IMTS: International manufacturing

IMTS 2018
IMTS 2018

The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, featuring more than 2,400 exhibiting companies.

Recognised as one of the world’s pre-eminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology, IMTS attracts visitors from every level of industry and buyers and sellers from 117 countries. It is held every even-numbered year in Chicago; the event welcomed more than 115,000 visitors in 2016 and will take place from 10-15 September 2018.

“With the US manufacturing sector expanding at its fastest pace since 2004 and capital equipment investment likely to follow, we anticipate that IMTS 2018 will be one of the busiest shows ever,” says Peter Eelman, vice president – exhibitions & business development at AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, which produces the show.

To maximise visitors' time and experience IMTS groups technologies together into 10 pavilions spread throughout the convention centre's four buildings: Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing; Additive Manufacturing; Controls and CAD/CAM; EDM; Fabricating and Lasers; Gear Generation; Machine Components/Cleaning/ Environmental; Metal Cutting; Quality Assurance; and Tooling & Workholding Systems.

Visitors like Rick Hoffman, founder and CEO of EIMCo, a 150-person manufacturing operation in Farley, Iowa, appreciate that technologies are grouped by pavilion at the show because they can compare options: “I can check out a new technology and then walk a few feet to another booth and see what the competition is doing. All that information is in one area where I can evaluate the options side-by-side,” he says. “Rather than flying across the country, I walk across an aisle. It saves us valuable time and money.”

Digital tools MyShow Planner and the IMTS app (available in August) help visitors make itineraries, set-up meetings and navigate the show floor. IMTS veterans universally agree on two points: wear comfortable shoes and come to the show with a plan.

The IMTS Conference features more than 72 sessions running from September 11-14. Sessions cover current, relevant topics such as manufacturing process innovations, additive/alternative manufacturing, plant operations, automation/robotics, Industry 4.0/IIoT and quality/inspection/metrology.

A four-day pass costs $475 and conference registration includes exhibit hall access for all six days of the show. PES is a supporting partner to IMTS this year and can pass on a 25% discount on the normal price of an IMTS Conference pass (enter the code 25IMTSCONF when you register).

Advance registration may be required for some sessions. Registration for the IMTS Conference has already opened. Visitors can check for specific session topics and times. https://www.imts.com/education/conference.html.

In addition, Hannover Messe USA will be co-located with IMTS 2018, increasing the show’s emphasis on automation, robotics and Industry 4.0, with approximately 550 additional exhibitors occupying 130,000ft² of floor space.

Also, AMT’s Emerging Technology Centre (ETC) has become renowned for exposing visitors to technologies and concepts that shape the future of manufacturing. At IMTS 2018, the ETC will showcase a physically and digitally connected machine tool, robot arm and coordinate measuring machine (CMM).

IMTS 2018 www.imts.com

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