang said.
Other notable examples include Taiwan’s CPC, which developed joint modules, and Main Drive’s production line with an annual capacity of 100,000 harmonic reducers. These companies were among the players bringing applications in healthcare, hospitality and service industries. Similarly, Heidenhain and Mitsubishi Taiwan demonstrated how their digital twin offerings improve machining efficiency, safety and cost-effectiveness while aligning with smart manufacturing and sustainability goals.
Here we’re highlighting just a couple of examples from TIMTOS 2025 to provide a snapshot of the developments feeding global advancements in the machine tool industry.
AI Takes Center Stage: Transforming Industry by Embracing AI & Robotics
Across the board, the prominence of artificial intelligence is altering innovation. AI has shown promise in key areas such as component design, rapid prototyping, predictive modeling and quality control. Although there is still reason to remain cautious when businesses tout AI advancements without proving clear benefits, a proliferation of use cases integrating AI capabilities has legitimized formerly risky business models. The question for these companies is no longer whether to embrace AI, but how quickly they can take advantage of its potential for tangible and long-term gains.
Machine tool builder YCM is a case in point. During a guided tour, Machine Design asked General Manager Patrick Chen to explain from a machine design perspective how mechanical component design is integrating with smart technologies. “In terms of design, one thing we want to shift towards is digital twin-driven integration,” said Chen. “This is the future for how we interact with customers, building the solutions that can help them. So, in the past, maybe we had to, for example, build a machine, do the actual cutting. The customers will then decide whether it is good or not.
“But with digital twins, the application can all be simulated and discussed with the customers right away,” he continued. “You can reduce the time that is required to find new solutions and even the possibility of finding the right parameters or cutting the component.”
Chen characterized the digital twin with AI-built-in functionality as the “metaverse for machine tools” of the future. Based on YCM’s current technology, digital twins have already helped with the modular design—and “especially for different module applications we want to get to our customers as well,” he said.
During a guided tour for media, Chen said that YCM has “placed AI in front of everything we do.” The company is experimenting with ways to bring value to the way operators of CNC machines go about their daily tasks. His team brainstormed ways to showcase how AI can be integrated into key elements of smart manufacturing with CNC machines.
In one demo, an interactive control system called AIO could be operated without engineering knowledge. YCM demonstrated functionality via a voice command feature, waking up the system and performing basic commands. A laser cutting machine was instructed to design a squid pattern onto a coaster. Although the demo was orchestrated for marketing purposes only, the experiment hinted at the broader applications and potential of the AI system and the skills requirements needed in the future.
YCM collaborates with Dot Zero (a company jointly established by YCM and industrial computer manufacturer Advantech) to integrate Advantech’s WISE-PaaS 2.0 IoT cloud platform with YCM’s mechanical processing expertise. Using DZ Connect the equipment operation data can be collected immediately to analyze capacity and OEE (overall equipment effectiveness), monitor the equipment remotely, reduce downtime and optimize workflows. The factory can effectively be supervised through mobile device management.
Considered the workhorse of many shops, YCM’s CF/CX and RF/RX series of vertical marching centers include rigid designs and thermal stability. This is a result of Meehanite castings made in YCM’s foundry, followed by hand scraping of all mating surfaces, noted YCM’s website. Designed and built in-house, the machines include a 12,000 rpm (or optional 15,000 rpm) spindle. Axial movements are controlled by linear guideways, pre-tensioned ball screws and direct drive motors for high torque and accurate positioning.
YCM’s CX7 5-axis machining center combines AI management and real-time energy monitoring to optimize performance and reduce power consumption. The company also noted that with 95% transmission efficiency and high precision, it meets modern demands for complex machining.
Integration Through AI-driven Solutions Enhances Precision and Efficiency
TIMTOS is an established machine tool show that is evolving into a hybrid smart tool exhibition. Machine tool customers or suppliers are as likely as smart tool manufacturers to attend the event, according to Maurice Chang, senior director of HIWIN Technologies Corp. The event is a hub for a diversity of vertical markets, including automotive, medical design and semiconductors. “They all come to find smart solutions,” he said.
HIWIN is a portmanteau for Hi-tech WINner. Specializing in motion control solutions, the company has 12 subsidiaries and more than 300 distributors worldwide. HIWIN established its Smart Manufacturing Alliance in 2022 imports. Today, 40 machine tool customers have installed HIWIN’s ball screws into their advanced machines.
