Aris Industries

Dynamic partnership of most respected regional events will cover medtech lifecycle start-to-finish, including full range of advanced design & manufacturing topics.

Minnesota’s Medical Alley is a renowned hotspot for health technology innovation, as well as a global destination for investment. The pacemaker, mechanical heart valve and hearing aid all began life in Minneapolis, arguably the largest hub of medical device innovation.

This November, thought leaders and top suppliers across the Minnesota medical device and manufacturing community will gather at Minnesota Medtech Week, presented in partnership by Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) Minneapolis and LifeScience Alley, the most respected medtech association in Minnesota.

Minnesota Medtech Week is an unprecedented combination of the two most important medical device and health technology events in the region. MD&M Minneapolis (est. in 1994) and LifeScience Alley’s conference (est. in 1984) have a combined 50-year history in the Twin Cities, and have joined forces under one roof. Engaging the entire medtech community, Minnesota Medtech Week will gather all key players in the industry – from engineers and product developers to physicians, hospital administrators and executives. Nowhere else will attendees experience the same level of comprehensive discussion and education.

Minnesota Medtech Week and all co-located events will take place November 4-5, 2015, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
“Led by world class content, an expanded exhibit floor and even more networking opportunities, Minnesota Medtech Week forges a powerhouse partnership between the leader in medical manufacturing events and the most important regional healthtech association,” said Stephen Corrick, senior vice president, UBM Canon.

“In a region vital to the global medtech industry and the home of the world’s largest medical manufacturer, Minnesota Medtech Week brings the community together to demo new technologies, exchange ideas, meet new partners and ultimately provide inspiration to continue designing and manufacturing life saving devices,” said Shaye Mandle, president and CEO of LifeScience Alley.

Market Access & Patient Engagement: Educational Opportunities & Top Industry Speakers
Minnesota Medtech Week features world-class educational sessions packed with practical learning. Two concurrent conference tracks take deep dives into two of the most important industry topics—market access and patient engagement—with sessions around advanced design innovation, medical reimbursement, new technologies and medical innovation. An additional conference track will feature a day of sessions on 3D printing, and another day will be devoted to a design innovation workshop with Insight PD.

More than 50 leaders from medtech giants Boston Scientific, 3M, Medtronic, UnitedHealthcare, Olympus, St. Jude Medical and more will share their insights.

More than 1,000 Suppliers Featured at the Expo
The expansive Expo will feature more than 1,000 medtech suppliers of the latest technologies, materials, and services. On the expo floor, Center Stage will offer free presentations (including how wearables can predict life expectancy and how to speed up the FDA approval process), product teardowns, and other fun activities. Also at Center Stage, the complimentary speed networking session will match and introduce participants according to their interests.

Co-Located Events Cover Wide Scope of Advanced Manufacturing
Minnesota Medtech Week will expand its focus further to include six additional high tech manufacturing events, bringing in suppliers from a broad cross-section of the advanced manufacturing industry. The flagship event, MD&M Minneapolis, has long been co-located with MinnPack, which is focused on final packaging. This year, the expanded event will also feature Design & Manufacturing Minneapolis, ATX Minneapolis (automation technology), PLASTEC Minneapolis (plastics), and Quality Expo Showcase Minneapolis, all produced by UBM Canon. Broadening the scope even further, UBM Canon will bring in Embedded Systems Conference (ESC), welcoming embedded systems hardware, software and firmware developers.

About UBM Canon:
UBM Canon is the leading B-to-B event producer, publisher, and digital media company for the world’s $3 trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the advanced manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3 million name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe.  UBM Canon is part of UBM plc (UBM.L) a global provider of media and information services for professional B-to-B communities and markets.

About LifeScience Alley:
LifeScience Alley is a global leader in enabling health technology and care organizations to innovate, succeed and influence the evolution of healthcare. 

By influencing policy, delivering actionable information and intelligence and connecting members with critical resources, we work to ensure that Minnesota’s Medical Alley remains the world’s strongest health technology community. The Association’s membership and supporting community extends throughout the world, employing more than 300,000 Minnesotans and many more globally.

Cincinnati Incorporated has named Alex Gorosito regional sales engineer for Texas. Gorosito is a 12-year veteran of manufacturing, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Miami. “Cincinnati has a history of innovation in laser cutting, a reputation for building rugged machines and is a U.S.-based manufacturer,” said Gorosito.

