As Industry 4.0 and intelligent manufacturing continue to expand, the machine tool sector is evolving rapidly. According to 2024 global market data, demand for CNC and metalworking solutions is rising steadily, with China leading growth in automation, scale, and international competitiveness.
Yet with so many regional and national exhibitions across China, it can be difficult to determine which ones truly matter. While some trade shows focus on niche technologies or local suppliers, only a few provide international exposure, technical depth, and strategic value for serious industry stakeholders.
To provide a clear reference, this article presents a curated list of the Top 5 Most Important Machine Tool Exhibitions in China. These events were selected based on reputation, exhibitor scale, global participation, technical specialization, and relevance to CNC and metal processing industries.
All information in this article is based on verified data from 2024–2025 industry reports, official exhibition documents, organizer records, and trade expert evaluations. Each exhibition has been independently reviewed to ensure accuracy, relevance, and value to a wide range of readers in the manufacturing ecosystem.
1. CIMT — China International Machine Tool Show (Beijing)
Overview
The China International Machine Tool Show (CIMT) is China’s most authoritative and internationally recognized machine tool exhibition. It ranks among the world’s four premier machine tool shows, alongside EMO (Germany), IMTS (USA), and JIMTOF (Japan). Since its launch in 1989, CIMT has become a pivotal gateway for showcasing advanced manufacturing technologies and high-end equipment to China and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Organizer and Schedule
CIMT is hosted by the China Machine Tool & Tool Builders’ Association (CMTBA) and is held every two years during odd-numbered years. The exhibition takes place at the China International Exhibition Center (Shunyi Hall) in Beijing. Each edition spans over 140,000 square meters, making it one of the largest industry gatherings in Asia.
Exhibition Scope and Key Highlights
CIMT covers a comprehensive range of equipment and technologies across the CNC and metalworking ecosystem. Exhibits include metal cutting machines, metal forming machines, CNC control systems, servo motors, electric discharge machines, measuring instruments, automation solutions, tool systems, and intelligent manufacturing platforms. The breadth and depth of solutions make it a one-stop venue for industry-wide innovation.
International Participation and Major Exhibitors
The exhibition attracts over 1,500 exhibitors from more than 30 countries and regions, including leading global names such as Mazak, DMG MORI, Okuma, GF Machining Solutions, FANUC, and Siemens. In parallel, China’s top machine tool manufacturers—like Shenyang Machine Tool, Rosnok, Qinchuan Machine Tool, and Beiyi Okuma—showcase domestic advancements in five-axis machining, digitalization, and green manufacturing.
Who Should Attend
CIMT is valuable for a wide range of professionals, including engineers, plant managers, purchasing directors, systems integrators, and industrial technology investors. Industries served include automotive components, aerospace parts, medical devices, heavy machinery, and mold manufacturing.
Strategic Value and Industry Impact
As China transitions toward smart manufacturing and global competitiveness in high-end equipment, CIMT remains the most strategic venue for observing market shifts, supplier capabilities, and technology integration trends. The event also features high-level forums, technical seminars, buyer matchmaking, and product launches—making it a crucial touchpoint for decision-makers across the manufacturing value chain.
2. MWCS — Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show (Shanghai)
Overview
The Metalworking and CNC Machine Tool Show (MWCS) is one of the most specialized and high-impact segments of the China International Industry Fair (CIIF), held annually in Shanghai. While CIIF features a wide range of industrial sectors, MWCS focuses exclusively on advanced metal processing technologies, CNC machine tools, and intelligent manufacturing equipment. It is widely recognized as China’s leading exhibition for metalworking and automation in the East China region.
Organizer and Schedule
MWCS is organized by Donghao Lansheng Group and co-hosted by key national industry associations and international partners. The show takes place every year in early autumn at the National Exhibition and Convention Center (NECC) in Shanghai, one of the world’s largest single-structure exhibition venues, offering over 300,000 square meters of space. MWCS typically occupies several large halls, and in recent editions has hosted over 600 exhibitors and more than 60,000 professional visitors.
