The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is North America’s largest manufacturing technology event and one of the largest and most important in the world. The IMTS provides an opportunity for the global manufacturing community – manufacturers, engineers, innovators, technology providers and business leaders – to see the newest innovations and collaborate.
With new technologies and solutions designed for advanced manufacturing nothing matches the IMTS in the experience and innovation promise it brings to modern manufacturing and supply chains.
Contents
Date and Location
The International Manufacturing Technology Show occurs is held every 2 year at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA. McCormick Place is one of the world’s largest convention sites, with thousands of international attendees and many hundreds of exhibitors.
The most recent IMTS was held September 9-14, 2024, which included exhibits, partner conferences, workshops, education and workforce sessions and networking. The next IMTS will be held September 14-19, 2026, and again Chicago will be the stage where all global participants of the manufacturing, logistics, and supply chain professions convene.
What’s at IMTS?
Exhibition of the Newest Technology in Manufacturing
IMTS has thousands of exhibitors displaying the newest products and solutions in manufacturing. Examples include high-tech machines for productivity improvements, smart automation solutions integrating some or all of the production process, and digital software for optimizing efficiency and supply chain logistics.
The exhibitors are organized by some type of pavilion for just subject matter recognition and allows the attendee to focus on technology areas and subject matter.
An example of a pavilion is the Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) Technologies pavilion. This technology and new materials can build industrial components with precision and greater design freedom.
Another example of a pavilion is the Controls & CAD-CAM pavilion, which included integrated automation and design solutions, therefore allowing more efficient planning and control of production processes.
The Fabricating & Lasers pavilion displays examples of laser cutting systems, waterjets, and modern technology for metal fabrication. These technologies are essential for producing tight tolerance components and mitigating material wastage.
The Quality Assurance Pavilion focuses on metrology systems and precision measurement. This is needed to verify that products meet the highest quality assurance levels.
Conversely, the Tooling & Workholding Systems Pavilion features innovations in cutting tools and clamping systems. It also has a variety of tooling & workholding solutions to speed machine setup times, and improve production flexibility. These innovations are essential for minimizing downtime and maximizing manufacturing throughput.
In addition to the main pavilions, there are pavilions dedicated to packaging technology as well as logistics and distribution solutions. This can be extremely relevant organizations involved in warehousing, fulfillment, and transportation. People can experience live demonstrations of the very latest in machinery and technology.
Conferences, Workshops, and Educational Sessions
IMTS is also an industry education leader. There are over 65 conference and workshop sessions centered on manufacturing innovation and automation, which are essential components of factory efficiency and productivity in the factory of the future. More specifically, the digitalization of manufacturing and the Internet of Things (IoT) emphasize the role of data integration and connectivity in optimizing the flow of goods and information.
The sessions specifically explore warehouse and distribution operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness while using the latest technology related to e-commerce fulfillment, particularly respecting the rapid growth and issues in “last mile” delivery as this part of the channel grows quickly and challenges stakeholders to meet the demands for speed and accuracy.
Also, the sessions will cover inventory management and preventative return strategies. Identifying and managing these reduce costs and contribute to customer satisfaction. Led by professionals from leading organizations and innovators in the startup ecosystem, participants will acquire valuable perspectives for upgrades in practice.
Networking and Business Collaboration
This event encourages distinct forums, workshops and networking experiences, to aid in building strong and sustainable business connections. It represents manufacturers, logistics service providers, distributors and technology providers from around the world to exchange ideas, relationships and collaboration.
Additionally, cross-sector collaborations create opportunities for strategic partnerships, strengthen supply chain supply chains, accelerate innovation, and can expand market reach. Additionally, the business networks and alliances developed during IMTS also spur innovative projects and new product development that may also create investment, and expand businesses into global markets.
IMTS’s Impact on the Logistics, Distribution, and Fulfillment Sector
IMTS serves as a platform for launching the latest technologies that can improve operational efficiency in the logistics and distribution sector. These include warehouse automation with robotics and IoT-based inventory management systems, supply chain digitalization, and smart logistics solutions for final-mile delivery.
For fulfillment service providers, IMTS offers insights into automated systems for picking and packing, including returns management, and integration between warehouse systems and marketplaces. Cross-docking and transloading solutions also accelerate distribution.
In the end, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago is not just an exhibition, but an innovation ecosystem that connects the entire global manufacturing and logistics community. IMTS is a must-attend event for any company evaluating efficiency of operations, growing their network, and leveraging innovative technologies in the areas of manufacturing, logistics and distribution.