“Those aspects are important to shops in this region and I am eager to share the capabilities of Cincinnati equipment with them.”

“Our sales strategy in the U.S. is to establish direct sales and application support in the appropriate locations,” said John Prevish, national sales manager, Cincinnati Incorporated. “This region has seen a lot of activity and Alex will strengthen our coverage of this growing market.” According to Prevish, Cincinnati continues to expand its direct sales and service teams to provide a high level of customer service regionally.

Cincinnati Incorporated provides manufacturers throughout North America with accurate, dependable laser cutting and automation, as well as metal fabrication equipment, including press brakes, shears and conveyor systems, powder metal presses, and most recently, BAAM (Big Area Additive Manufacturing).

For more information on the additive manufacturing initiative, or other fabrication equipment, please visit:
www.e-ci.com

Or contact:
info@e-ci.com  |  P: 513.367.7100

ARKU Coil Systems, Inc. will introduce its new EdgeBreaker^® and EdgeRacer^® deburring and edge rounding machines at Fabtech. Highlights at the ARKU booth include demonstrations of an EdgeBreaker 4000, a FlatMaster^® 55 precision parts leveler and the new ARVIS 4.0 coil line control software.

New EdgeBreaker^® and EdgeRacer^® machines
EdgeBreaker^® and EdgeRacer^® machines are designed to deburr and round the edges of metal parts that have been punched or cut by laser, plasma or flame.

An EdgeBreaker 4000 will be demonstrated at Fabtech. EdgeBreaker machines can remove thick slag and heavy burrs up to 3 mm on parts up to 80 mm thick and 1,300 mm wide. The machines can process parts of steel, copper, various alloys, aluminum and titanium. The EdgeBreaker’s oscillating roller self-cleans residue from the grinding belt, while sanding blocks gently round the edges on both sides. The belt is designed to provide high abrasion and allow fast changes. Sanding blocks, too, are designed for long service life and quick replacement using a patent-pending click system. Optional calibration of the sanding tools measures and automatically compensates for wear. A touchscreen PLC control saves part processing parameters for fast setup on repeat jobs.

EdgeRacer^® models – coming to the U.S. soon – are for thinner parts up to 50 mm thick. Made by German brush-technology leader Wöhler and sold worldwide exclusively by ARKU, EdgeRacer models can remove oxide layers and handle three-dimensional parts or those with polished, brushed or coated surfaces.

Two machine styles provide single-sided or double-sided deburring and rounding, with throughput rates of more than 300 m² per hour. The EdgeRacer is also controlled with a touchscreen PLC which stores part processing parameters for fast setup on repeat jobs. An optional washing unit can also be integrated with the EdgeRacer for cleaning both sides of parts in one pass, before or after deburring.

Parts leveling demonstrated
ARKU will also demonstrate fast, simple parts leveling on a FlatMaster^® 55. The FlatMaster enables novice users to produce dead-flat, virtually stress-free metal parts on the first try by entering as few as two values into the control: the material type and thickness. A simple interface of touchscreen icons utilizes a vast database of material properties, “expert knowledge,” part thicknesses, operating parameters and plausibility checks that allows new users to run the machine quickly with minimal training. The machine’s built-in Optimal Leveling Parameters can be fine-tuned by the operator and saved as a part program for future use. The control can store up to 1,500 part programs.

The servo-hydraulic FlatMaster is uniquely designed for leveling and stress relieving metal parts from 0.020″ to 2.25″ (0.5 – 60 mm) thickness, and up to 118″ (3,000 mm) wide. It adjusts the leveling force instantly to compensate for parts with large cutouts and perforations, or shapes such as triangles and circles. It is also ideal for appearance critical parts. The machine leaves no marring, slag, or discoloration from heat.

Test drive the new ARVIS 4.0 coil line software at Fabtech
ARKU’s new ARVIS 4.0 coil-line control software brings coil processors higher uptime and productivity with an operator interface designed for the “mobile” generation. ARVIS software gives the operator a cockpit display of the condition and performance of a coil line’s interconnected modules. Multi-touch screens, zooming and swiping allow rapid navigation. Touchscreen control for the setup of each line module, coupled with feedback from the modules and the overall line, allows an operator to control a coil line as easily as withdrawing cash from an ATM.

