Key figures from Intelligent Manufacturing Kuala Lumpur 2026:
- 3,064 visits
- 385 conference attendees
- 21 speakers from seven countries and regions (Germany, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom)
- 20 conference sessions, three breakout sessions and 11 Tech Lab sessions
- Ten product showcases from three countries and regions (Italy, Malaysia and Switzerland)
Ms Fiona Chiew, General Manager of Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd commented: "Over the past four years, IMKL has built a strong community of speakers and industry voices from across global manufacturing. This year, the programme spoke to the challenges manufacturers are navigating right now, particularly around technology adoption, implementation and investment. It gives us much to build on as we continue bringing the right expertise and resources to manufacturers across the region, and approaching IMKL's fifth anniversary next year, we will continue to develop the event around what matters most to ASEAN manufacturers."
Held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) in Malaysia, the event featured a two‑day conference, product showcases and interactive Tech Lab sessions, alongside the return of SPS Stage Kuala Lumpur.
At the conference, speakers shared insights on AI transformation, operations, and investment decision-making, drawing attendance from both regional SMEs and multinational corporations at various stages of digitalisation. The programme also featured breakout sessions titled "Deep Dive into Common Digitalisation Barriers", covering the digital skills gap, ROI assessment for digital initiatives and AI implementation challenges.
In addition to the conference, product showcases and SPS Stage Kuala Lumpur featured companies from Italy, Malaysia and Switzerland presenting robotics, automation technologies and related solutions. Tech Lab sessions ran alongside, offering participants a more focused setting to hear from and speak directly with showcase contributors on specific applications and challenges.
Feedback from speakers:
"My key message for manufacturers throughout ASEAN is this: follow what is happening in smart manufacturing internationally, but first assess your own production needs and only adopt what you can truly handle. It is important to have the right knowledge and people to manage this transformation, to become part of the global network and to prepare for what is ahead. Delivering the keynote at IMKL, I was pleased to see such an engaged audience, with many positive reactions and clear interest in these discussions.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Detlef Zuehlke, ret. Professor for Innovative Factory Systems, German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI), and Honorary Executive Board Member, smartfactory-KL e.V. Kaiserslautern/Germany
"IMKL provides a meaningful platform to connect industry thought leaders, manufacturers, system integrators and solution providers. This is the kind of ecosystem that I believe can help drive industry transformation forward. Many manufacturers are not sure where to start or how to sustain their digital transformation initiatives, and this is where IMKL can motivate them to take the next step."
Dr Jesmond Hong, Chief Operating Officer, International Centre for Industrial Transformation
"IMKL has had a strong edition this year, with many players from across the industry present. I could see the audience actively listening and taking notes during the conference sessions. The discussions covered where the industry is heading and what manufacturers are facing on the shop floor, including ROI in digitalisation and Industry 4.0 and 5.0. For me, the key message is that digitalisation must integrate people, process and technology as one. I would encourage more SMEs to come on board, tap into this platform and work with business partners to bring new solutions to their factory floors."
Mr Cowen Hoo Kok Hon, General Manager, Daikin Electronics Devices Malaysia Sdn Bhd
"What I appreciate about IMKL is that it is not only about sharing theories or concepts. It combines conference discussions and showcases where vendors demonstrate real-life, practical solutions that business users and industry players can actually adopt. Even as a speaker, I came away with useful insights to bring into my own work. IMKL is also a great platform to meet industry players who share the same mindset, because digital transformation is not a journey we take alone."
Mr Vincent Chong, Plant Manager, Steelcase Manufacturing Malaysia
"Speaking at IMKL for the first time, I was amazed by how many manufacturers came together from different industries and sectors, sharing ideas and learning from one another. What I appreciate most about the show is its focus on technical expertise in smart manufacturing rather than sales talk. Presenters, myself included, shared how things work practically and from our own experience, so others in the industry can implement the same techniques."
Mr Omar Abouelmagd, IT Lead Consultant, BASD – Smart Manufacturing Solutions, Lenovo Technology Sdn Bhd
Feedback from product showcase contributors:
"IMKL is one of the big names in industrial events. It is well-recognised in the industry, and from my experience, a great platform for generating new leads. Customers come to ask about our products, explore reseller opportunities and discuss collaborations with us. Having both a booth and a speaking slot at the Tech Lab have also been valuable, as I could point people directly to our booth after my presentation. This is why it is one of those events we won’t miss every year."
Mr Abdul Qayyum Bin Abd Rashid, Sales Application Engineer, HRDC Certified Trainer, Cytron Technologies Sdn Bhd
"At IMKL, we showcased two humanoid robots and two quadruped robots, which drew a lot of attention from visitors. For many, it was their first time seeing humanoid robots up close. Demonstrations of remote operation, inspection and detection showed how the robots can be used in practice. Visitors came from manufacturing, semiconductors, academia and government-related sectors, and many conversations turned to proof of concept, deployment and how the robots could fit into different working environments."
