McLean, Va. … The 30th edition of IMTS – The
International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 was the fourth largest IMTS in
history and the largest six-day show ever with registration of 114,147
representing 112 countries. This was a 13.9 percent increase over IMTS 2012.
IMTS covered more than 1.282 million net square feet of exhibit space and hosted
2,035 exhibiting companies. IMTS 2016 will be held at Chicago’s McCormick Place
Sept. 12-17, 2016.
The application of additive manufacturing in a large scale
application stole the show. News of the world’s first 3D-printed car is still
sweeping the nation from Chicago to Atlanta and from local stations to CNN. AMT
– The Association For Manufacturing Technology, Local Motors, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, and Cincinnati, Inc., collaborated to 3D print and
assemble the first-ever electric car onsite during the six days of IMTS. On
Saturday, Sept. 13, Jay Rogers, CEO and Co-Founder, Local Motors and Douglas
Woods, President, AMT, drove out of IMTS 2014 in the newly finished
"Strati".
Experts believe the direct digital manufacturing technique
could revolutionize the industry.
The process started with a design competition within the Local
Motors community, for which 207 entries were submitted. The winner was Italian
Michele Anoe with his ‘Strati’ design, meaning ‘layers’ in his native language.
Printing began at the start of IMTS and only took 44 hours to
complete. Made of carbon-fiber reinforced polymer, the same plastic as Lego®
products, the car was printed on a large-scale additive printer by
Cincinnati, Inc. The wheels and hubcaps were also 3D printed using the direct
metal process.
The result is an electric car that drives at a top speed of
40 mph and only consists of about 40 parts, versus 20,000 parts in a regular
car.
Multi-spindle machines, multi-tasking machines, automation/robotics,
digital data integration, in-line quality assurance and additive manufacturing
technology were stars on the show floor.
“During IMTS 2014 there was a universal vibe among
exhibitors, visitors and even students, that manufacturing is now THE place to
be,” said Peter Eelman, AMT Vice President – Exhibitions and Communications.
“Media from all over the world covering the first-ever 3D printed car build
created this one-of-a-kind feel, and the entire community was caught up in the
excitement.
“Even more exciting to exhibitors was the fact that customers
came with buying intentions and a confidence that has not been seen in the
manufacturing industry in many years. The evidence is clear in a capital
spending survey released by Gardner Business Media Sept. 8, the opening day of
the show, which predicts a 37 percent increase in metalcutting machine tool
consumption in 2015.
“A major concern among manufacturers is building a community
of workers to fill their needs now and in the future. At IMTS this was
addressed beyond all expectations by the Smartforce Student Summit which more
than doubled in attendance over IMTS 2012 and captured the imagination of young
people with the truly innovative technologies on display.
“The combination of the look of the show, the vibe of the
participants and the groundbreaking nature of the projects on the show floor
truly defined our marketing campaign. The industry came together and left
inspired.”
Significant Orders Booked During IMTS
The show had a remarkable display of new and emerging
technologies that will continue to revolutionize the manufacturing world. These
innovations, including digital data integration, automation/robotics, in-line
quality assurance additive manufacturing, and traditional equipment, offer
solutions to all manufacturers who seek increased productivity and lower cost.
Sold signs could be seen throughout the show.
Hydromat Director of Marketing Kevin Shults said this, “We
are ecstatic about the results we are seeing. We had a really good show in 2012
and this was even better. We sold a $1 million plus twin spindle machining
center during the show and left with a large number of quality leads to carry
us into 2015. The community really came together in a big way.
Co-Located Shows Enhanced the Value of IMTS for Both Visitors
and Exhibitors
There were two co-located shows at IMTS: Industrial
Automation North America (NA) and Motion, Drive & Automation North America
(MDA NA). Deutsche Messe AG partnered with AMT - The Association For
Manufacturing Technology to introduce MDA NA at IMTS 2014. Industrial
Automation NA made its debut as a pavilion at IMTS 2012 and returned in 2014 as
a co-located show.
Industrial Automation NA showcased the best in process,
factory and building automation with products and solutions for production
automation, metalworking and precision manufacturing. The inaugural MDA NA
provided a networking hub of North America’s power transmission, motion control
and fluid technology sectors. At MDA NA, visitors had the chance to find the
latest solutions and innovations in manufacturing, meet with key suppliers from
all over the world, strengthen business network, and prepare and finalize
purchases.
Industrial Automation NA and MDA NA doubled floor space over
the 2012 inaugural event to more than 50,000 square feet. “This year’s IMTS and
our co-located events, Industrial Automation North America 2014 and Motion,
Drive & Automation North America 2014, were a huge success,” said Larry
Turner, CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. “Our two co-located trade shows highlighted
the latest automation and motion drive technologies and trends. Many exhibitors
across the show floor mentioned the noticeable increase in attendance, as well
as attendee excitement about investing in the new technologies showcased
specifically across our co-located events. We appreciate the coordination
between the AMT and our team as the relationship between our two firms
continues to strengthen. Representatives from our parent company, Deutsche
Messe, were also thrilled with the results of Industrial Automation NA and MDA
NA, as well as the overall IMTS event.”