About ARKU:
ARKU, founded in 1928, is a world leader in roller levelers and press feeding technology with the world’s most extensive range of high-capacity and precision levelers, and with nearly 50 years’ expertise in the field. The company also recently added innovative deburring and edge rounding technology to its portfolio. With its headquarters in Baden-Baden, Germany, and ISO-certified facilities in Kunshan (China) and Cincinnati (USA), the business operates in almost 30 countries worldwide. The product range comprises precision levelers, deburring and edge rounding machines for parts, cut-to-length and slitting lines, press feeding lines and coil preparation lines for roll formers.

ARKU provides engineering expertise to many manufacturing industries, including automotive, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, construction and furniture, as well as laser job shops and others.

For more information, please visit:
www.arku.com

If you are in the business of auto racing, this is your Show!

Racing industry professionals from across the US, and 70 countries, will gather in Indianapolis this December for the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show (PRI 2015). It will pack the Indiana Convention Center with exhibits of new racing products, motorsports engineering solutions, machining equipment and more.

Approximately 1200 racing companies will exhibit in PRI 2015, which takes place December 10–12, 2015. The Show provides racing retailers, race engine builders, professional race teams, WDs, motorsports engineers and more the opportunity to preview virtually all the new racing technology becoming available for the next racing season. Racing entrepreneurs can meet face to face with suppliers, make purchase decisions, and have the new products in stock for the start of racing in 2016.

“If I didn’t go, I’d be missing out on getting the jumpstart on knowing what’s coming out for 2016. I get to see firsthand the new equipment and new stuff that may not be released yet but is coming in the near future,” explained Jimmy Wills from Jimmy Wills Racing, Felton, Delaware, who specializes in the fabrication of 3/4 scale modifieds and mod lites, and sells racing parts, accessories and safety equipment.

“We get to see the new stuff and meet up with our manufacturers face to face. That’s the best part of it, the face-to-face conversations,” added Henry Lanier from Lanier’s Speed Shop, Colorado Springs, Colorado, an engine building business that specializes in hardcore racing internal engine parts—pistons, camshafts, lifters, bearings, crankshafts, rods and accompanying ancillary parts.

“I have about 10 primary and 50 secondary manufacturers and people who I go to see, so I have to prioritize it,” Lanier continued. “I take one person from my shop and myself. We spend almost all of our time of the three days in the Trade Show.”

Willis added that his attendance is mandatory because “basically everyone from the racing industry is there. It’s a good opportunity to meet everybody in one place. I have several accounts with a lot of companies there, and it’s just a great place to go and see them all in one place.”

Allen Besselievre Jr., of Bonrheman Motorsports, San Diego, California, operates a race team as well as sells racing products. “I like to speak to the manufacturers directly and ask some technical questions,” he explained of why he attends the PRI Trade Show. “Every time I go I find out new things. Even if you’ve been in racing a long time, you still get new insights into everything.

“I try to get the latest information on certain items that I’m interested in,” he continued. “They come out with new products there, and I’m always interested in upgrading our race team’s products.”

John Kilroy, producer of PRI 2015, advised racing industry buyers, “Be prepared to spend all three Show days working the exhibit aisles. There’s a lot to take in. And it’s the exhibits that surprise you, or were unexpected, that may result in your most valuable experience of the entire event. You don’t want to miss a thing.”

He noted that one of the great aspects of the host city of Indianapolis is that the PRI Trade Show crowd flows out into the lively downtown at the end of exhibit hours, and business continues long into the night. “Racers take over downtown Indy during the PRI Trade Show. It’s great fun, and it can be very productive in concluding business transactions that started on the Show floor,” said Kilroy. “Indianapolis is the perfect host city for the world’s premier racing show. They speak ‘racing’ in this city!”

New For PRI 2015
New for 2015, the legacy of great racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway will be on display at the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show. Courtesy of the facility’s Hall of Fame Museum, located on the grounds of the Speedway, PRI will host an exhibit of six cars that were raced in the Indy 500 over past decades, providing a dramatic perspective on the evolution of the Indy car in design and engineering.

The museum will also display historic Indy car motors, and the Borg-Warner Trophy will make a one-day appearance on the first day of PRI 2015.

Ellen Bireley, director of the Hall of Fame Museum, said, “PRI 2015, as always, will be the ultimate showcase for automotive engineering and innovation, and the IMS Hall of Fame Museum is proud to be able to share some of the most amazing and technologically advanced cars to race in the Indianapolis 500 over the last 100 years as part of the PRI Trade Show.

