See You at IMTS 2016

The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, will be held September 12–17 at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

IMTS was first held in 1927 as the National Machine Tool Builders’ Exposition. The goal back then was to bring new technology to the industry, which is still the goal of the show—although IMTS now focuses on all manufacturing processes, not just machines. The show has grown substantially through the years.  The first show, nearly 90 years ago, featured fewer than 40 exhibitors. At IMTS 2016, more than 2,000 exhibiting companies will occupy 1.3 million square feet of space, making it the largest manufacturing show in the U.S.

If you have not yet made plans to attend, you should seriously consider doing so. This year’s IMTS is promising to be better than ever before.

I attended my first IMTS in 1992 and have attended many shows since. Through the years, I’ve seen a lot of new and emerging technology demonstrated at the show. IMTS has given me the opportunity to talk directly with manufacturers to discuss the potential of new technology and how it can be used in different manufacturing processes.

To get more out of the show, don’t just visit with the vendors and manufacturers that you have established relationships with—look through the long list of exhibitors  and visit with any that interest you. This year, IMTS is hosting nine top-of-the-line conferences, including industrial laser, additive manufacturing, global automation, and more. A little preplanning and investigation will save you a lot of walking and ensure you see what is important to you and your business.

If you are planning to attend, you can expect to see a lot of new and improved technology, including advancements in machine accuracy and  part holding and cutting tools, and EDM.

Here are a few specifics you should add to your agenda.

Be sure to see the new Fives Giddings & Lewis horizontal boring mill that is made for job shops with a 22,000-pound table capacity. This should definitely be a stop if you are looking for extra work or additional opportunities to expand your job shop.

If you are looking for a small five-axis machining center, stop at the Hermle AG booth and check out the C 250 machine. This entry-level machine has many of the same features as the larger 400 series machines.

If a small, high-speed machining center is what you are looking for, check out the Enshu WE30Ve, with a spindle speed of 12,000 RPM and a rapid feedrate of 1,969 IPM.

If you are interested in new and lightweight workholding products, stop at Röhm’s booth and pay attention to their turning and milling manual chuck system, the DURO-TA XT.

Another workholding booth to put on your list is Kurt Manufacturing. They have expanded and improved their DoveLock™lineup by adding new models and reducing the size of previous offerings.

Based on my experience, IMTS is well worth your time. For more information, go to

http://www.imts.com/. Enjoy the show!