Chairman Chung Ji-taik of the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI) speaks at an opening session of the Korea Machinery Fair 2017 (KOMAF 2017).

Director General for System Industry Lee Seung-woo of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) delivers a speech at the fair.

The Korea Machinery Fair 2017 (KOMAF 2017) showcased the latest advanced technologies to spearhead manufacturing innovation, ranging from machineries, a base for the manufacturing industry, parts and materials to IT convergence, smart factory and VR/AR. 

The KOMAF 2017, held under the theme “Platform of the 4th Industrial Revolution,” took place at the KINTEX in Goyang, north of Seoul, from Oct. 24 to Oct. 27. 

The fair was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Association of Machinery Industry (KOAMI), attracting 572 exhibitors from 25 countries. 

The KOMAF 2017 coincided with the 1st Smart Solution & Reality Fair (R-fair), which introduced various demonstration solutions and products to realize the 4th Industrial Revolution like smart factory, IoT and VR/AR and allowed spectators to have hands-on experiences on virtual reality at booths. 

The KOMAF, which debuted as the nation’s first capital goods fair in 1977, took place biennially. The KOMAF 2017, the 21st rendition of fair, has been established as the nation’s largest comprehensive machinery exhibition. It fair has contributed to introducing and spreading foreign and Korean state-of-the-art machineries, raising the international competitiveness of the Korean machinery industry and promoting is development and continued growth. 

The KOMAF 2017 took place simultaneously along with the Tool Tech 2017 and Korea 2017 Metal Week to have synergetic effects. 

Conferences and symposiums inviting experts on the 4th Industrial Revolution and smart manufacturing gave an insight into future manufacturing technologies. Foreign and Korean corporate leaders, including Siemens and Doosan Industries and Construction, were key-note speakers who presented lectures on manufacturing innovation solution. 

The Smart Manufacturing International Conference took place at the first exhibition hall of KINTEX on Oct. 25. It took up 20 topics, including the 4th Industrial Revolution and the servitization of manufacturing industries, machinery plus ICT convergence, smart factory, laser, 3D printing, machine tool, CNC, robot, A.I., and MR (AR+VR). The Manufacturing Tutorial, organized by the Korean Society of Manufacturing Engineers, touched on such themes as the development of 3D printing technology, carbon material parts and applied technologies. 

About 1,500 foreign buyers, invited to the KOMAF 2017, held one-on-one negotiations on exports. The KOAMI hosted an explanation session for registered foreign plant equipment and material vendors and an export negotiation session by inviting EPC company officials from such countries as the Middle East and India. 

The KOAMI hosted the “Global Big Buyer Invitation Export Negotiation Session” along with the Korea International Trade Association by inviting Dailian Shipbuilding Industry and other global company procurement officials. 

The KOAMI also held a buyer export negotiation session by inviting automaker and utilities company officials in North America and Europe in cooperation with the Small & Medium Business Corp. 

Dignitaries, including KOAMI Chairman Chung and MOTIE Dir.-Gen. Lee, look at the exhibits on display at the fair. (Photos: KOAMI)