IMTS 2024 - Chicago Showcases Dual Transformation with Additive Manufacturing and AI Applications
The IMTS 2024 exhibition was held in Chicago from September 9 to September 14. This year’s event featured 1,737 exhibitors, covering a total area of 1,226,523 square feet, and attracted approximately 89,020 visitors. Attendees primarily came from the machinery manufacturing, aerospace, automotive transportation, metal processing, and distribution sectors. The top five international visitor groups were from Canada, Mexico, Mainland China, Taiwan, and Japan.
Key themes at IMTS 2024 included abrasive machining/sawing/finishing, additive manufacturing, smart automation, specialized manufacturing and laser equipment, gear applications in new energy and wind power, machine components and green energy-saving solutions, innovations in metal cutting equipment for special materials and intelligent processing, quality inspection technologies, tooling/workholding systems, and software solutions.
The show featured an “Emerging Technology Center” (ETC) highlighting Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s (ORNL) Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and its hybrid manufacturing platform for mold, casting, forging, and wind turbine gear tool repair. Also showcased was Apollo, a commercial humanoid robot launched by Apptronik in August 2023, driven by AI and designed to prevent injuries, boost productivity, and enable large-scale manufacturing through a user-friendly interface.
Additive Manufacturing (AM) was another major highlight, emphasizing rapid prototyping, high customization flexibility, and multi-material applications. The exhibition displayed complex-shaped parts, prototypes, manufacturing tools, and workholding fixtures. Prototyping has already seen widespread adoption in aerospace, defense, and medical industries. A special attraction was the world’s first 3D-printed car, commemorating AMT’s 10th anniversary of promoting additive manufacturing.
Microsoft, Google, and Amazon showcased AI applications. Google presented Mandiant’s cybersecurity solutions and AI-powered visual recognition for production processes, demonstrating Distributed AI across cloud and on-premises environments. Microsoft focused on accelerating industrial transformation through AI, featuring integrated solutions across departments. Examples included Fabric, which consolidates sensor data, ERP/MES systems, and industrial automation into a unified data warehouse and BI platform; OneLake for consistent, logical data storage; and Copilot to assist in decision-making. Amazon demonstrated machine learning technologies through an e-bike smart factory production line, highlighting AWS’s cloud-based collaborative solutions across controllers, machinery, and peripheral automation equipment.
High-end five-axis machining, mill-turn centers, automation, and flexible manufacturing were key focuses for machine tool manufacturers, with green energy-saving technologies becoming standard features. OKUMA addressed U.S. market demands for factory automation under the theme “Automation for ALL,” showcasing specialized, highly integrated automation systems and new products such as the MA-4000H horizontal machining center, LB2000 EX III-MYW / LB4000 EXIII-W horizontal lathes, the new OSP-P500 CNC controller, and the next-generation ECO SUITE PLUS.
MAZAK, under the concept “DISCOVER MORE,” exhibited 19 machines and peripheral automation systems, including advanced machining, high productivity, and multi-tasking solutions, along with digital transformation software. Highlights included the VARIAXIS i-600 NEO, SYNCREX 12/8, and HQR-200/3 NEO.
MAKINO focused on North American market needs, presenting five-axis machining centers for vertical, horizontal, and EDM applications, integrated automation solutions, and the global debut of the a500iR five-axis horizontal machining center for aerospace, metalworking, and semiconductor industries.
Korea’s DN Solutions adopted the theme “Limitless—Dream, Iterate, Make it Real,” dividing its booth into four sections: five-axis machining lines, multi-tasking machining lines, automation solutions, and smart technologies. It also showcased CUFOS and Siemens Digital Twin integration, including DTS (Digital Twin Service), RMS (Remote Maintenance System), and 3D Twin machine safety protection.
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