The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) opened its doors on Mon., Sept. 9 at McCormick Place in Chicago with an array of technology across 10 different manufacturing sectors. This biennial gathering, produced by the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT), runs through Sept. 14.
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IMTS is showcasing new product introductions, automation solutions and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. “IMTS 2024 has more of everything,” said Peter Eelman, chief experience officer at AMT, noting that the density of technology on display is expected to create an atmosphere of excitement and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the manufacturing sector.
Industry leaders from companies such as Google Cloud, Siemens USA and Microsoft will present on the Main Stage this week, which is set up on the concourse between the North and South Halls, to share insights that reflect the latest trends and innovations.
The Emerging Technology Center (ETC) booth (#236700) is at the entrance of the North Building. Visitors are visiting here to experience technologies that are aimed at addressing today’s most pressing manufacturing issues, including automation, additive manufacturing, reshoring, the surge in aerospace and defense investment, and raising productivity per worker.
READ MORE: Focus on Innovation as IMTS 2024 Opens in Chicago
North Hall Highlights: Robotics and Automation
With all four halls packed with 1.2 million square feet of exhibits, here are just a few of the innovative technologies from the North Hall:
Universal Robots and Vectis Automation Offer Coordinated Motion Feature
At the Universal Robots booth (#236131) Vectis Automation showcased their new coordinated motion feature for welding robots, which adds a seventh degree of freedom through a rotary axis. This innovation ensures the weld puddle remains perpendicular to gravity, enhancing weld quality. UR’s Chris Savoia said the system is designed to be user-friendly, requiring no advanced engineering knowledge, and comes with online tutorials for quick setup.
igus’ Two Booths: One for Signature Products, One for Automation
The company’s standard booth (#236557) is showing off many of its signature products, like e-chain cable carriers, linear actuators, motors and motor controllers. The new RBTX booth (#236230) is dedicated to showing off its automation products, which include robot arms, cobots, gantries and more, along with individual components and accessories. Among those is a cartesian (pictured), which is advantageous for visual inspection systems due to their simplicity in programming XYZ motion in a 3D space. The system can be enhanced with additional tools and rotational (theta) motion. Specifically, the unit mentioned is used for scanning cans in defense applications, checking for dents, scratches or punctures by analyzing the space between the sensor and the can.
Kawasaki’s New Robot Line Made for Easy Integration
Kawasaki Robotics (#236520) introduced a robot line designed for easy integration and programming using tablets, with a focus on material handling and machine tending. They offer easy tool changes and durability, which includes an IP 66 rating and high accuracy. Future plans for the company include further simplifying integration with other machines through partnerships, such as with the Hurco CNC machine (pictured).
