1.OPENING
INTERMEASURE 2018 was held from 26-28 September, 2018 at Tokyo Big Sight (Tokyo International Convention Center).

Nearly 20,000 people in total visited the exhibition, concurrently held with 6 exhibitions: Sensor Expo Japan, SUBSEA TECH JAPAN, Soil and Groundwater Remediation Technology Expo, Soil Improvement Technology Expo, and Foundation Work Engineering Expo and JIMA (Japan Inspection Instruments Manufacturers’ Show).

INTERMEASURE 2018, aiming to showcase the latest technologies and products of exhibitors in R&D, design, manufacturing, quality management, as well as eco-friendly and/or energy-saving energy, was officially opened by the remarks by Akira Nakamoto, President of JMIF on Sep. 26.
He stressed that with the promotion of the concept of "Connected Industries" to strengthen manufacturing, the various initiatives began to proceed. Those include the realization of a new digital society in which people and machinery and systems collaborate; problem solving through cooperation and collaboration and human resources development in line with progress of digital technology. In measuring instruments, a new role such as a big data terminal and solution tool, in addition to the conventional role as production control tools has been required to create new business.
Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Mr. Ryu Shionoya, a member of House of Representative, and Mr. Yoji Ueda, Deputy Director-General of Minister's Secretariat from Ministry of Economy, Trade, Industry and Trade (METI) and Mr. Yasuharu Ueda, Deputy Director-General of Minister's Secretariat from Ministry of Environment delivered speeches.
As foreign VIP guests, members from China Weighing Instrument Association (CWIA); Korea Association of Standards and Testing Organizations (KASTO); Taiwan Measuring Metrology Commercial Associations and Syndicate de la Measure from France were invited to the ceremony.

On Sep. 26, two keynote speeches were presented. Mr. Tokumasu from METI talked about how Japan should proceed “Connected Industries” in order to strengthen Japanese manufacturing. The second was made by Mr. Kubo from Robot Revolution and Industrial IoT Initiative under the theme of the development of robot revolution and the shift in manufacturing business with IoT.

2. EXHIBITORS
More than 100 major measuring instrument manufacturers, related companies and universities joined the INTERMEASURE 2018.

Booths, many of which displayed new products and technologies, reflected the industrial and social trends. Visitors were busy walking around them one by one.

3. INTERNATIONAL BOOTHS
This time, CWIA and KASTO exhibited for the first time, introducing their activities and new projects.

As special lectures, members from CWIA and KASTO delivered presentations. The lecturers and themes are as follows:

Lecture 1
Mr. Harry Shin, Team Manager of legal Metrology Group, KASTO
“Smart Metering Forum and Smart Inspection of NAWI in Korea”
In the presentation, the activities of KASTO in metrology field was introduced. He also mentioned the current status and future plans of the KSMF(Korea Smart Metering Forum) established in 2017 to promote smart metering, and the mobile and QR systems built by KATS and KASTO to improve the periodic inspection of commercial non-automatic weighting instruments.

Lecture 2
Mr. Liu Xinmin, former Director of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) “Metrology in China”
He talked about outline of the recent reorganization of AQSIQ and revision of the Metrology Act in China in detail.


In the evening of Sep. 26, a welcome party was held inviting foreign guests.
Around 30 guests from abroad attended.
Mr. Tanida, Chair of JMIF International Committee, delivered a closing speech, saying that JMIF will strengthen international cooperation to support member companies’ activities abroad and promote imports and exports of measuring instruments. The party was closed with “sanbonjime”, three sets of hands-clapping which is a traditional Japanese way of closing a party wishing all continuous success and health.

4. SEMINARS AND PRESENTATIONS
As well Legal Metrology Seminar and The Japan Measurement Standards Forum organized by NMIJ (National Metrology Institute of Japan), also presentations were made for visitors.

This time, “exhibited products/new technology presentation session” was prepared for exhibitors and more than 30 topics were presented. At academy plaza, 20 presentations were made by universities and research institutes

5. Special Exhibition Corners
Automatic Weighing Instruments and verification
-What you should know before it starts-

In accordance with the partial revision of enforcement order for the Japanese Measurement Act, automatic weighing instruments were added to specified measuring instruments.
Automatic Catch Weighing Instruments used for transaction and certification purposes start verification in April 2019, followed by another three types, Discontinuous Totalizing Automatic Weighing Instruments; Automatic Gravimetric Filling Instruments; and Continuous Totalizing Automatic Weighing Instruments starting in April 2020.

INTEREMEASURE 2018 illustrated the outline of automatic weighing instruments and newly-introduced verification system. The detailed demonstration of verification with explanation by experts attracted many visitors who wanted to obtain much information.