Exhibition Scope and Key Highlights
MWCS specializes in showcasing the entire metalworking process chain, including CNC turning and milling machines, sheet metal processing systems, laser cutting equipment, stamping technology, welding systems, tool and die solutions, industrial robotics, and smart factory platforms. With strong cross-sector integration within CIIF, exhibitors benefit from a high concentration of automation, robotics, and digital manufacturing visitors. The exhibition also places emphasis on green machining, digitalized production, and customized automation solutions for precision manufacturing.
International Participation and Major Exhibitors
MWCS attracts global machine tool leaders such as TRUMPF, Bystronic, Amada, DMG MORI, and Mazak, as well as major automation firms like KUKA, ABB, and FANUC. Leading Chinese manufacturers including Rosnok, Yawei, JFY, Dalian Machine Tool Group (DMTG), Qinchuan Machine Tool, SMTCL, and HSG Laser also leverage the platform to showcase innovations in CNC machining, sheet metal systems, and smart manufacturing integration. The show’s co-location with other CIIF exhibitions helps draw a diverse professional crowd, including integrators and end users from automotive, rail transit, energy, electronics, and heavy industries.
Who Should Attend
MWCS is particularly valuable for professionals focused on precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, custom parts production, and intelligent equipment procurement. It serves purchasing managers, manufacturing engineers, systems integrators, industrial designers, and regional distributors seeking both equipment and partnerships in China’s manufacturing heartland.
Strategic Value and Industry Impact
Located in Shanghai, China’s economic and manufacturing epicenter, MWCS provides an exceptional opportunity to explore the latest developments in machine tool automation, metal forming, and digital production systems. As global supply chains evolve and regional production hubs grow more sophisticated, MWCS offers actionable insights and face-to-face engagement with the players driving that transformation. Its strategic alignment with China’s industrial policies and proximity to key manufacturing zones make it one of the most practical and results-driven exhibitions in the country.
3. CCMT — China CNC Machine Tool Fair (Shanghai)
Overview
The China CNC Machine Tool Fair (CCMT) is one of the most important professional exhibitions for CNC equipment and metalworking technologies in China. As the sister show to CIMT, it was launched in 2000 to serve the growing demand for a high-quality machine tool platform in the southern and eastern regions of China. Today, CCMT stands as the most influential CNC-focused trade fair in even-numbered years and a central gathering for the country’s advanced manufacturing sector.
Organizer and Schedule
CCMT is organized by the China Machine Tool & Tool Builders’ Association (CMTBA), the same authoritative body behind CIMT. The exhibition is held every two years during even-numbered years at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC). The event typically spans over 120,000 square meters and features more than 1,200 exhibitors. Its biennial rotation with CIMT ensures year-round continuity in the Chinese CNC market while allowing exhibitors to engage with different regional audiences.
Exhibition Scope and Key Highlights
CCMT focuses on core areas of the CNC and precision engineering industry, including metal cutting machines, metal forming machines, CNC controls, drive systems, tooling, automation, metrology, and industrial software. It also includes additive manufacturing, flexible production systems, and high-end robotics. Unlike broader industrial fairs, CCMT maintains a strict technical focus, attracting visitors who are highly specialized and investment-driven. The fair also includes application-themed zones dedicated to automotive, aerospace, rail, medical equipment, and precision electronics manufacturing.
International Participation and Major Exhibitors
CCMT consistently draws global players such as Mazak, DMG MORI, Okuma, GF Machining Solutions, Hardinge, and Siemens. It is also a key platform for European and Japanese brands to launch CNC solutions tailored to the Asian market. On the domestic front, major Chinese manufacturers including Shenyang Machine Tool, Rosnok, DMTG, Qinchuan Machine Tool, and Baoji Machine Tool present their latest innovations in modular design, intelligent systems, and automation integration. This mix of international and domestic powerhouses makes CCMT one of the most balanced and forward-looking events in the industry.