AMT’s Emerging
Technology Center
Excitement in AMT’s Emerging
Technology Center (ETC) went beyond the Strati build and drive.
The ETC spotlighted the Institutes for Manufacturing
Innovation (IMI) that make up the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation
(NNMI). America Makes Director, Ed
Morris, often applies the military quotation “Think big, start small and scale fast”
to describe the IMI strategy. The IMIs are brick-and-mortar regional hubs
connecting a national network of stakeholders to better engage the public and
private sectors to tackle the toughest challenges in advancing US manufacturing.
In the ETC artist Ioan Florea’s
Ford Torino Additive Art Car incorporated technology from the second and third
Industrial Revolution by combining a classic assembly line vehicle with modern
specialized technologies. Florea’s artwork is “culture on wheels,” showing how
the use of many technologies and materials reflects today’s globalization. His
work combines an iconic Ford with a fusion of liquid metal and nano and
ultralight materials to create a unique display of the transition from mass
production to mass customization in the industry. The Torino also uses additive
technology in the form of 3D printed shapes attached to the car to reflect
light and give the car balance between the organic and geometric shapes.
Lighting the Future in
the Smartforce Student Summit
This year, the Smartforce Student
Summit proved to be more successful than ever. During IMTS 17,767 students,
educators, administrators and parent chaperones made their way through the
event this year, almost double the number of students at IMTS 2012.
With more than 50 hands-on
exhibits, the Student Summit was able to provide a fun and interactive
environment to introduce educators, students and parents to exciting
innovations in manufacturing technology and dynamic careers in the industry.
Students had the opportunity to see how much fun STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based learning can be in the Make
It! area. There, students were able to try out new technologies and compete to
see who could design and create the most effective 3D-printed wind turbine,
courtesy of Rippl3D. The keynote speakers, including STEM celebrities like
astronaut Captain Wendy Lawrence and Segway PT inventor Dean Kamen, shared
insights on how these fun STEM experiences translate into careers. Once through
the Student Summit experience, students were invited to visit the thousands of
IMTS exhibits.
During a special program for Chicago-area school
superintendents, the Gene Haas Foundation announced $50,000 in scholarships to
be awarded to high school seniors pursuing a degree in a post-secondary
machining, manufacturing technology or engineering program whose curriculum
includes CNC machine technology training. A $1,000 grant per school will be
awarded. Seniors graduating from high school this school year will be eligible.
Conferences Brought Participants Together for Education
IMTS was highly focused on education and hosted six
conferences: the IMTS 2014 Conference, TRAM 2014, the MDA Conference, the Additive
Manufacturing Workshop, EOS NAUD 2014, and the Global Automation and
Manufacturing Summit. From additive manufacturing to trends in advanced
manufacturing, attendees and exhibitors were able to find solutions for their
manufacturing needs while learning more about this ever-changing industry.
The IMTS 2014
Conference, which
ran Sept. 8 - 11, and attracted 50 percent more participants than the 2012
event, focused on bringing the industry together, under one roof and at one
time, to discuss new opportunities. Attendees were able to network with a
community of peers and experts within their industry and explore fresh ideas to
enhance their business. Attendees left with different perspectives on
overcoming day-to-day and long-range challenges.
TRAM (Trends in
Advanced Machining, Manufacturing and Materials) had a successful debut at IMTS 2012
and continued to grow at IMTS 2014. TRAM ran Sept. 10 - 11. The focus was on
transferring advanced manufacturing technologies to the business leaders,
managers and engineers who lead or play a key role in a facility that serves
the aerospace sector.
On Sept. 9, the second MDA
Forum brought industry experts in to discuss best practices in motion
control, power transmission and fluid power. Helping manufacturing
professionals to increase efficiency and productivity, this year’s program
covered industrial communications, robotic control, guidance and inspection,
linear actuators, 3D-printing and 3D-machining. The MDA Conference was
co-organized by GIE Media and Hannover Fairs USA.
The Additive
Manufacturing Workshop took place Tuesday, Sept. 9. This workshop brought
together manufacturing professionals who were interested in or who were already
applying additive manufacturing as a production resource. More than a
3D-printing seminar, this workshop focused on industrial applications of
additive technologies for making functional components and end-user production
parts.
EOS NAUD 2014 (EOS
North America User Day) on Sept. 10 was open for the first time to both EOS customers and all
attendees of IMTS. Those who came were able to learn about the latest
developments in industrial 3D printing/additive manufacturing, including direct
metal laser sintering (DMLS™) and plastics laser-sintering directly from EOS -
the world leader in laser-sintering solutions, our customers and partners.
