The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and Hannover Fairs USA announced Nov. 2 that they would end their 10-year partnership around the biannual IMTS Show in Chicago. IMTS officials said they are looking ahead to the next show in September 2024, while Hannover officials now plan to present a digital transformation event beginning in 2023.
When the combination of Europe’s largest industrial technology producer and North America’s largest manufacturing show got together a decade ago, it filled big gaps for both organizations. IMTS gained vendors and attendees in industrial automation and robotics from Hannover’s long relationships, and Hannover Messe USA gained an established event to improve its North American profile.
“We have had a very fruitful partnership that brought Hannover Messe USA to IMTS, increasing our audience’s exposure to an automation segment in manufacturing technology,” said AMT’s president, Doug Woods, in a statement. “Co-location helped Hannover Messe become a familiar name in North America. The show is now ready to launch its own independent event, and we wish them success and continued growth.”
“We definitely reaped the benefit of the partnership, and we’re grateful for the chance to establish the brand in the U.S. market over the 10-year period,” said Ed Nichols, CEO of Hannover Fairs USA. “The timing was right for us to pursue an industrial transformation event.”
Nichols said discussions are ongoing for an event somewhere in the Midwest in the fourth quarter of 2023 that would be scheduled as an annual event focused on digital transformation.
IMTS spokesperson Bonnie Gurney said the plans for IMTS 2024 are already well under way. “IMTS 2024 will continue to concentrate on the growth of digital manufacturing which encompasses automation, software, robotics, sensors, etc. and all things related to manufacturing and increasing the productivity in manufacturing,” he said. “AMT partnered with Silicon Valley Robotics this past year and will continue to go down the path of automation with robotics and other areas where the technology takes the show into the future.”
AMT also announced its plans to collaborate with German show producer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH, to launch the Formnext 3D printing show in Chicago in April of 2025.
“While additive manufacturing will continue to be a new and growing technology at IMTS, we are collaborating with Mesago and GBM to bring the full breath of the additive industry to the USA with the Formnext Chicago trade show,” Gurney said.
IMTS 2024 will take place Sept. 9-14 at McCormick Place, Chicago. IMTS is currently accepting applications for IMTS 2024 on its website, IMTS.com.