The 2026 Taiwan International Tools & Hardware Expo x International Hardware Expo Taiwan (TiTE x IHT) will be held from October 20 to 22 at the Taichung International Convention & Exhibition Center (TICEC), bringing together 450 exhibitors across more than 1,000 booths. The event is expected to attract a record number of hosted international buyers, reflecting renewed interest in Taiwan’s hardware manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
Organised by the Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers’ Association and Lanza International Co. Ltd., the expo will focus on smart manufacturing, international distribution and industrial collaboration under the theme “TEAM TAIWAN: From Manufacturing to Co-Creation | AI Empowerment & Smart Upgrading.”
More than 100 hosted buyers from across five continents and representatives from over 25 international trade media outlets are expected to attend. Buyers will include representatives linked to global tool brands such as Stanley Black & Decker, Snap-on, Würth, KTC and TONE, as well as home improvement retailers including Leroy Merlin, Kingfisher, OBI, Hornbach, Ace Hardware and HomePro.
The organisers attribute the rise in buyer interest to improving demand, reduced tariff uncertainty following the Taiwan–US reciprocal trade agreement signed in February, and the timing of the event immediately after the autumn session of the Canton Fair. The organisers have promoted the expo at international industry events in Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, China and Vietnam to connect Taiwanese suppliers with retailers, importers and brand owners.
A sourcing meeting organised by Taiwan’s International Trade Administration and implemented by TAITRA will take place on October 19. It will connect nearly 60 international buyers with Taiwanese suppliers through one-to-one meetings. Visitors will also have opportunities to tour nearby factories, combining supplier meetings, exhibition visits and production assessments during a single trip.
The exhibition will cover eight areas, including hand tools and accessories, metalworking equipment, fasteners, automotive repair and electric vehicle applications, industrial safety, gardening and outdoor products, construction and home improvement, and smart manufacturing and automation. Exhibits will also include digital torque tools, automated warehousing, testing and calibration equipment, and special alloys for advanced industrial applications.
The event will continue its ISO 14067 product carbon footprint-certified green exhibition standard. Its domestic visitor base is expected to include buyers from semiconductor facilities, aerospace, rail maintenance, steel and retail.
Taiwan–Japan industry cooperation will feature prominently this year. The Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers’ Association and the Japan DIY-HC Association have established a reciprocal exchange involving promotional booths, buyer delegations and shared marketing activities. Terutaka Takeda, vice chairperson of the Japan DIY-HC Association, will lead a delegation to Taichung, attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote address.
Five firefighters from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, representing the Australian Firefighters Calendar, will also participate in the opening ceremony with tools from five Taiwanese manufacturers. The initiative highlights the importance of reliable equipment in emergency response and disaster preparedness.
The Global Hardware Summit will run alongside the exhibition on October 20 and 21. Six sessions will address market opportunities, product development, materials, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing and decarbonisation. Speakers from industry and academia will discuss how AI can help small and medium-sized enterprises reach international markets, improve manufacturing processes and strengthen carbon management.
Alan Hsieh, chairman of the Taiwan Hand Tool Manufacturers’ Association, and Andrew Liu, general manager of Lanza International, said the event would help Taiwanese manufacturers work with international customers on new products and manufacturing capabilities. Free online registration is open for the three-day expo, which aims to connect international buyers with Taiwan’s hardware supply chain and manufacturing partners
