History | International Manufacturing Technology Show

Take a walk down memory lane, highlighting 85 years of IMTS historical facts

We Want to Hear Your IMTS Stories

So, what's your IMTS story? Have you or your company ever had anything go really right -- or really wrong -- at IMTS? We'd love to know about it and we'll use the best stories. Remember that time the goats got loose in your booth, or the power failed, or ...? Send your stories to the IMTS Site Manager.

1927 - The first National Machine Tool Builders' Exposition

1929 - The second National Machine Tool Builders' Exposition was held in Cleveland

1935 - The Machine Tool Show of 1935 was held in Cleveland September 11-21, after two postponed events

1947 - First post-war show held in Chicago

1955 - Machine tool gray was the order of the day

1960 - With the computer revolution in its early stages, numerical control was a hot topic

1965-70 - Marked the end of the so-called twin shows

1972-76 - Marked by a number of firsts!

1978-90 - McCormick Place facility was expanded to include Donnelley Hall

1992-98 - The 90s saw many changes in the ever-evolving IMTS

2000-02 - The new millennium ushered in many industry and world changes

2004 - Five-year decline in manufacturing reversed and recovery was underway

2006 - Attendance surged to 91,985 as the recovery continued to attract an educated attendee looking for the latest technology

2008 - Posting its strongest showing since 2000, covered 1,233,878 square feet of exhibit space with 1,803 companies exhibiting

2010 - Strong results at IMTS 2010 signaled a strong comeback in manufacturing

2012 - Results of IMTS 2012 prove the continuing leadership of manufacturing in the overall economy as Show Management reports the strongest results in more than a decade.

2014 - IMTS 2014 was the fourth largest IMTS in history and the largest six-day show ever.

2016 - IMTS 2016 was the third largest show for registration and exhibit space, and also showcased the highest number of exhibitors in history.

2018 - Record Breaker: IMTS 2018 was the largest show ever.

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