MT Magazine March/April 2026

27

IMTS

MARCH/APRIL 2026

the new Industrial AI Arena, Smartforce Student Summit, and IMTS Conferences. These elements are designed to help exhibitors connect with qualified decision-makers across IMTS 2026’s 1,220 exhibiting companies on more than 1,083,085 square feet of exhibit space to date. Connecting Strategy, Technology, and People One of the most valuable sessions for exhibitors at the Exhibitor Workshop was a panel discussion featuring three manufacturing leaders who are company presidents and owners, as well as longtime IMTS visitors. They shared candid feedback on what draws them to a booth, what undermines credibility, and what they value in long-term partners. (A detailed recap of that discussion will be shared in a future update.) Guest keynote speaker Sam Potolicchio, Ph.D., a globally recognized leadership scholar, delivered a thought-provoking session challenging attendees to move beyond binary thinking and recognize how individual bias can limit decision-making in complex environments. His message encouraged exhibitors to seek broader perspectives, engage in deeper conversations, and approach disruption, workforce challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty with curiosity rather than caution. Preparing Now for Show Success To support those conversations, the Exhibitor Workshop reviewed the full suite of exclusive marketing and planning tools available for IMTS 2026 exhibitors. These include the Exhibitor Passport, which provides access to more than 90,000 qualified prospects, the Exhibitor Prospectus, advertising and public relations opportunities, social media resources, and the new Exhibitor Planning Guide, which organizes preparation into six phases. All exhibitor resources can be found at IMTS.com/exhibit. To position your company for success at IMTS 2026, exhibitors are encouraged to take the following actions now, beginning with resources available through your e-Kit: 1. Review the Exhibitor Planning Guide. 2. Populate your Digital Exhibitor Showroom page. 3. Double-check that you’ve selected the correct product categories for your Digital Exhibitor Showroom. 4. Submit press releases via your e-Kit. 5. Review your Digital Exhibitor Showroom from a visitor’s perspective. 6. Sign up for the Exhibitor Report. 7. Attend Exhibitor Education webinars. IMTS is a marathon, not a sprint. Thoughtful planning, consistent execution, and early engagement make a measurable difference. The IMTS show management team and vendor partners are here to support you every step of the way to ensure you have a strong, successful show. For manufacturers looking to learn, connect, and see what’s possible firsthand, register to attend IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago at IMTS.com/Register.

(L-R) Michelle Edmonson, CEM, AMT vice president, exhibitions; Nicole Wolter, president and CEO at HM Manufacturing Inc.; Mike Payne, manufacturing leader and podcast host; Kika Young, president and shareholder of Forest City Gear.

If you have any questions about this article, please contact Michelle at medmonson@AMTonline.org.