IMTS 2026 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the largest event of its kind in the Western Hemisphere, takes place Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. Register for IMTS.Engineers used to design a lot more impossible parts: workpieces that couldn’t be held in chucks or vices, internal geometries into which no cutting tool could reach, and parts with walls so thin they couldn’t support their own weight.These days, not so much. Improved design and simulation tools catch many of those errors, and next-generation additive, subtractive, and hybrid machines can build up or cut down components with incredible precision.“Achieve the Impossible,” the theme of IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, has never been more relevant. What’s possible has expanded greatly in the past few years, and attendees of IMTS 2026 in Chicago, Sept. 14-19, will get a great look at how few limitations exist in modern manufacturing.“Now is a great time to take advantage of new opportunities in technology,” says Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS. “When you look at manufacturing technology orders, productivity gains, capital investment, and foreign direct investment flowing into North America, the momentum behind U.S. manufacturing is very real.”By the NumbersIMTS is big – very, very, very big. Across 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space featuring more than 1,800 exhibitors, and filling all four halls in McCormick Place, the show is organized into 10 technology sectors:Abrasive Machining / Sawing / FinishingAdditive ManufacturingAutomationComponents / Cleaning / EnvironmentalFabricating & LasersGear GenerationMetal RemovalQuality AssuranceSoftwareTooling & Workholding Register NowAttractions, Events, and ConferencesIn addition to the sectors, IMTS 2026 features dozens of attractions, conferences, and events. The Industrial AI Arena, new this year, recognizes one of the fastest-growing technologies in manufacturing and features 40 technology companies, all making their IMTS debuts as they share the latest in artificial intelligence systems. Exhibiting companies include Colab AI Inc. (IMTS booth #237604), GVision-USA Inc. (IMTS booth #237616), and Viaduct (IMTS booth #237635).The AMT Emerging Technology Center shows visitors the possibilities of manufacturing’s future. This year, AMT is partnering with Oak Ridge National Laboratory to create an end-to-end manufacturing system that produces drone airframes and an AI-enabled rapid vehicle deployment display. MTConnect will show how connected systems improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and support smart manufacturing initiatives, including lights-out operations. The IMTS conferences and workshops provide deeper insight into emerging technologies, business strategies, workforce development, and operational excellence. Whether you are looking to improve shop performance, understand the future of industrial artificial intelligence, explore additive manufacturing applications, or gain financial and leadership insights, the conference lineup delivers targeted education and connections just for you. The Smartforce Student Summit (free for students, their parents, and teachers) offers a unique opportunity to explore cutting-edge technologies in action, bringing the classroom to the shop floor. From robotics and automation to CNC machining and digital manufacturing, students can come and explore the world of advanced manufacturing through hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences.The Student Summit at IMTS 2026 is free for students, their parents, and teachers, offering hands-on opportunities to explore robotics, 3D printing, automation, and more. The AMT Emerging Technology Center at IMTS 2026 shows visitors the possibilities of manufacturing’s future. This year, you’ll see an end-to-end manufacturing system that produces drone airframes, an AI-enabled rapid vehicle deployment display, and how MTConnect supports autonomous production.What Toolmakers Can ExpectMany of the largest machine tool builders will be unveiling the sort of new equipment needed to cut ultra-precise steel molds and dies. Okuma America (IMTS booth #338500), Index Corp. (IMTS booth #339119), Mazak (IMTS booth #338300), and DN Solutions (IMTS booth #338919) all plan to show off new machining centers, as do dozens of other machinery OEMs.On the additive and hybrid manufacturing fronts, companies will be debuting equipment that can build internal cooling channels into molds, achieve formerly impossible dimensional tolerances, and repair damaged tools, molds, and dies by precisely rebuilding damaged areas layer-by-layer, with additive tools. Automation remains a hot topic with several exhibitors showcasing new robots, cobots, and material-handling systems designed to improve productivity and lower plant costs. The Industrial AI Arena features new companies, all discussing technologies that can change how toolmakers take in new orders, track opportunities, better design processes, and eliminate wasteful steps from the manufacturing process. “Earlier applications of AI were powerful but narrow: a vision system that caught defects at one station, an algorithm that optimized one parameter on one machine type,” says Ryan Kelly, vice president of technology at AMT. In the upcoming AMT Industrial AI Report 2026, Kelly writes, “The current wave of AI, built on advances in large models, cloud infrastructure, and connected data, has the potential to reach across the entire factory – from design and process planning through production, quality, and delivery – and to reason across all of it simultaneously.”Attending the ShowThose interested in attending the show can go to IMTS.com to register for the event, book hotel rooms, research exhibitors, and find fun things to do in Chicago in September. Here are a few basic tips for those who haven’t attended before:Wear comfortable shoes: 1.2 million square feet of exhibition space is as big as it sounds.Research solutions before the show: With 1,800-plus exhibitors, it would be difficult to see every technology on offer, so make a list of your key challenges and the companies that may offer solutions. Use the IMTS Show Planner to optimize your itinerary and get personalized recommendations tailored to your interests.Register and book your travel ASAP. Hotel rooms get scarce as the show gets closer.Don’t ask for ketchup on your hot dogs. In Chicago, only children ask for “hot dog sauce.”Register for IMTS 2026 today to find the right solutions for your business, network with other industry professionals, and discover new technologies. Use the IMTS Show Planner to efficiently plan your days on the show floor. Do you have input about this article? Tell us about it.
New machining centers, automation advances, additive equipment, and industrial AI will be on display at IMTS 2026, all of which can boost productivity for companies making molds, dies, and tools.
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