Ms Sam Su Hui Ling, Co-founder & CEO, Work E Robotics Sdn Bhd
"At IMKL, we took part in SPS Stage Kuala Lumpur to introduce our Italian MES and OEE solution to the Malaysian market. Software is often seen as a luxury in manufacturing; factory owners may spend millions on machines because the output is visible, but they cannot see the impact of software until they adopt and use it. Through my Tech Lab talk, I wanted to open up that conversation. We also met visitors from the semiconductor and electronics sectors and left with customer demos booked and discussions underway."
Mr Muhammad Uzair Nazeer, COO of IOTSATA Sdn Bhd, Metalya S.r.l (SkyMes), Italy
Feedback from conference delegates and visitors:
"The sessions on the journey from Industry 4.0 to Industry 5.0, and how the two connect, were particularly interesting. For timber companies, these insights can help them look at their own transformation journey, from mindset and talent to digitalisation, and decide how to move forward. I am also looking forward to the breakout session to hear whether other sectors are facing similar challenges, and whether there may be common solutions."
Ms Lau Li Har, Director, Industry Development & Transformation Division, Malaysian Timber Council
"IMKL has been a good experience for exploring AI, generative AI and current industry trends. The sessions are informative and relevant to my work on the production line, especially when it comes to reducing waste, processing time and downtime. I am looking at the AI agent concept with integrated AI, and my plan is to implement AI agents into our system to monitor processes and optimise production parameters. I also see this supporting the move from paper checklists towards more data-driven decision making."
Mr Chee Kok Weng, Manager, Engineering, Hartalega NGC Sdn Bhd
"IMKL showed me how far new technologies are advancing around the world, including in Europe and other markets. That international perspective was the main reason I attended. The speakers were very knowledgeable, and I believe that if we want to improve, we need to learn from experts. For industries such as furniture, the challenge is often the cost of transformation and implementation, but the event helped clarify how we can move forward with technologies such as IoT, open-source ERP and AI."
Mr K.H. Wong, Director, TD Furniture Square Sdn Bhd
Conference participation at IMKL 2026 was HRD Corp claimable for eligible Malaysian delegates and Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) registered companies.
The next edition of Intelligent Manufacturing Kuala Lumpur will be held in 2027, with full details to be announced in due course. IMKL is organised by Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd and endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), with the Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) serving as conference co-organiser. The event is also supported by a number of prominent organisations and industry associations, including:
- Communication 21 Media Group Sdn Bhd
- Federation of Malaysian Skills Development Centres (FMSDC)
- Hong Kong Productivity Council
- International Alliance of Robotics Associations (IARA)
- Intrinsic SEA
- Malaysia IoT Association (MyIoT)
- Malaysia Robotics & Automation Society (MyRAS)
- Malaysian Rubber Products Manufacturers’ Association (MRPMA)
- Plastic & Rubber Institute Malaysia (PRIM)
- Smart4wrd
- Taiwan Automation Intelligence and Robotics Association (TAIROA)
- The National ESG Association of Malaysia
- TusStar Malaysia
Technical consultants:
- Malaysian Smart Factory 4.0
- Swiss Smart Factory
- World Manufacturing Foundation
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Press information and photographic material:
https://myintelligentmanufacturing.hk.messefrankfurt.com/kualalumpur/zh-cn/press.html
Intelligent Manufacturing Kuala Lumpur on social media:
www.linkedin.com/company/intelligent-manufacturing-imkl/
www.facebook.com/intelligent.manufacturing.kualalumpur
www.instagram.com/imklconference/
#IMKL #IntelligentManufacturingKualaLumpur #SmartManufacturing
Background information on Messe Frankfurt
The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. With a workforce of some 2,700* people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries, it organises events around the world. Group sales in financial year 2025 were around € 766* million. We serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of Messe Frankfurt’s key strengths is its powerful and closely knit global sales network, which covers around 180 countries in all regions of the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are using our digital expertise to develop new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services.
Sustainability is a central pillar of our corporate strategy. Here, we strike a healthy balance between ecological and economic interests, social responsibility and diversity.
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com/sustainability
With its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and
the State of Hesse (40 percent).
For more information, please visit our website at: www.messefrankfurt.com
*Preliminary figures 2025
Background information on Selangor Human Resource Development Centre
The Selangor Human Resource Development Centre (SHRDC) is a leading organization in Malaysia dedicated to enhancing human capital and fostering industry collaboration to drive economic growth and technological advancement. Established in 1992 as a nation’s call to enable personal and organizational development. As of today, more than 100,000 participants have gone through talent development and training programs with us and SHRDC spans with over 100 courses over 6 strategic business units with over 200 competent trainers. SHRDC is located in Section 13 Shah Alam.
For more information, please visit www.shrdc.org.my
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- IMKL26_FR_EN (pdf, 534 KB)