IMTS
IMTS is North America's largest biennial manufacturing technology trade show, produced by the AMT association at McCormick Place, Chicago. It serves 86,000+ attendees and 1,800 exhibitors across aerospace, medical, defense, automotive, and job shop verticals with booth fees, conferences, sponsorships, and the IMTS+ digital platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1902
- HeadquartersMc Lean, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What IMTS does
IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) is the largest manufacturing technology trade show in the Western Hemisphere, produced biennially by AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology, a private industry association founded in 1902 and headquartered in McLean, Virginia. The 2026 edition runs September 14-19, 2026 at McCormick Place in Chicago, spanning 1.2 million square feet across multiple buildings and drawing more than 86,000 registrants from over 100 countries and 1,800 exhibiting companies across 10 sectors including additive manufacturing, automation, metal removal, quality assurance, and industrial AI. The show serves manufacturing professionals across aerospace, medical, defense, automotive, energy, and contract manufacturing/job shop verticals, with attendees ranging from corporate management and design engineers to procurement managers and technical supervisors.
IMTS monetizes through four primary revenue streams: exhibitor booth fees (transaction fees on rented exhibition space), conference registration fees ($450 advance / $500 onsite for specialized conferences), sponsorship packages (advertising and brand visibility across conferences, events, and the show floor), and attendee registration fees (with early-bird pricing and complimentary international visitor registration). Beyond the physical biennial event, IMTS operates the IMTS+ digital content platform featuring video series, podcasts, and live shows; the Smartforce Student Summit providing free workforce development programming; and the Miles for Manufacturing 5K community fundraising event that has raised over $250,000 for STEM education since 2014. New offerings for 2026 include the Industrial AI Arena (25 vendors) and the Industrial AI Conference developed with the University of Maryland Center for Industrial AI.
Strategically, IMTS is pursuing expansion of its AI-related content surface and deepening its international reach through a partnership with Mesago Messe Frankfurt that integrates the European SPS (Smart Production Solutions) and Formnext brands into the Automation sector. Core technology partnerships with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Mazak, and Fanuc support the Emerging Technology Center's live end-to-end manufacturing demonstrations. As an association-owned, non-profit enterprise, IMTS reinvests revenue into programming, workforce development, and member services rather than distributing profits, making its strategic cadence driven by mission alignment and industry positioning rather than investor-return optimization.
IMTS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- IMTS
- Legal name
- IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show (produced by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology)
- Website
- https://imts.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1902
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- IMTS is North America's largest biennial manufacturing technology trade show, produced by the AMT association at McCormick Place, Chicago. It serves 86,000+ attendees and 1,800 exhibitors across aerospace, medical, defense, automotive, and job shop verticals with booth fees, conferences, sponsorships, and the IMTS+ digital platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
IMTS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Shows & Events (Manufacturing Technology)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Manufacturing, Industrial Equipment & Automation Shows Organizers (THAHABAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers (THAHABAE)
Keywords
Where IMTS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mc Lean
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
IMTS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Exhibitor Booth Fees: Revenue generated from manufacturing technology companies renting exhibition space at IMTS. The show expects over 1,800 exhibitors across 1.2 million square feet.
- Conference Registration: Fee-based conference sessions including the Industrial AI Conference ($450 advance/$500 onsite), with 9 conferences and 90+ sessions offering additional revenue beyond general admission.
- Sponsorship Packages: Corporate sponsorship opportunities including Champion and Executive sponsor tiers for the Industrial AI Conference, plus various sponsorship levels for the Miles for Manufacturing 5K event and other show attractions.
- Attendee Registration: General admission and exhibit hall passes sold to manufacturing professionals. Early bird pricing available with increased rates after August 2026. International visitors receive complimentary registration.
- Miles for Manufacturing Sponsorships: Race sponsorships with brand visibility benefits including logo placement on race shirts, booth presence, and direct access to IMTS attendees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | One time | Industrial AI Conference - Advance Rate |
| Subscription | One time | Industrial AI Conference - Onsite Rate |
| Freemium | One time | Smartforce Student Summit - Free Admission |
| Freemium | One time | International Visitors - Complimentary |
| Subscription | One time | General Exhibit Hall Access |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
IMTS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IMTS organizes and produces the biennial International Manufacturing Technology Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, bringing together over 1,800 manufacturing technology exhibitors and 86,000+ attendees from 100+ countries across 1.2 million square feet. The company also operates the IMTS+ digital content platform, the Smartforce Student Summit (free STEM/education program), the Miles for Manufacturing 5K fundraiser, and specialized conferences and showcase areas such as the Industrial AI Arena and the Industrial AI Conference.
