IMTS to shine a spotlight on additive manufacturing

To enter the North Building at McCormick Place, visitors to IMTS must exit the Grand Concourse and pass through the new Additive Manufacturing Pavilion. Additive manufacturing technology has earned a stand-alone spotlight at the show.

“Additive manufacturing is a reality for the industrial marketplace. It’s not fully mature, but the technology has progressed far enough that if you’re ignoring 3D printing at IMTS 2016, you’re making a big mistake,” advises David Burns, founder and principal of Global Business Advisory Services, LLC. “Fortunately, within the IMTS Additive Manufacturing Pavilion, you’ll find companies that offer a full suite of 3D products, and they’re good at explaining the benefits.”

Burns says that technology advancements occur so rapidly that staying on top of new developments requires constant work. Developments include new metallurgies, new machines and a suite of design tools.

“Designing for 3D printing requires a completely different approach, as does integrating the power of 3D printing into your industrial manufacturing operation,” he says.

The Additive Manufacturing Pavilion will showcase essentially every component necessary for a manufacturing cell.

“Additive manufacturing is incredibly dynamic, and in order to see new materials, new design ideas and new production techniques, you need to attend IMTS 2016,” says Peter R. Eelman, Vice President — Exhibitions & Communications at AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Pavilion exhibitors include ExOne, EOS of North America, 3D Systems, Statasys, HP, Optomec, Proto Labs, EnvisionTEC, Cideas, DM3D Technology, SCIAKY, 3rd Dimension Industrial 3D Printing, Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies, GPI Prototype & Manufacturing Services, Linear AMS — and more still being added. Use the MyShow Planner tool to set up meetings with these and other companies, and even bring a hard copy of your print.

www.imts.com