Just as manufacturing underpins our economy, IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is built to support the companies that power it. And a vital part of delivering the best possible exhibitor experience is the IMTS 2026 Exhibitor Workshop. Held Jan. 27-29, 2026, at McCormick Place, the workshop brought together nearly 350 participants for three days focused on helping exhibitors maximize their success through unrivaled educational content, marketing tools, and direct engagement with IMTS staff and trusted vendor partners.
The Exhibitor Workshop reflects a core IMTS belief: When you succeed, we succeed. That shared commitment was a recurring theme throughout the presentations, reinforcing IMTS’ role as a long-term business platform.
Setting the Stage for IMTS 2026
Doug Woods, the president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, opened the Exhibitor Workshop with a data-driven overview of the manufacturing economy, highlighting areas of stability and opportunity while acknowledging ongoing uncertainty. Vice President of Research Kevin Bowers and Principal Economist Chris Chidzik, both of AMT, reinforced that perspective, noting that the industry is entering 2026 on a solid foundation supported by a 22.5% increase in machine tool orders from 2024 to 2025 (see USMTO press releases at AMTonline.org), a stable labor market, moderating inflation, and continued capital investment and consumer demand. While challenges remain, particularly around trade policy and tariffs, both emphasized that job shops, aerospace, defense, electrical equipment, and automation-intensive industries continue to invest – creating opportunities for manufacturing technology suppliers exhibiting at IMTS 2026.
Understanding the Manufacturing Environment
Workshop participants also gained insight into how IMTS remains sharply audience-focused, from organizing the show floor into 10 technology sectors and featuring real-life manufacturers in the ad campaign to delivering targeted attractions such as AMT’s Emerging Technology Center, the new Industrial AI Arena, Smartforce Student Summit, and IMTS Conferences. These elements are designed to help exhibitors connect with qualified decision-makers across IMTS 2026’s 1,220 exhibiting companies on more than 1,083,085 square feet of exhibit space to date.
Connecting Strategy, Technology, and People
One of the most valuable sessions for exhibitors at the Exhibitor Workshop was a panel discussion featuring three manufacturing leaders who are company presidents and owners, as well as longtime IMTS visitors. They shared candid feedback on what draws them to a booth, what undermines credibility, and what they value in long-term partners. (A detailed recap of that discussion will be shared in a future update.)
Guest keynote speaker Sam Potolicchio, Ph.D., a globally recognized leadership scholar, delivered a thought-provoking session challenging attendees to move beyond binary thinking and recognize how individual bias can limit decision-making in complex environments. His message encouraged exhibitors to seek broader perspectives, engage in deeper conversations, and approach disruption, workforce challenges, and geopolitical uncertainty with curiosity rather than caution.
Preparing Now for Show Success
To support those conversations, the Exhibitor Workshop reviewed the full suite of exclusive marketing and planning tools available for IMTS 2026 exhibitors. These include the Exhibitor Passport, which provides access to more than 90,000 qualified prospects, the Exhibitor Prospectus, advertising and public relations opportunities, social media resources, and the new Exhibitor Planning Guide, which organizes preparation into six phases. All exhibitor resources can be found at IMTS.com/exhibit.
To position your company for success at IMTS 2026, exhibitors are encouraged to take the following actions now, beginning with resources available through your e-Kit:
Review the Exhibitor Planning Guide.
Populate your Digital Exhibitor Showroom page.
Double-check that you’ve selected the correct product categories for your Digital Exhibitor Showroom.
Submit press releases via your e-Kit.
Review your Digital Exhibitor Showroom from a visitor’s perspective.
Sign up for the Exhibitor Report.
Attend Exhibitor Education webinars.
IMTS is a marathon, not a sprint. Thoughtful planning, consistent execution, and early engagement make a measurable difference. The IMTS show management team and vendor partners are here to support you every step of the way to ensure you have a strong, successful show.
For manufacturers looking to learn, connect, and see what’s possible firsthand, register to attend IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago at IMTS.com/Register.
To read the rest of the State of Additive Issue of MT Magazine, click here.