Product overview
IMTS (International Manufacturing Technology Show) is a biennial trade show and digital content platform for the manufacturing technology industry. The core offering is the IMTS event itself - North America's largest manufacturing technology trade show - complemented by the IMTS+ digital platform delivering video series, articles, and multimedia content. Additional offerings include the Smartforce Student Summit (free STEM education program), Miles for Manufacturing 5K (community fundraising event), and specialized sectors/conferences including the new Industrial AI Arena and Industrial AI Conference for 2026.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IMTS+: IMTS+ is the digital platform associated with IMTS featuring video content, articles, webinars, and the IMTS+ Main Stage with keynotes, expert panels, and live shows.
- Smartforce Student Summit
- Miles for Manufacturing (M4M)
Products and services
- IMTS 2026 (International Manufacturing Technology Show) North America's largest manufacturing technology trade show, held biennially at McCormick Place in Chicago, bringing together manufacturing technology innovators, sellers, and buyers for product showcases, networking, and education.
- IMTS+ Digital Content Platform Digital platform providing video series, articles, webinars, expert panels, podcasts, and live shows (IMTS+ Today, IMTS+ Unwind) on manufacturing technology topics, available on-demand for the global manufacturing community.
- Smartforce Student Summit Free educational program at IMTS for K-12 students, university/community college/trade school students, homeschool groups, and educators, featuring hands-on exhibits and interactive experiences in robotics, automation, CNC machining, and digital manufacturing.
- Miles for Manufacturing (M4M) 5K Run/Walk Annual community 5K run/walk fundraising event supporting STEM education programs, held during IMTS, with corporate race sponsorships providing brand visibility to IMTS attendees.
- Industrial AI Arena New dedicated IMTS 2026 sector featuring 25 vendors showcasing AI applications for manufacturing including quality inspection, process optimization, downtime reduction, cybersecurity, ergonomics, safety, and demand forecasting.
- Industrial AI Conference One-day conference developed with the University of Maryland Center for Industrial AI, providing practitioner-focused AI implementation guidance for factory floors, covering predictive maintenance, quality, edge vs. cloud processing, and small models vs. LLMs.
Quantifiable outcome
- 86,000+ expected registrants from 100+ countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use IMTS
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
IMTS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
IMTS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbHcoreStrategic partnership bringing European trade show expertise to IMTS. Mesago produces Formnext and SPS (Smart Production Solutions) in Germany. Together they co-produce the Automation sector at IMTS accelerated by SPS. The partnership combines IMTS's position as the largest manufacturing show in the Western Hemisphere with Mesago's experience with Formnext and SPS European events.
- University of MarylandcoreCollaboration with the University of Maryland Center for Industrial AI to develop the Industrial AI Conference program. The conference focuses on practical, reality-based AI for the factory floor with Dr. Jay Lee's team providing programming and expertise.
- Oak Ridge National LaboratorycorePartner in the Emerging Technology Center, demonstrating live end-to-end manufacturing systems using hybrid manufacturing techniques for drone airframes.
- MazakcorePartner in the Emerging Technology Center providing machining expertise for live manufacturing demonstrations.
- FanuccorePartner in the Emerging Technology Center providing robotics and automation technology for live manufacturing demonstrations.
- SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers)coreCo-producer of the Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase at IMTS, focusing on education about automation, robotics, machine monitoring, workforce training, and AI for manufacturing competitiveness.
- Miles for Manufacturing Sponsors (GIE Media, CERATIZIT USA, EOS, Haimer USA, SME, Jorgensen, QualiChem, Big Daishowa, Rocklin Manufacturing, Royal Products, Crossroads Steel Supply, MS State IDEE Lab)minorCorporate sponsors of the Miles for Manufacturing 5K Run/Walk fundraising event supporting STEM education. Sponsors receive brand visibility through race shirts, event signage, and direct access to IMTS attendees.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
IMTS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
IMTS social profiles
Digital presenceIMTS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
IMTS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
IMTS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
IMTS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about IMTS
What does IMTS do?
IMTS organizes and produces the biennial International Manufacturing Technology Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, bringing together over 1,800 manufacturing technology exhibitors and 86,000+ attendees from 100+ countries across 1.2 million square feet. The company also operates the IMTS+ digital content platform, the Smartforce Student Summit (free STEM/education program), the Miles for Manufacturing 5K fundraiser, and specialized conferences and showcase areas such as the Industrial AI Arena and the Industrial AI Conference.
Is IMTS a public or private company?
IMTS is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was IMTS founded?
IMTS was founded in 1902. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is IMTS based?
IMTS is headquartered in Mc Lean, United States, in the North America region.
How does IMTS make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Exhibitor Booth Fees are the primary driver. The others are conference Registration, sponsorship Packages, attendee Registration and miles for Manufacturing Sponsorships.
Does IMTS have an API?
No public API is recorded for IMTS.
What industry is IMTS in?
IMTS's product category is Trade Shows & Events (Manufacturing Technology). Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAHABAF, Manufacturing, Industrial Equipment & Automation Shows Organizers, with a secondary code of THAHABAE, Technology & Innovation Expos Organizers.