The HIWIN booth included machining centers with 5-Axis rotary tables for machinery parts, as well as displays incorporating a variety of components—such as motors, harmonic gear reducers, actuators and smart ball screws—for robotic joints for humanoids, service and industrial robots.
Chang outlined during a keynote presentation how the company’s AI-driven solutions enhance precision, efficiency and reduce energy consumption. “HIWIN’s intelligent solutions enable smart manufacturing with real-time monitoring to detect the health condition of the advanced machine in vibration diagnosis, life prediction, thermal diagnosis and smart lubrication,” he said. “Smart lubrication can save the lubricant oil consumption by 70%.
“HIWIN’s intelligent solutions optimize power usage and improve efficiency, preventing energy waste and reducing unexpected downtime,” he continued. “Power and quality control system to minimize defects and leading to less material waste. This empowers the intelligent factory to improve overall productivity.”
At the booth, Chang demonstrated HIWIN’s EFEM (equipment front end module), which provided a glimpse into a simulated semiconductor automation module. The processing module featured a robot shuffling wafers between storage carriers and other peripheral equipment with unprecedented precision and speed.
Backdrop: Adapting to Change in the International Political and Economic Arena
TIMTOS is co-organized by TAITRA and the Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI). The show took place at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center March 3 to 8 in Taipei, Taiwan.
Under the theme “Integrate to Innovate,” the 30th edition of Taipei International Machine Tool Show (TIMTOS) focused on three areas: AI & Robotics, Smart Manufacturing and Green Sustainability.
Dr. Lai Ching-te, president of Taiwan, attended the opening ceremony. He advocated for the integration of AI solutions to lower the costs associated with digital transformation. He further emphasized the need to develop high value-added industries, such as electric vehicles, drones and smart manufacturing solutions for the aerospace and semiconductor industries.
Ching-te’s remarks preceded U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Taiwan-based TSMC plans to invest $100 billion in the United States to bolster semiconductor production in the coming years. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Taiwan dominates the global semiconductor market, with 60% of all semiconductors and more than 90% of the most advanced chips manufactured in Taiwan.
David Chuang, chairman, Taiwan Association of Machinery Industry (TAMI), said during his opening remarks that TAMI works at synchronizing efforts with international trends, including making upgrades and transforming by, for instance, promoting AI applications and net zero transition. These efforts are intended to “help the industry move beyond price competition,” he said.
READ MORE: AI Has a Path for Digitizing Traditional Machine Tooling
“With three years of [the] COVID-19 pandemic’s lasting impacts, the U.S.-China trade and geopolitical tensions added up, doing business is nothing like before,” said Chuang. “Plus, some geopolitical risks, the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Trump’s tariff threat are only making the situation more complicated.
“We also have to keep an eye on the rapid AI technology and imminent need for digital transformation,” Chuang added. “Only to ‘react’ to what happens is not enough. What we—the machinery community should do is to have a ‘pre-response’ plan, so as to ‘adapt’ to changes happening in the international political and economic environment.”
The show featured engaging forums, including the TIMTOS keynote featuring THK Chairman & CEO Akihiro Teramachi, who emphasized AI-driven automation and talent development. Also noteworthy was Techman Robot’s CEO, Haw Chen, who introduced Taiwan’s only AI-driven collaborative robot.
The 2025 exhibition was a platform for 1,038 exhibitors across 6,100 booths exploring business opportunities in five application areas: semiconductors, electric vehicles, medical, aerospace and renewable energy. These companies leverage Industry 4.0 technologies such as digital twins, IoT, automation and cloud applications to steer their businesses toward smarter, more efficient and eco-friendly development.
TAITRA, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council, mobilized its 62 overseas offices to draw buyers from 87 countries and ensure attendance of more than 50,000 domestic and international visitors. The exhibition featured cutting-edge technologies from top-tier enterprises, including Fair Friend Group, Tongtai, Victor Taichung, HIWIN, YCM, CHMER, You Ji, Siemens, Heidenhan, FANUC, MAZAK and Mitsubishi. Newcomers to the show included Germany’s gear machining manufacturer LIEBHERR and Italy’s forging machine manufacturer MECOLPRESS.
