Are You Ready? IMTS Is Right Around the Corner

One advantage of being an editor of a brand such as Production Machining is I’m able to learn ahead of time some of what new equipment and technology will be on display at upcoming trade shows. This year’s International Manufacturing Technology Show (imts.com) is no exception.

Presented by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, this year’s IMTS — back to being in person — will feature more than 1,270 exhibitors and cover 1.3 million square feet of floor space Sept. 12-17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. After you read this, check out our products page to learn about some of the products that will be on display geared primarily to our precision machining industry.

But, besides products, I often learn about in-booth demonstrations exhibitors are planning. There are three in particular I found intriguing for our industry: a collaborative-robot-tended, Swiss-machining cell with adaptive machining technology showing a lights-out process in action; a Swiss-type performing laser machining of solid barstock (rather than tube); and a demonstration of what’s involved in quickly changing over a CNC multi-spindle to a new job.

There also are three conferences you might find worthwhile attending during the show. The Parts Cleaning Conference (partscleaningevent.com) on Tuesday, Sept. 13 is timely given how cleanliness and environmental regulations are becoming increasingly stringent and there is a wide variety of cleaning processes, some of which might be unfamiliar to manufacturers. Topics include how users can fulfill requirements for technical cleanliness, deciding which alternative cleaning agents are appropriate for an application, cleaning cutting tools in different stages of production, cleaning 3D-printed metal parts, cleanliness analysis, maintaining a proper ultrasonic cleaning process and more.

The Top Shops Conference (topshopsevent.com), which is also offered Sept. 13, is a half-day workshop designed exclusively for owners and managers of job shops and contract manufacturers. The technical program and peer-to-peer discussion deliver practical solutions and business strategies that complement the variety of technology at IMTS. Topics include five-axis machining, automation, supply chain security, digital workflow, workforce development and marketing.

The Additive Manufacturing Conference (additiveconference.com) on Sept. 14-15 might be intriguing for shop principals who have been keeping an eye on this emerging technology. The conference program was built to provide a practical, applications-based look at the machines, materials and methodologies being used to create end-use tools and components. It includes technical presentations from global OEMs, leading additive manufacturing service bureaus, machinery suppliers and product developers as well as discussions relative to potential future applications of 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

Finally, in keeping with my triplets theme, here are three bits of advice to consider prior to visiting the show.

• Sign up for IMTS+. To say IMTS is a big show is an understatement. The My Show planner available through IMTS+ enables you to best plan your visit so you’re not traipsing from one building to another. It’s a combined planning and logistics tool you can access on your computer or smart phone. IMTS+ also offers informative videos, articles and webinars on a variety of topics you can peruse at your leisure. Register at imts.com.
• Build in roaming time. You likely have specific products you want to see or companies you want to visit. However, set aside time to walk the show to see what unexpected technology you might discover.
• Wear comfortable shoes. In my mind, I’m sounding like a broken record here, but wear well broken-in, comfortable shoes at the show, not a pair you bought right before the show. It’s likely you’ll be walking miles (editors like me certainly will). The last thing you want to do is rub the you-know-what off of the back of your heel and be hobbling for the rest of the show. I saw that happen to a junior editor who didn’t heed this advice.

I’m certainly looking forward to the show and hope you are, too. If you see me there, perhaps at our Gardner Business Media Booth #236600 near the entrance of the North Building, stop me and say hi. It’s always good to connect and chat with those in the machining community.