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It’s Manufacturing’sTurn in the SpotlightIMTS 2012 is a celebration of recoveryfrom recession and an opportunity toprepare for the challenges that lie aheadJames D. SawyerSenior EditorThe Great Recession was not kind to manufacturing,but the industry has bounced back infine fashion. It grew a phenomenal 91% from2009 to 2010 and an impressive 66% from2010 to 2011. Thus far this year manufacturinghas grown 20%—beating forecasts.So, with things looking so bright for so many people inmanufacturing, why would anyone take time away frommanaging this success to attend the International ManufacturingTechnology Show (IMTS 2012) at Chicago’sMcCormick Place, September 10–15?July 2012 | ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com 61

IMTS 2012One reason would be, according to Doug Woods, presidentof AMT—The Association for Manufacturing Technology, tolook “for those things that will help me make it through thenext recession.”While things are going well currently, there are manyuncertainties that manufacturing is facing now and more loombeyond the horizon: the shortage of skilled workers, cutbacksin defense spending, tax cuts, tax increases, interest rates,the specter of inflation and, of course, the upcoming election,which may impact policy and procedure in yet unknown ways.When he was a business owner in Rochester, NY, Woodssays, “I went [to IMTS] because I was trying to figure out formy business how to do things that I couldn’t do before, that Ican do more efficiently. It’s hard to find a time or a place thathas the scope of information and demonstrations where youcan compare machines, technologies and techniques sideby side. Here is a place where not just the salesmen, but theengineers and the technicians and even the CEOs are thereThe Rally Fighter, a product of Local Motors’ conceptfor crowd-powered automotive manufacturing, design,and technology, will be on display in the EmergingTechnology Center.to ask all the questions you want and get all the informationyou need.”Considering that IMTS 2012 will showcase better than1500 exhibitors in an area of 1.1 million ft 2 (102,300 m 2 ) itis little wonder that the show is expected to draw upwardsof 82,000 attendees—or that these attendees will be able tocome away with the information they need.When IMTS, the largest display and demonstration of manufacturingtechnology in the Western Hemisphere, returns toMcCormick Place for its 29th iteration, one of the things at-Photo courtesy Local Motors62 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2012

IMTS 2012tendees will notice is that the lineup of pavilions has changed.In 2010 there were 9 pavilion;, for 2012 there will be 11:• Metal Forming & Fabricating/LaserThe Alternative Manufacturing Processes pavilion has a newname. Waterjet and laser-based machining technology as wellas welding, metal treating and marking equipment are here.• Abrasive Machining/Sawing/FinishingThis traditional pavilion houses the technologies appropriatefor applications that require high toleanceand precision surface finish. Heremay be found all varieties of grindingtechnology, as well as sawing and cutoffmachines and a variety of finishingtechnologies, such as lapping, balancing,honing and polishing machines.• Controls & CAD/CAMCustom automation and the latest softwarewill be shown—everything neededto achieve the maximum efficiencyfrom a machine tool and optimize plantoperations and cost efficiency.• EDMElectrical Discharge machining (EDM)is a proven, reliable, high-accuracytechnology for those in the tool-anddieindustry, and especially thosethat specialize in one-off or specialtycomponents. Everything from CNCwire EDM equipment to die sinkingmachines will be on display.• Emerging Technology CenterThe Emerging Technology Center isa hybrid pavilion featuring innovativeproducts made with emergingprocesses and equipment, such asLocal Motors’ Rally Fighter car. Also tobe found are some well-known entitiessuch as Objet Inc., 3D Systems, RenishawInc., the Ex One Company, LLC,MTConnect, as well as societies, tradegroups and government agencies.• Gear GenerationGear manufacturing equipment—suchas gear cutting, forming and finishing,as well as broaching, shaping andslotting machines will be found here.• Machine Components/Cleaning/EnvironmentalProducts on display will range from64 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2012

