IMTS History
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.
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