Also on Sept. 10, the Global
Automation Manufacturing Summit 2014 at Industrial Automation North America
and IMTS took place. It covered topics on industrial automation, mobility and
modern maintenance practices. Speakers from Alcoa, Chrysler and McGladrey
shared their expertise to help end-users increase their productivity and
conquer their current and future manufacturing challenges.
Government Officials Attended IMTS
Government officials from the Commerce, Defense and Energy
Departments toured IMTS throughout the week to get a firsthand look at how
advances in manufacturing technology are impacting the world.
Today’s Technology Center and Advanced Manufacturing
Center Spotlight the Exciting Results of Applying Manufacturing Technology
Today’s Technology Center (TTC) presented by GIE Media
featured technology from the aerospace, automotive and medical sectors grabbed
the attention of many entering the West building.
Advanced manufacturing in aerospace was one of the central
themes with a 1/3 scale model (10 foot long) of the Dream Chaser® Space Utility
Vehicle (SUV) being developed between Sierra Nevada Corp (SNC) Space
Exploration Systems and Siemens PLM Software Group on display along with aerial
target drones, built by Composite Engineering, Inc.
Two all-American dream cars were featured, including a 2015
Chevrolet Corvette that pushes the boundaries of materials, engine and
transmission technologies and Stewart-Haas Racing’s, No. 41 Kurt Busch
Chevrolet SS, which can reach a top speed of over 200mph.
Aside from aerospace and cars, medical device technology as
small as implants that are invisible to the naked eye or as large as an MRI
machine were on display at TTC. Knee, hip, and shoulder implants; stents,
pacemakers, and implantable defibrillators; bone screws and plates, were
incorporated into a clear, life-sized display showing medical manufacturing’s
impact on people’s quality of life. Beyond the implants, medical technology can
mean cochlear implants, diabetes pumps, medical tubing, bionic eyes, and
prosthetics.
The Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC) presented by Gardner
Business Media and named “Manufacturing’s Solutions Network”, centered on the
five trends and technologies – additive manufacturing, automation, Automotive
2025, Modern Machine Shop’s Top Shops benchmarking survey and data-driven
manufacturing - that are moving manufacturing forward.
Visitors were able to see firsthand the Direct Metal Laser
Sintering (DMLS®) technology that makes it possible for
manufacturers to economically produce complex components in smaller quantities.
A display and presentation by Rethink Robotics introduced
visitors to the Baxter Robot. Rather than being a replacement for employees,
robotics increase the value of an individual employee by freeing the person to
focus attention on the work that requires human knowledge or human judgment.
Baxter is unique in that it is a completely safe and interactive robot that can
be trained through simple manipulations and push buttons.
Automotive 2025 provided a glimpse into the future with a
display incorporating a General Motors Silverado body in white and a
presentation by Ron Krupitzer of the Steel Market Development Institute sharing
insights on moving to structures that are strong, light, and capable.
Modern Machine Shop's Top Shops Benchmarking Survey presented at the AMC with Top
Shops Honors Program winners announced for the survey's four main categories:
machining equipment, shop floor practices, business strategy and human resources.
In the data-driven manufacturing arena, visitors were exposed
to an exhibit provided by ITAMCO "Google Glass & MTConnect" and
XOEye and listened to a presentation about how emerging technology is enabling
both people and equipment to collect and process the facts they need to achieve
better results.
Miles for Manufacturing 5K a Resounding Success
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, the Miles for Manufacturing 5K
run/walk hosted by IMTS and GIE Media made its debut. Despite cold, rainy
conditions, more than 150 people supported the 5K run/walk.
Over $15,000 was raised and donated to the Austin
Polytechnical Academy (APA), a college and career prep high school with a focus
on manufacturing and engineering located on Chicago’s West Side. Austin Polytech
was founded by the Chicago Manufacturing Renaissance Council in 2007 to educate
the next generation of leaders in advanced manufacturing. Students learn about
careers in all aspects of the industry, from skilled production and engineering
to management and company ownership.
Eelman concluded, “Plans are already underway for IMTS 2016.
Most exciting is expansion of exhibit and Smartforce Student Summit space at
the McCormick Place facility which promises to make IMTS 2016 perhaps the
largest in history.”
Conversations within the IMTS
community are continuing @
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IMTS_2014 or @IMTS_2014
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/IMTS-2014-2987568?mostPopular=&gid=2987568
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IMTS.show
Media Note: IMTS logos and photos can be
downloaded at IMTS.com/media
IMTS – International Manufacturing
Technology Show
The
largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United
States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. IMTS 2016 will run Sept. 12-17. IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows
in the world. Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent stages for
introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology, IMTS attracts
more than 114,000 visitors from every level of industry and more than 112
countries. IMTS is owned and managed by
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. www.IMTS.com
###
Contacts:
Mary Uhrina
Clearly Write
630-240-3139
clearlywrite@sbcglobal.net
Bonnie Gurney
Director –
Communications, AMT
703-827-5277
bgurney@AMTonline.org