MT Magazine July/August 2024

FEATURE STORY

JULY/AUGUST 2024

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grouped by categories to streamline your experience, allowing you to explore or compare specific technologies of interest, capabilities, services, and innovations relevant to your needs. To simplify navigating IMTS 2024, the four buildings house the following sectors: • South Building: Metal Removal • North Building: Automation, Accelerated by SPS – Smart Production Solutions; Abrasive Machining / Sawing / Finishing; Gear Generation • East Building: Quality Assurance; Software; Fabricating & Lasers (new location); Machine Components / Cleaning / Environmental; Smartforce Student Summit (Level 2, new location) • West Building: Additive Manufacturing, Accelerated by Formnext; Tooling & Workholding.

15. Visit the Attractions. IMTS is so much more than just a trade show. It is a series of interconnected networking events, learning opportunities, and enrichment options. Be sure to make time for the highlights: • AMT’s Emerging Technology Center (ETC), located at the entrance to the North Building, unveils the cutting edge realm of disruptive technologies and visionary concepts reshaping the

landscape of advanced manufacturing. Read Bonnie Gurney’s column, “The ETC Tackles Automation, Efficiency, Agility, and Productivity at IMTS 2024,” on Page 22 for more. • The Smartforce Student Summit is now located on Level 2 of the East Building, a new location that is close to the bus drop-off point on Level 1. • The IMTS 2024 pop-up store (swag galore!) is located in the Metal Removal Sector (IMTS booth #338434) of the South Building. Pick up a shirt, hat, jacket, or more. • The IMTS History display on Level 2.5 of the Main Concourse features the start of the “Machine Tool Show” in 1927; the origin of pink cutting fluid in 1947; the infinite-axis hexapod in 1994; the return of the Strati, the world's first 3D printed vehicle, for its 10-year anniversary (photo op!); and much more. POSTGAME But wait – there’s more! While the physical IMTS 2024 show wraps up on Saturday, Sept. 14, IMTS carries on with postgame action. 16. Review Your Notes. You might not have postgame tape to watch, but I’ll bet you have notes, business cards, and literature. Don’t let them end up in a pile on your desk. Here’s where the notes function in the Show Planner can pay huge dividends. Jot down product information, names, and contact information so you don’t have to search for that lost business card. Also, the IMTS floor plan remains alive and online so you can search for companies by name, location, and technology. 17. Stay Connected With IMTS+. Think of IMTS+ as the digital twin of IMTS. At IMTS.com/plus, you’ll find continued reporting on show and industry news, including tech, market, and economic trends, as well as more original IMTS+ programming about the incredible people in our manufacturing technology industry. Get your game face on, and we’ll see you in Chicago! Go Bears! P.S. You registered, right? Register at IMTS.com/Register.

11. Find Your Way Using the Color-Coded Floor Strips. From the Main Concourse, four different colors guide you to the four distinct buildings of IMTS 2024. Pink takes you to the South Building, green to the North Building, orange to the East Building, and purple to the West Building.

12. Listen to Keynote Speakers on the IMTS+ Main Stage. Daily, the show offers a chance to hear from industry leaders on the IMTS+ Main Stage, brought to you by Google Cloud, Hexagon, and Microsoft. The lineup includes Apptronik, BlueForge Alliance, championship driver Brad Keselowski (co-owner of RFK Racing and owner of Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing), Google Cloud, Hexagon, Manufacturing USA, Microsoft, NASA, NASCAR, Siemens, and Stratsys. The Main Stage will also feature a special celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the Strati, the world’s first 3D printed car, which was built at IMTS 2014. In honor of 9/11, the Main Stage will welcome special guests, including Jim Cornelison, who will perform his rousing rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” a mainstay of Chicago Blackhawk home games. 13. Engage With Speakers and Industry Insiders in the New IMTS+ AfterWords Lounge. After their presentations, you can connect with speakers in this casual space located in the South Hall (IMTS booth #338000). This relaxing lounge will also allow visitors to take a break and enjoy casual meetups with friends. 14. Listen to Industry Influencers in One of the Four IMTS+ Hubs. Interviews by leading influencers in the IMTS+ Creators Lounge will stream in the new IMTS+ Hubs. Brought to you by Google Cloud and Hexagon, the four IMTS+ Hubs will be located in premier locations on the show floor across IMTS’ four buildings.

This article was written by Peter Eelman. For questions or comments, please email peelman@AMTonline.org.