So why is this year’s show expected to be such a draw?
In a word: Innovation.
Where Innovation Comes to Life
“IMTS, through its focus on manufacturers and especially through the focus on emerging technologies, has become a much deeper and vital show for the industry,” Eelman explains.
That focus, he says, will make this year’s event stand out from the 30 before it.
“This is the show where technologies find applications,” he explains. “It’s a cross between theory and action, and crossing that divide with a number of technologies.”
This year, that includes all of the biggest trends in the industry.
Across the floor, mixed between powerful CNCs and giant, engine-toting robots, will be a solid mix of autonomous vehicles, virtual and augmented reality gear, wearable devices, collaborative robots, and, permeating it all, the digital thread of the Industrial Internet of Things.
“The Internet of Things and how you apply digital manufacturing into current operations will be demonstrated throughout the show,” Eelman says. “Digital manufacturing was a somewhat nebulous term a few years ago; this is an opportunity to go and actually see it in action.”
These innovations aren’t limited to industries outside the show’s machine tool roots, however.
“There will be a whole gamut of new machine technologies this year,” Eelman explains.
As an example he notes Mazak’s plans to introduce a cryogenic machine in its reliably jaw-dropping booth.
Cryogenics, he says, is a perfect example of what IMTS is all about.
“It’s something that is still really out there; it’s a technology that hasn’t found its sweet spot yet,” he says. “It reminds me what additive manufacturing was a few years ago—it’s starting to move from a concept to somewhere where it will be really useful. It won’t be long now until it’s a standard machine.”
Also, in keeping with that theme, IMTS 2016 will include the most recent graduate of its Emerging Technology Center: 3D printing.
“When we invented the Emerging Technology Center 12 years ago, we wanted to showcase technologies, watch them incubate, and then see if they graduate into the mainstream show,” Eelman says. “This year, 3D printing technology is in the process of graduating into a pavilion of its own, showcasing technology that is available for you to buy right now today.”
And this, he says, is what to watch for this year.
“This is the show where ideas are finding applications,” Eelman explains. “I think this is true for additive, it’s true in autonomous vehicles, and it’s true for digital manufacturing.
“I think people will look back at this show and say this is the event where many technologies started to make that jump from concept to functional reality.”
Check out the slideshow for our picks of the most exciting innovations to hit the floor this year. You can also browse our coverage of IMTS 2016's biggest product releases on the NED Directory.
