The latest news in manufacturing reveals a slow recovery from the downturn experienced during the past two years. However, if attendance numbers for IMTS 2002 are an indicator, it is a tentative recovery.

According to recently released numbers, slightly more than 85,000 individuals, including exhibitors, attended IMTS 2002 in Chicago from Sept. 4 to 11. This was a 22% decrease in attendance from IMTS 2000, the last time the show was held.