SIMTOS 2026 concluded successfully on April 17, with 1,315 companies from 35 countries participating in the exhibition across 6,059 booths. Approximately 100,000 visitors attended the exhibition over five days.
The exhibition also recorded an increase in pre-registered visitors, reflecting the growing trend of planned visits contributing to the event’s success. According to the organizers, this indicates that the exhibition is being reorganized around visitors with clear purposes and needs rather than passive viewing.
The SIMTOS Secretariat has consistently pursued a strategy of attracting international buyers with strong purchasing power, and the results have been significant.
Buyers from 60 countries visited the exhibition, further strengthening SIMTOS’s position as a global business platform. Key buyers from India, Japan, China, Germany, Taiwan, the United States, and Italy attended, with active consultations also taking place in emerging markets.
The increase in visits is attributed to the strong alignment between Korea’s key manufacturing industries and the industrial structures of participating countries. Interest in Korea’s manufacturing technology extended beyond simple consultations, leading to export deals, agent discovery, technological collaboration, and partnerships — further confirming SIMTOS’ status as a global manufacturing business platform.
The exhibition is seen as more than a manufacturing showcase, serving as a venue where visitors can directly observe technological changes driven by manufacturing AX and trends in on-site industrial applications.
At KINTEX 1, the exhibition went beyond a product-centered display, with a notable increase in examples of digital manufacturing processes that integrate processing equipment, robotic automation, and software engineering solutions. The exhibition also featured unmanned processes and equipment designed to enable dark factories, highlighting directions for advancing manufacturing operations.
KINTEX 2 focused on the AI Factory Exhibition, where leading digital manufacturing companies showcased the current state of manufacturing AX, real-world applications, and future developments. This confirmed the rapid expansion of AI-based automated manufacturing on the factory floor.
Visitors also showed strong interest in the SIMTOS 2026 events. Participants took part in a range of programs, including the Global AX Manufacturing Innovation Conference, Open Conference, Career Connect (Job Fair), Women Engineers’ Network Forum, and Technical Tour, further strengthening the platform’s role in connecting industry, talent, and technology.
Career Connect was developed around the SIMTOS 2026 theme, “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Meets Talent,” and demonstrated tangible results and strong potential among participating companies. Job seekers who participated in recruitment interviews and consultations also visited the exhibition, demonstrating that Career Connect has the potential to become a new platform connecting companies, talent, and the industry.
Finally, the Women Engineers’ Network Forum focused on women engineers, offering insights into their role and future direction in the manufacturing sector.
Through this exhibition, SIMTOS once again demonstrated that it is a platform showcasing both the present and future of the manufacturing industry and its rapidly evolving ecosystem. Building on the outcomes of this exhibition, SIMTOS is already preparing for the next edition.
Throughout the exhibition, there were numerous inquiries about participating in SIMTOS 2028, reflecting strong interest and anticipation among companies. SIMTOS 2028 is scheduled to be held from April 3 to 7, 2028, at KINTEX 1 & 2.
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