IMTS 2012parts needed to service and monitor a plant’s machinesto the components necessary for safe and environmentallyresponsible operations.• Metal CuttingHere is where attendees will find innovations in metalcuttingequipment, machining centers, turning centers, drillingsystems, boring machines, milling machines and more.• Quality AssuranceThis pavilion houses the metrology equipment and systemsto keep processes on track and ensure the quality of aplant’s output. Also on display will be equipment that willcheck the accuracy of your machines.• Tooling and Workholding SystemsThe latest technology will minimize setup and machiningtime. Good tooling can give new capability to older equipment.State-of-the-art workholding systems will be featured.• IANA—Industrial Automation North America at IMTSThis is the newest pavilion at IMTS. International show organizerDeutsche Messe, producer of Hanover Messe, will showcaseexhibitors featuring all areas of industrial automation.Show ConferencesIANA is also aligned with three conferences at IMTS. TheGlobal Automation & Manufacturing Summit is a two-day seniorlevelconference, September 12 and 13. Key topics include:enterprise asset management, process optimization, energymanagement and sustainability manufacturing. Additionally,case studies on how plants have automated for profitability,improved performance of existing assets and reducing maintenancecosts will be presented. The Motion, Drives & AutomationConference September 10 and 11 will have two conferencetracks—1) Motion Control in Automation, and 2) Hydraulicsand Pneumatics in Automation—for engineers and individualstasked with improving performance, productivity, life, efficiency,and environmental footprint of manufacturing equipment and industrialautomation systems. Finally, the International Society of66 ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com | July 2012

Automation (ISA) is bringing a multitude of one-day training andeducational workshops to IMTS September 13 and 14. Amongthe 10 sessions are topics such as Improving Manufacturingthrough Automation: Opportunity Identification and Project Justification;Overview of Measurement andControl Fundamentals; and ImplementingManufacturing Execution Systems (MES)Using the ANSI/ISA95 Standards.training programs to talk one-on-one about skills, technology,and careers. Exhibitors are ready to work with students andeducators to ensure that young people receive the tools and attentionneeded to realize the future goals of the manufacturingIMTS FactsShow DatesSeptember 10–15, 2012Show Hours by HallEast Building: 9 am–5 pmWest Building: 9 am–5 pmNorth Building: 10 am–6 pmSouth Building: 10 am–6 pmIMTS’ own conference runs fromSeptember 10 through the 14 and willexplore innovative as well as traditionaltechnologies, business development andoptimization, plus workforce efficiencyand productivity. Special emphasis isplaced on maintaining focus on shortandlong-term goals during a tougheconomic environment. The programwill focus on five tracks featuring a widerange of industry-specific sessions:• Materials• Manufacturing Technology• Alternative Manufacturing Processes• Quality/Metrology• Plant OperationsA complete list of conferencesessions is available at www.imts.com/education/conference_search.cfm.Students, STEM and SkillsThe Student Skills Center (previouslyknown as the Student Summit)offers a place to meet employers, STEMeducation organizers, and representativesof successful career-technicalJuly 2012 | ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com 67

IMTS 2012industry. Field trips to the center are encouraged for students inmiddle school, high school and even college.Exhibits inside the Center will include hands-on activities,videos, demonstrations and simulations, as well as interactive,engaging activities resulting in small prizes for correctanswers. As in 2008 and 2010, the Student Skills Centerwill feature a daily raffle for various exhibitor-provided prizes,career profiles, and a resume drop box.Upon arrival to the Student Skills Center, visitors will bewelcomed by a Skills Center Greeter who will personally guideattendees to the check-in location and ultimately to the OrientationTheater. Here a 10–15 minute program will providean overview of what to expect at the Center and at IMTS andwhere to go, and show a brief video connecting advancedmanufacturing, STEM education, and everyday life.This free, week-long event is an opportunity for students,educators, school administrators and guidance counselors togain a glimpse into the world’s most cutting-edge technologyfor the purpose of reinforcing a nationwide increase of STEMeducation at the secondary and post-secondary level.Basic InformationThe cost of attending IMTS is $30 per person throughAugust 10 and $50 per person from August 11 throughSeptember 15. For groups of five or more who register at thesame time the cost is $15 per person through August 10 and$30 per person August 11 through September 15.Conference registration runs from $195 per person to$695 per person, depending on the conference. It includesexhibit hall admittance for all six days of the show. For moreinformation, visit www.www.imts.com/show/exhibits.html.Visitor hotel information is available at www.imts.com/show/HotelTravel/index.html. Staying within the official hotelblock is the only way to ensure your housing preferences.Staying within the block also gives you access to the free dailyshuttle bus service to and from McCormick Place. MEJuly 2012 | ManufacturingEngineeringMedia.com 69