Who Should Attend
CCMT is ideal for procurement leaders, manufacturing engineers, plant operators, R&D directors, and machine tool dealers who are evaluating CNC capabilities at scale. It provides a valuable opportunity to compare technologies, gather supplier intelligence, and plan long-term capital investments in machining infrastructure. Visitors typically come from sectors such as automotive, energy equipment, defense, aerospace, medical components, and consumer electronics.
Strategic Value and Industry Impact
In contrast to CIMT’s nationwide spotlight, CCMT has a more focused regional influence, especially in the economically vibrant Yangtze River Delta. This area is home to some of China’s largest manufacturing clusters and R&D centers. CCMT plays a critical role in bridging global innovations with local production needs, offering a strategic window into how CNC technologies are being adapted for high-volume, precision-driven applications. The fair also supports government initiatives around intelligent manufacturing, digital transformation, and industrial upgrading, reinforcing its value to forward-thinking enterprises.
4. ITES — Industrial Technology and Equipment Show (Shenzhen)
Overview
The Industrial Technology and Equipment Show (ITES), formerly known as SIMM (Shenzhen International Machinery Manufacturing Industry Exhibition), is the most influential machine tool and advanced manufacturing exhibition in South China. Located in the heart of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, ITES plays a strategic role in connecting China’s export-driven manufacturing economy with global technology trends in CNC machining, precision components, and intelligent production systems.
Organizer and Schedule
ITES is organized by Shenzhen Huanyue Convention & Exhibition Co., Ltd. and supported by multiple municipal and regional government agencies. The show is held annually at the Shenzhen World Exhibition & Convention Center, one of Asia’s most modern and expansive venues. Typically staged in the spring, ITES spans more than 140,000 square meters and features over 1,300 exhibitors from China and abroad, drawing approximately 150,000 professional attendees each year.
Exhibition Scope and Key Highlights
ITES offers a comprehensive display of CNC machine tools, metal cutting and forming equipment, die and mold technologies, automated assembly systems, industrial robotics, 3C electronics manufacturing solutions, and smart factory platforms. Particular emphasis is placed on application-specific manufacturing solutions in fields such as mobile devices, medical technology, automotive parts, optics, and precision hardware. ITES is also one of the first exhibitions in China to launch dedicated zones for additive manufacturing, precision surface processing, and flexible production lines designed for high-mix, low-volume scenarios.
International Participation and Major Exhibitors
As the most prominent machine tool exhibition in South China, ITES attracts global brands like Makino, Mazak, DMG MORI, Hexagon, and Trumpf. On the domestic side, Rosnok, Haitian Precision, Guangzhou Minjia, and Han’s Laser are among the leading exhibitors showcasing high-speed machining centers, industrial automation solutions, and digital control platforms. The fair’s proximity to Shenzhen’s massive electronics and medical device manufacturing base gives it a unique advantage in reaching a high-tech audience seeking turnkey production capabilities.
Who Should Attend
ITES serves a broad spectrum of professionals involved in discrete manufacturing, precision machining, and smart production across multiple sectors. These include automotive components, 3C electronics, medical devices, aerospace parts, mold and die making, and industrial automation systems. The exhibition is especially valuable for engineering teams, production planners, procurement leaders, and systems integrators seeking advanced CNC machinery and turnkey production technologies. With its deep roots in South China’s manufacturing ecosystem, ITES offers actionable insights for companies aiming to optimize workflows, localize supply chains, or expand regional capacity.
Strategic Value and Industry Impact
The Greater Bay Area is China’s innovation hub, home to globally significant companies in telecom, semiconductors, medical tech, and precision manufacturing. ITES aligns directly with this high-tech ecosystem, serving as a vital sourcing and networking platform for intelligent machinery and automation technologies. For manufacturers seeking to upgrade their production lines or establish partnerships in one of China’s most dynamic economic zones, ITES delivers unmatched relevance, speed, and business value.
