Talk About Trade Show Timing

Machine shops need operational flexibility to manage supply chain and labor disruption. This will have them eyeing technology such as robotic automation at PMTS as well as other equipment to boost employee productivity.

This article describes the tough decision Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) organizers faced late last year. In short, they chose to preemptively move the event from its traditional month of April to August, hoping COVID-19 would be better under control in order to offer a safe, on-site show experience.

With effective vaccines now widely available and health orders being lifted, that is how it has played out. This means PMTS is set to be the first in-person trade show presented to our industry in 18 months, running Aug. 10-12 in Cleveland, Ohio’s Huntington Convention Center.

This has to be exciting news for shop principals like you (and editors like me) who have been itching to see new equipment and technology up close and personal at trades shows like we could in the “before times.” Plus, data shows that many of you are ready to invest (and invest big), meaning the show’s timing is great for exhibitors, too, that have new technology they’ve largely been able to present to the industry only by way of virtual means.

Part of the Gardner Business Intelligence (GBI): Precision Machining Index’s monthly survey asks participating shops to estimate how much they plan to invest in capital equipment in the next 12 months. Data from April reveals that the average precision machine shop plans to spend more than $642,000 on capital equipment over the next year. This is nearly 30% higher than at the same time frame leading up to PMTS 2019.

Survey data shows precision machine shops plan to spend more than $642,000 on capital equipment in the next year.

In addition, the Index for April reached an all-time high of 64.3 after having just posted a record high in March of 64.0. It also revealed the most widespread economic recovery and growth in all major manufacturing industries since the GBI began in 2011.

“Strong economic conditions like these, which we haven’t seen in more than five years, mean that machine shops are wholeheartedly eager to invest back in their businesses,” notes Steve Kline Jr., GBI’s chief data officer. “Although it is taking a bit longer for new machines to be delivered due to global supply chain disruptions, shop owners are using that time to reinvest in technology, automation and software that will make their employees more efficient and productive.”

Our PMTS product preview section starts on page 28 in the print edition, highlighting new equipment and services some exhibitors plan to present at the show. (These same product previews can also be found online in our Products section.) I’m looking forward to that technology discovery aspect of PMTS. But, I’m also grateful we’ll all be able to personally network again, something that’s equally important.

So if you see me there, please introduce yourself. Some face time would be welcome.