8 September 2004

IMTS 2004 Opens Amid Reports that
US Manufacturing Is Rebounding

 

The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is held every even-numbered year in Chicago, has opened for business. This year's show, which runs September 8–15 at McCormick Place, is expected to attract 100,000 buyers and sellers from more than 40 countries.

Owned and sponsored by the Association of Manufacturing Technology, IMTS 2004 occupies more than 1.1 million ft² of net exhibit space to host its 1,200 exhibiting companies, and the entire show will cover an area almost equal to 21 NFL football fields.

IMTS 2004 arrives at a time when there is mounting evidence that North American manufacturing is showing signs of growth. AMT president John B. Byrd III, who suggested the upturn would occur nearly six months ago, is encouraged by recent reports that support this view.

"June's machine tool orders put purchases of manufacturing technology equipment up nearly 32% from 2003," Byrd said. "This, coupled with the addition of 91,000 manufacturing jobs in the first six months of this year, shows that US manufacturing is coming back to life."

IMTS exhibitors have spent an estimated $100 million to support their exhibits with rented furniture, exhibit materials, temporary help and hospitality. The average attendee is expected to spend 2.4 days in Chicago, and attendees' purchases of meals, lodging, transportation, entertainment and services will result in a contribution to the Chicago-area economy estimated at more than $75 million.

Despite its giant size, IMTS pavilions make it easy for visitors to find the vendors they want to see:

  • New this year is the Fluid Power Pavilion in the Lakeside Center, Hall D, which features motion-control solutions for industrial machinery.

  • The largest pavilion is Metal Cutting in the South Building, Hall A, with 152 exhibitors covering more than 490,000 ft².

  • Tooling & Workholding Systems is in the Lakeside Center, Hall E, with 300 exhibits and nearly 170,000 ft². Metal Forming & Fabricating/Laser is in the North Building, Hall B, and has 121 exhibitors with more than 76,000 ft .

  • Other pavilions include Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing (North, B); Controls & CAD-CAM (Lakeside, D); EDM (Lakeside, D); Gear Generation (North, B); Machine Components/Cleaning/Environmental (Lakeside, D); and Quality Assurance (Lakeside, D).

During the two-week set-up period, nearly 23,000 tons of equipment and 5.5 million pounds of exhibit materials were installed. After the show ends next Wednesday, some 1,800 skilled trade workers will be required to tear it all down.

For further information:

Association for Manfucturing Technology (AMT)
McLean, VA, USA
www.imts.com
Tel. +1 703 893-2900
Fax +1 703 827-5250

 More News: Current Articles
New Search of Site by Keyword

Tool-Moldmaking.com
Site contents copyright © by Access Communications Inc.
30765 Pacific Coast Highway PMB 351 Malibu, CA 90265-3643 USA
Tel. +1 805 988-0465 • Fax +1 310 507-2032

Please report any problems to the webmaster.