Move-In Information

Index

• Pre-Move-in / Marshalling Yard
• Arrival / GES Satellite Desk
• Badge Pick-up/Registration Hours
• Electric Power
• Exhibitor/Distributor Lunchroom
• Exhibitor Move-in / Move-out Dates & Hours
• McCormick Place ASUV Program
• Exhibitor Service Centers
• Lead Retrieval
• McCormick Restaurants Open During Move-in
• Photography
• Off-Hours Admittance
• Rules & Regulations
• Selling at IMTS
• Set-up Deadline
• Security
• Show Staff
• Water Stations

Pre-Move-In / Marshalling Yard

All vehicles delivering booth materials, freight and products to McCormick Place must first check in at the Marshalling Yard, located at 31st Street just west of Lake Shore Drive, approximately six (6) blocks south of McCormick Place. Please refer to the IMTS Carrier & EAC Information page for directions and instructions.

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Arrival / GES Satellite Desk

Upon your arrival on your targeted move-in day at McCormick Place, please check in at the GES satellite desk located in the front of your hall. This will facilitate communications between the zone managers, the marshalling yard and your booth personnel.

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Rules & Regulations

Exhibits must be installed according to the specifications outlined in the ‘Rules & Regulations.’

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Exhibitor Move-in / Move-out Dates & Hours

McCormick Place Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle (ASUV) Program

The ASUV (Automobile and Small Utility Vehicle) Program is a complimentary service at McCormick Place that lets registered exhibitors load and unload booth materials using their own personal vehicles. It gives exhibitors more control over setup and can reduce transportation costs. For IMTS, ASUV access is available Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13.

Exhibitor Service Centers

• East Building: Level 2, Room E253
• North Building: Level 2, Room N230
• South Building: Show Floor - Under Food Pods
• West Building: Show Floor - Under Food Pods

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Show Staff

IMTS staff is present in all buildings wearing white and blue striped show staff shirts and red show staff jackets during move-in and move-out.

East Building:
Show Office Location: E250
Tel: 312.949.3200
Building Manager: Chrissie Hahn
East Building, Level 3 Floor Manager: Bob Davis

North Building and South Building:
Show & Sales Office Location: Level 4, Room N427bc
Tel: 312.791.6700
Building Manager: Mark Kennedy
North Building, Level 3 Floor Manager: Annie Der
South Building. Level 3 Floor Manager: Rob Bailey

West Building:
Show Office Location: Level 4, Room W472
Tel: 312.949.8700
Building Manager: Jordan Marks
West Building, Level 3 Floor Manager: Chase Sires

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Late Work Passes

For permission to work late, you must let your IMTS show office know by 12 pm that day (or the day before by 12 pm for early morning access). We will need to know how many people will be working in your booth and until what time.

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Security

IMTS Show Management provides perimeter hall security during move-in, show, and move-out days through our various security vendors:

• West & East Buildings: AF Services
• North & South Buildings: United Security Services

While petty theft at IMTS is minimal in relationship to the magnitude of the show, it does exist. Please pay close attention to items that are small enough to be carried off the exhibit floor, such as plasma screens, laptops and cell phones. IMTS provides free 24-hour storage rooms located in each building. You can arrange this with your hall's security company in their offices listed below.

The safety and security of everyone participating in IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is, as always, the top priority for AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, owner and producer of IMTS.

McCormick Place has been audited by Homeland Security and their suggestions have been implemented. The Chicago Police Department takes an active role in planning and implementing security strategies in addition to full-time McCormick Place security staff.

AMT works directly with the leadership of McCormick Place on the security provided by the building and the Chicago Police Department. In addition, AMT invests more than $600,000 in private security firms specifically for IMTS and works with them on strategies and procedures that are coordinated with McCormick Place.

AMT continuously monitors activity on the show floor and is in constant contact with IMTS security personnel and McCormick Place security.

Show Security Offices:

• East Building: Level 2, Room E251
• South Building: Level 1, Room S101a
• West Building: Level 1, Room W182
• North Building, Level 1, Room N132

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Electric Power

Electrical power will follow the schedule listed below. If you have pre-ordered 24-hour power or desire to work past the time listed, you must notify your Freeman Hall Supervisor no later than 2:30 p.m. that same day. If you need to schedule manpower for the following day, you must let your Freeman Hall Supervisor know by 11:00 a.m. the day before. This will allow them enough time to schedule the appropriate manpower.

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McCormick Building Restaurants Open During Move-In

Click here to view restaurants and concessions open during Move-In days.

Lead Retrieval

Service Center Locations

Convention Data Services distributes lead retrieval units from the following locations. Please use the service center in your hall.

East Building:
Location: Level 2, Room E255
Tel: 313.654.7990

North Building:
Location: Level 2, Room N231
Tel: 313.569.8853

South Building:
Location: Level 1, Room S101b (Level 1 with Exhibitor Registration)
Tel: 313.654.7996

West Building:
Location: Show Floor with Exhibitor Service Center (Under Food Pods)
Tel: 773.332.2360

All lead retrieval equipment must be returned to our service desk by Sept. 19.

Deliveries (Device Rentals Only) – Sunday, Sept. 13

For those who do not pick up equipment prior to Sunday, the following is the schedule for delivery. Please note that someone MUST be in your booth to sign for the equipment. If no one is available, we will leave a note and return the unit to the service booth where you may pick it up at your convenience. Please note that we will not be able to attempt delivery again.

Set-Up Deadline

All booths must be completely set up by Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Once any crate is empty and ready to be taken out of the hall, place an EMPTY label on the crate and make sure your booth number is clearly visible. EMPTY labels are available in each service center, the labor desks, the operations desks and from the GES Zone Managers on the show floor. Keeping your empty containers until the end of move-in WILL NOT ensure that you receive your crates first during move-out. All cartons and crates must have EMPTY labels attached and be ready for pick up by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. No crates will be allowed in the aisles.

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Selling at IMTS

Exhibitors who do not regularly transact business in the State of Illinois and who are not registered with the Department of Revenue in Illinois should accept orders in Chicago only as “subject to final acceptance at the exhibitor's home office outside of Illinois.”

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Photography

All official media and photographers will have a black media ribbon attached to their badge. Anyone else will need your permission to take photos/video of your booth. If you need a “No Photography” sign, you can obtain one in your IMTS Show Office:

• East Building, Location E250
• North Building & South Building: North Building, Level 4 Room N427bc
• West Building, Level 4, Room W472

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Exhibitor/Distributor Lunchroom

Come enjoy a stree-free lunch in our exclusive Exhibitor/Distributor lunchroom, which will be located in the Shouth Building, room S100c. Select from two rate options (prices listed are per day).

Option 1: $38.50 per person, per day – select up to nine people
Option 2: $325 per table of 10 people, per day – select as many tables as needed.

»   Find out more and purchase tickets

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Water Stations

To keep you cool and refreshed during the hot days of move-in, show management is providing water stations in the front of each exhibit hall.

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Badge Pick-up