Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) and the Society of  Indian Defence Manufacturers (SIDM) jointly organized the ‘IMTMA-SIDM CXO Round Table on Hi-Tech Manufacturing for Defence & Aerospace’, during IMTEX FORMING 2026. The event brought together senior leaders from the defence industry, DPSUs, Tier-1 integrators, and machine tool manufacturers to discuss and align on key manufacturing requirements.

In manufacturing’s digital era, it’s easy to assume that software, robotics, and AI have rendered manual skill obsolete. The world’s most advanced machine tool builders remind us otherwise: craftsmanship coexists with automation, not in spite of it, but because of it. Today’s manufacturing world is dominated by automation, multi-axis CNC machines, and AI-driven manufacturing and quality control.

Sagar Defence Engineering founded by Capt Nikunj Parashar, Mridul Babbar, Lakshay Dang, Ankit Kumar, and Saurabh Patil to revolutionize India’s defence landscape with the use of autonomous and unmanned systems, announced a strategic investment in EndureAir Systems Pvt Ltd. Founded by Dr Abhishek, Rama Krishna, and Chirag Jain, EndureAir Systems is developing indigenous aerial robotics capabilities.

CynLr, a Bengaluru-based deep tech company, after five years of intense R&D, unveiled its Object Intelligence (OI) Platform, which enables robots to learn and adapt on-the-fly—much like a human baby. CynLr’s OI-enabled robots—CyRo, CyNoid, and Mantroid—can interact even with unknown objects. The platform is form-factor agnostic and can power industrial robotic arms or humanoid robots.

Kirloskar Toyota Textile Machinery Pvt Ltd’s response to the supply chain crisis offers a masterclass in problem-solving under constraint. Rather than viewing COVID-19 disruptions as an immovable obstacle, the team leveraged lean manufacturing principles, systematic analysis, and collaborative innovation to strengthen competitiveness, reduce environmental impact, and emerge from the crisis. They launched an initiative to enhance container efficiency.

Marposs offers innovative technologies for machines, tools, and process monitoring, as well as process control across all types of forming, stamping, and forging machines. These monitoring systems enable faster machine setup, improved efficiency, and higher overall productivity. The Brankamp X-series in-process monitoring systems detect overload conditions and automatically stop the machine to prevent damage and unplanned downtime.