Gandhinagar January 29th : Indian Ceramics Asia 2026 opened on 28 January at the Helipad
Exhibition Centre, marking the 20th edition of the trade fair with a clear and
realistic outlook. This year, the focus has shifted from rapid expansion to
improving efficiency, controlling costs, and making smarter technology choices.
Organised by Messe Muenchen India in partnership
with Unifair Exhibition Service Co. Ltd., the three-day B2B exhibition features
over 300 leading brands. The exhibitor mix spans ceramic raw materials,
machinery, processing equipment, and allied technologies, underlining where
current industry conversations are concentrated improving efficiency, managing
energy costs, and ensuring consistent product quality rather than pursuing
aggressive capacity expansion.
International participation remains strong, with
exhibitors from eight countries Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Portugal, and Slovenia. Dedicated country pavilions from Germany and
Italy highlight continued interest from European technology suppliers in the
Indian ceramics market.
Bhupinder Singh, President – IMEA, Messe München
& CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said
in a statement that the industry has entered a more disciplined phase of
decision-making. “Manufacturers today are looking closely at where technology
can deliver measurable savings in energy, consistency, and output. Indian
Ceramics Asia has always reflected the industry’s priorities, and this edition
clearly shows a shift towards smarter, more sustainable manufacturing choices,”
he said.
Hareshbhai Ramjibhai Bopaliya, President (Wall Tiles Division), Morbi Ceramic Association, said, “For
MSME and mid-sized units in Morbi, the priority today is to reduce cost per
tile and improve consistency without taking big financial risks. Indian Ceramics
Asia 2026 is useful because it shows a variety of technologies that can be
adopted in stages. This makes the exhibition highly relevant for Morbi
companies planning careful, ROI-driven upgrades.”
One of the key highlights of the 2026 edition is
the Innovation Exchange Forum built around the theme “Ceramics for Tomorrow:
Sustainable, Smart, and Advanced.” Sessions cover energy management, raw
material optimisation, digitalisation, alternative fuels, and environmental
compliance, areas that are now central to day-to-day operations. Alongside
this, a live demonstration area allows visitors to see machinery and processing
technologies running under real conditions, helping buyers assess performance
before making investment decisions.
Robert Schoenberger, Global Industry Lead at Messe München GmbH, emphasised that India’s
ceramics industry continues to attract the attention of global suppliers
despite near-term challenges. “The focus is no longer solely on expanding
capacity. There is a clear interest in automation, digital process control, and
energy optimization. These developments bring Indian manufacturing closer to
international benchmarks and make the market strategically important for global
technology providers,” Schoenberger said.
Ken Wong, General Manager of Unifair Exhibition Service Co. Ltd., highlighted
the growing importance of knowledge exchange alongside sourcing. “Indian
companies are increasingly asking detailed questions about lifecycle costs,
process stability, and long-term returns. Platforms like the Innovation
Exchange Forum and live demo areas support more informed and cautious
investment decisions, especially for mid-sized manufacturers planning gradual
upgrades,” he said.
With domestic demand stabilising and export
markets remaining selective, Indian Ceramics Asia 2026 presents a clear picture
of an industry in transition. The emphasis is firmly on efficiency,
sustainability, and smart manufacturing choices that deliver measurable
business outcomes.
