McLEAN, VA-The 29th edition of The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2012 is on track to rank among the top five largest IMTS events, covering almost 1.2 million net square feet of exhibit space with more than 1,800 exhibiting companies. The show will be held at Chicago’s McCormick Place Sept. 10-15.

IMTS Show hours vary from building to building. The Lakeside Center (East) and West building hours are 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily; the North and South building hours are 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

IMTS will host 85,000 - 90,000 manufacturing industry professionals from more than 119 countries. They attend to see more than 15,000 new machine tools, controls, computers, software, components, systems and processes that can improve their efficiency. They also gain valuable ideas and insights from the world’s leading equipment producers. They come to learn, to look, to buy and to network.

IMTS has teamed up with Deutsche Messe to co-locate the first-ever Industrial Automation North America (IANA) with IMTS. IANA will showcase products and solutions for production automation, complementing IMTS’ focus on manufacturing technology, metalworking and precision manufacturing. IMTS Vice President Exhibitions and Communications Peter Eelman says, “We are thrilled to reinforce the international nature of IMTS by having one of manufacturing’s premier trade show organizers join with us and this is a major step in expanding and strengthening the range of solutions available to IMTS visitors.”

To feed the hunger for education in the industry, IMTS is answering with an increased offering of educational opportunities that are offered in conjunction with the show. “It’s ironic because in the early years IMTS was actually an educational event and only turned into a buying/selling forum after World War II,” Eelman explains.

Along with the IMTS 2012 Conference, the show is co-locating six conference programs, two of which are part of the new partnership with Deutsch Messe, at IANA:

  • The IMTS 2012 Conference (Sept. 10-14) will focus on five topic tracks with 72 industry-specific sessions. Conference topics and presentations will focus on materials, manufacturing technology, alternative manufacturing processes, quality/metrology and plant operations.

  • IANA Global Automation & Manufacturing Summit (Sept. 12-13) is a collaboration between CFE Media and Hannover Fairs International presenting a two-day senior-level conference program at the inaugural IANA expo. Key topics in global automation and manufacturing will be highlighted, including: enterprise asset management, process optimization, energy management and sustainability manufacturing. Additionally, case studies on how plants have automated for profitability, improved performance of existing assets, and reducing maintenance costs will be presented.

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  • The International Society of Automation (ISA), which is recognized worldwide as a leader in non-biased, vendor-neutral education, training and standards programs for automation professionals, will team with Hannover Fairs International to bring a multitude of one-day training and educational workshops for all attendees at IANA and IMTS (Sept. 13-14).

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  • The Motion, Drives & Automation Conference (Sept. 10-11) put on by Penton Media's Design Engineering Group and the National Fluid Power Association will present two in-depth conference tracks - 1) Motion Control in Automation, and 2) Hydraulics and Pneumatics in Automation - for engineers and individuals tasked with improving performance, productivity, life, efficiency, and environmental footprint of manufacturing equipment and industrial automation systems.

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  • The EHS Today America's Safest Companies Conference (Sept. 11-12) provides a comprehensive learning and networking experience that includes keynote speakers, panel discussions, 18 sessions across three industry tracks, the EHS Today America's Safest Companies awards ceremony, and various networking opportunities. EHS Today has been the premier advocate of safety excellence and leader in coverage of the safety and health industry since its inception more than 70 years ago.

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  • TRAM³ Aerospace Conference - Trends in Advanced Machining, Manufacturing and Materials (Sept. 12-13) sponsored by Gardner Publications will delve into the rapidly evolving aerospace industry which provides a unique set of challenges and opportunities. As the industry focuses on maximizing performance at minimum cost, it introduces the need for new materials, machining processes, and manufacturing methods. TRAM³ will deliver discussions on all three of these topics that will help aerospace manufacturers be more effective today and more prepared for tomorrow.

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  • Midwest Clean Tech 2012 is a one-day event (Sept. 12) that focuses on the clean technology community - technology providers whose products have a reduced impact on the environment through energy efficiency, reduction of waste or pollution, or other means. Attendees at this conference include clean tech industry leaders, government officials, clean tech-focused venture capitalists and financiers, potential customers, and corporate R&D and business development executives.