BUILD YOUR AGENDA

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Stop just running the program and start owning the job. Learn the skills that make you the guy the shop can't run without.

This session explores the key benefits of automated grinding—such as tighter tolerances, reduced cycle times, and increased safety—while also addressing common challenges including high investment costs, integration complexity, and process variability. Drawing on extensive grinding and automation expertise, we’ll share practical best practices for process development, measurement, and risk reduction. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to successfully implement automation to achieve reliable, repeatable, and efficient grinding performance.

Get an in-depth understanding how automation systems can create the smart factory by leveraging ASRS for kit buffering, just-in-time sequencing, and visualization. While automation has typically been sought for production in work cells, now, automating the supply of parts, tools, or dies can help create a smart environment while contributing to the bottom line.

As manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve productivity, responsiveness, and lower production costs, the smart factory is no longer a concept—it’s a competitive necessity. Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) play a critical role in enabling this transformation by connecting material flows, data, and automation into a single, intelligent intralogsitics backbone.

This session explores how modern ASRS solutions move beyond traditional storage to become an active real time component of the manufacturing process. By tightly integrating ASRS with production lines, warehouse management systems (WMS), and enterprise platforms, manufacturers can ensure just-in-time and just-in-sequence material delivery, reduce work-in-process inventory, and eliminate manual handling errors. Real time visualization software enables updates and tracking of these processes. The result is improved throughput, higher equipment utilization, and greater process reliability across the entire plant.

Attendees will gain insight into how ASRS supports smart factory initiatives such as real time visibility data-driven decision making. Hear about real-world use cases and see how manufacturers are leveraging automation to adapt to fluctuating demand and how to scale operations without disrupting production. This session will also address key considerations, including system modularity, software requirements, and future-proofing for evolving manufacturing requirements.

An overview of the evolution of ISO 10303 STEP standards and their role in enabling Model-Based Enterprise. 
Related standards such as JT, QIF, IFC, and PRC are also discussed, highlighting their specific applications in industries like automotive, inspection, architecture, and 3D document sharing.
 

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Machining productivity gains are no longer limited by machine capability—they are constrained by process variability, tribal knowledge, and the growing skills gap. This session explores how AI-native machining systems are redefining process innovation by embedding learning, decision-making, and feedback directly into CNC programming and machining workflows. Attendees will gain practical guidance on where AI delivers real ROI today, how to deploy automation without destabilizing operations, and how to build resilient machining processes that scale with workforce turnover and part complexity.

This presentation reviews the basics of dense phase CO? and demonstrates how these technologies can address a wide range of industrial cleaning and extraction challenges as alternatives to conventional solvent-based methods. The fundamental properties of CO? that determine process effectiveness and feasibility, including density, transport properties, temperature, and solubility, will be explained, along with the increasing role of modifiers and pre-wash agents in improving and enabling CO?-based processes. Key applications for both LCO? and SCCO? technologies will be summarized. The presentation will also compare LCO? and SCCO? system configurations, including key components, specifications, and layout considerations, along with major operating cost factors. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of dense phase CO? technologies, including their capabilities and limitations, suitable applications, equipment options and requirements, and operating cost considerations, enabling informed evaluation of CO?-based processes as alternatives to traditional solvent cleaning technologies.

A practical workshop for OEMs and suppliers to work from one shared digital source of truth.

OEMs and suppliers are tightly connected, but quality processes often aren’t. OEMs need visibility, compliance, and consistency across the supply chain. Suppliers need clear requirements, fewer change surprises, and faster reporting. When design intent gets “translated” through emails, spreadsheets, and PDFs, the result is rework, delays, and audit risk.

In this workshop, we’ll show how OEMs and suppliers can align on a shared digital quality language using 2D drawings + 3D Model-Based Definition (MBD), so everyone is working from the same requirements, the same characteristics, and the same quality intent.

Simon Schneider, Director of the Okuma Factory Automation for Okuma America Corporation, works closely with manufacturers of all sizes throughout the Americas.  Through these experiences, Simon has gained first-hand knowledge about challenges facing manufacturers today. Many of these challenges can be solved by leveraging and scaling automation technologies, thereby positioning manufacturers for greater efficiency and business growth both today and into the future. 

Short-Term Wins:

The case for preconfigured, easy-to-implement systems
Realize immediate impacts on production levels
Position for new business opportunities
Overcome workforce availability challenges
Achieve short-term ROI on investment

Long-Term Transformations:

Paradigm Shift - the changing role of the machinist/production worker; freeing resources for more strategic work
Evolve your business’s capabilities with the powerful human and technology combination
Scaling for business growth

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Lace up and run to fund STEM education.

To wrap up the day, closing remarks will recap the conference's key takeaways, followed by an short networking oppurtunity where attendees can connect with speakers and fellow manufacturing professionals.