5. Lijia Exhibition — Lijia International Intelligent Equipment Expo (Chongqing)
Overview
The Lijia International Intelligent Equipment Expo, commonly referred to as the Lijia Exhibition, is the most prominent machine tool and industrial technology fair in Southwest China. Hosted annually in Chongqing, the event serves as a vital platform for the region’s core industries, including automotive, aerospace, rail transit, military equipment, and general machinery manufacturing. It is widely recognized as the benchmark industrial exhibition for central and western China.
Organizer and Schedule
The Lijia Exhibition is organized by Chongqing Lijia Conference & Exhibition Co., Ltd., with support from various government agencies and industrial associations. It takes place every May at the Chongqing International Expo Center, one of western China’s largest exhibition venues. The show brings together more than 1,000 exhibitors and attracts upwards of 80,000 trade visitors annually, offering expansive floor space dedicated to machine tools, intelligent manufacturing, industrial automation, and robotics.
Exhibition Scope and Key Highlights
The event showcases a broad spectrum of technologies across CNC lathes, vertical and horizontal machining centers, turning-milling composite machines, laser cutting equipment, stamping machines, digital control systems, and intelligent logistics. In recent years, the Lijia Exhibition has expanded its focus on digital transformation and smart factory solutions, launching dedicated areas for industrial IoT, AI applications in manufacturing, and green energy technologies. As a result, it plays a key role in supporting the modernization of the Southwest’s traditional manufacturing base.
International Participation and Major Exhibitors
While the Lijia Exhibition is more regionally focused than CIMT or CCMT, it still hosts reputable global brands like Mazak, TRUMPF, and Hexagon, alongside a strong lineup of national leaders such as Rosnok, SMTCL, DMTG, Qiaofeng Machinery, and Baoji Machine Tool. These exhibitors use the event to showcase mid-to-high-end equipment tailored to the specific industrial needs of western China. Local integrators and engineering firms also play a visible role, presenting industry-ready solutions for energy equipment, transportation components, and heavy-duty part machining.
Who Should Attend
Lijia is ideal for international procurement managers, equipment engineers, sourcing directors, and technical buyers looking to explore reliable suppliers and evaluate industrial machinery on site. Visitors benefit from an efficient platform for technology comparison, supplier assessment, and insight into real-world applications across China. With strong participation from sectors such as automotive, rail transit, energy, aerospace, and general machinery, the exhibition helps attendees make informed decisions based on production capabilities and emerging manufacturing solutions.
Strategic Value and Industry Impact
Southwest China is a rapidly growing industrial corridor with strong government support for intelligent manufacturing, aerospace development, and defense applications. The Lijia Exhibition serves as a regional anchor for machine tool innovation, helping bridge the gap between national technology suppliers and western production needs. For companies looking to expand operations westward or develop supplier networks in China’s interior, Lijia offers a grounded, application-driven experience that complements the more internationally focused coastal exhibitions.
Conclusion
China’s major machine tool exhibitions reflect the pace, ambition, and direction of the country’s manufacturing industry. From globally recognized events in Beijing and Shanghai to regionally influential shows in Shenzhen and Chongqing, each exhibition offers a unique perspective on how CNC technology, automation, and advanced production solutions continue to evolve. Together, they form a comprehensive window into China’s industrial capability—showcasing innovation, scale, and real-world application across every major manufacturing sector. These exhibitions not only reveal emerging trends but also help decision‑makers understand where the next decade of industrial productivity is heading.
As China’s machine tool exhibitions continue to attract global attention, they also reflect the rise of Chinese manufacturers that combine technical capability with market responsiveness. Among them, Rosnok stands out as a dependable supplier of CNC lathes, machining centers, Swiss-type machines, and vertical turning solutions—serving clients across automotive, aerospace, energy, and precision parts industries. With five manufacturing bases, advanced engineering teams, and a focus on customized solutions, Rosnok continues to support industrial partners worldwide with precision, durability, and long-term value.