When designing for mass manufacturing, engineers must keep production methods in mind. The wrong design decision can add cost and complexity. But most engineers have never worked in production and it’s impossible to have experienced production staff weigh in on every design. In this session, Jeremy Andrews, Co-Founder and CTO of CoLab, demonstrates how a large automotive supplier is bridging this gap with AI agents that flag process specific DFM risks for machined, injection molded, and sheet metal parts.

Program closing remarks. 

The stuff nobody warns you about when you hang your own shingle, from the first machine to the first payroll.

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Most robotic systems are still taught manually at the robot, resulting in long changeovers, inconsistent paths, and lost production time. This session shows how offline robot programming (OLP) supported by a full digital twin of the robot, tooling, and workcell reduces downtime, ensures collision-free motion, and enables high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. Real-world examples highlight applications in machining, trimming, sanding, deburring, and welding, as well as integration workflows for FANUC, ABB, Yaskawa, and KUKA. Attendees will learn best practices for deploying OLP in both new and existing robotics environments.

Join the leaders featured in the IMTS+ Original Series The Architect as they discuss theideas, technologies, and partnerships shaping the future of manufacturing.

The talk would be based on the article below, with updates for new developments. Additions would be examples of specific improvements, such as new thread and asymmetric feature inspection capabilities, as well as recent data formatting, reporting, control, and networking protocol additions.

https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/98197-advancing-capabilities-of-backlit-video-metrology

As machinery engineers push toward lights-out production, predictive maintenance and AI-driven optimization, one design choice is becoming mission-critical: when and how connectivity is engineered into the machine. 

For decades, connectivity — the delivery of power, signal and data between subsystems — has been treated as a late-stage integration task. Core mechanical and process modules were prioritized first, with cables and interfaces addressed after the fact. Today, that approach is no longer sustainable. Shrinking footprints, rising performance expectations, predictive maintenance requirements and remote service demands mean that connectivity must be embedded at the earliest stages of machine design. 

This session will explore why thinking about connectivity upfront fundamentally changes what a machine can do. 

Moving away from hardwired point-to-point systems toward connectorized, modular architectures reduces build and commissioning time, simplifies expansion and improves overall serviceability. Hybrid connectors that combine power, signal and data into a single, compact interface enable faster assembly, error-proof installation and easier subsystem replacement. This modularity reduces mean time to repair and minimizes both planned and unplanned downtime — a critical advantage in high-value production environments. 

Early-stage connectivity design also unlocks lights-out operation. Reliable, diagnostic-rich connectors enable continuous data acquisition, automated control loops and real-time optimization. Machines can monitor flow rates, temperatures, and other critical parameters without direct human intervention — feeding predictive analytics platforms that anticipate drift, prioritize maintenance and protect yield. Every connection becomes a data pathway, supporting traceability, remote diagnostics and intelligent decision-making. 

Beyond uptime and performance, connectivity-driven architectures improve sustainability and safety. Precision monitoring allows dynamic resource management and reduced waste, while automated, sensor-enabled systems limit human exposure to hazardous tasks. In a lights-out environment, humans remain essential — but are deployed strategically for complex, high-value interventions rather than routine oversight. 

As machines become more compact and complex, connector size, reliability, error-proofing and lifecycle durability directly impact performance and maintainability. Designing connectivity early enables scalable, flexible platforms that adapt to new processes, new regulations and new production demands — without costly redesign. 

Session takeaways: 

• Why designing connectivity at the earliest stages of machine development is critical to performance, scalability and uptime. 
• The advantages of connectorization over hardwiring in modular machine architectures. 
• How connectivity enables lights-out manufacturing through real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. 
• How compact, error-proof connector design supports optimization, safety and future-ready machinery. 

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Five days, miles of show floor. By Friday, one question remains: of everything at IMTS 2026, what actually matters for your shop? The MakingChips hosts and guests break down the tech that mattered, debate what's next, and place their bets. We'll also announce who won the DN Solutions + Kennametal Machine Giveaway at the end.

Discover the ideas and innovations transforming manufacturing. This Main Stage session will feature industry experts sharing insights on emerging technologies, workforce trends, and the future of the industry.

Close out the day with IMTS Unwind on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Hosted by the vibrant Marley Kayden, each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events for the next day and key insights to make the most of your IMTS.

Kickstart your day with the IMTS Morning Show on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Hosted by the vibrant Marley Kayden, each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events and key insights to make the most of your day at IMTS.

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Kickstart your day with the IMTS Morning Show on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Hosted by the vibrant Marley Kayden, each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events and key insights to make the most of your day at IMTS.

Close out the day with IMTS Unwind on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Hosted by the vibrant Marley Kayden, each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events for the next day and key insights to make the most of your IMTS.

Women aren’t waiting for an invitation to shape the future of manufacturing. This candid conversation brings together women from across the industry to talk about getting in, staying in, and stepping up — from the shop floor to leadership — and what needs to change to build the next generation of manufacturing.

Discover the ideas and innovations transforming manufacturing. This Main Stage session will feature industry experts sharing insights on emerging technologies, workforce trends, and the future of the industry.