“With 2016 being the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500, PRI 2015 is a great way for racing and automobile enthusiasts to be able to kick off and share the timeline of racing machines that shaped the Memorial Day weekend classic through the decades,” continued Bireley. “We are extremely proud of our collection and are happy that attendees from all over the United States and the world will be able to see our cars, take photos, and share their experiences with friends and family. We’re very honored to be included in PRI 2015.”

In addition, participants in PRI 2015 can purchase tickets for our exclusive Day At The Speedway, which takes place on Wednesday, December 9, and includes a bus tour of the IMS grounds, admission to the museum, and lunch at the Brickyard Crossing.

The UK-based Motorsport Industry Association (MIA) will host an all-new International Business Sales and Trade Workshop, scheduled for Wednesday, December 9. The workshop is designed to introduce business professionals who wish to learn more about international commerce to one another, using case studies and real-world examples to support the knowledge that is required to succeed overseas. Attendees will hear firsthand from major industry representatives about the opportunities and challenges of international trade.

This event is free to attend for those who are interested in expanding their current customer base into overseas markets. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Room 211of the ICC. Among its featured speakers will be Chris Aylett, CEO of the MIA.

For more information or to register, contact Carly Latcham at +44 (0)2476 692600, or by email: carly.latcham@the-mia.com.

Traditional Favorites
Each year, the PRI Trade Show coincides with several mainstay events and conferences that remain popular among race industry professionals, including the Advanced Engineering Technology Conference (AETC) for race engine builders, the International Council of Motorsport Sciences (ICMS) Annual Congress for race safety experts and the Race Track Business Conference (RTBC) for race track owners, managers and sanctioning bodies. They make a trip to Indianapolis more than a visit to a trade show, which is why it’s become known as Race Industry Week.

The great heritage of the Grand Opening Breakfast at the PRI Show continues in 2015, as NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Brad Keselowski joins MAVTV’s Dave Despain on stage to share his colorful racing stories.

Taking place Thursday morning, December 10, the Breakfast serves as the exciting kickoff event for the main attraction—the PRI Trade Show. Keselowski, the 2012 Cup Champion and 2010 NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion, follows in a long line of great racers who have made special appearances at the GOB, including Richard Petty, Tony Stewart, John Force, Don ‘Snake’ Prudhomme, Tom ‘Mongoose’ McEwen, and many more.

On stage, Despain is featured in a talk show setting called “Good Morning, PRI.” He’ll interview Keselowski before an industry audience of approximately 3000 racing professionals.

The Grand Opening Breakfast begins at 8 a.m., with doors set to open at 7 a.m., and includes a complimentary breakfast served in the Sagamore Ballroom of the Indiana Convention Center.

At the end of the first day of exhibits at the PRI Show, on Thursday, December 10, PRI hosts its annual Happy Hour in the Lucas Oil Stadium concourse. Attendees and exhibitors with PRI credentials are invited to attend this complimentary event and enjoy the racing camaraderie along with cold beverages and hot appetizers.

Racing Business Seminars
Each year, Performance Racing Industry hosts an array of business management seminars—three on Friday morning and three on Saturday morning, December 11 & 12, each from 8–9 a.m. before the Trade Show doors open.

Headlining Friday’s program will be “Powering Performance: Pat Musi Racing Engines” presented by Pat and Lizzy Musi and moderated by PRI Editor Dan Schechner. This sit-down interview-style presentation will showcase one of the best-known drag race engine builders of the last half-century, Pat Musi, and his daughter Lizzy, a record-breaking drag racer and president of Musi Enterprises in Mooresville, North Carolina. Attendees will hear these industry VIPs discuss the business, how it has evolved over the years, how it’s been so successful, how it has addressed different challenges, how it is positioned for the future, and much more.

Also on the agenda for Friday is a pair of seminars covering two of the hottest topics in small business management today. “Social Media in Record Time” will feature Erin Bemis of Constant Contact delivering time-saving tips for managing social media; simple ways to find usable, relevant content for posts; how to integrate social media into sales promotions and events; best practices, business builders and more.

Leading columnist, author and small business owner Gene Marks (also a frequent contributor to Fox News, Fox Business and CNBC) will touch on some of the most important employee-related issues in today’s companies, and explain how your organization can find the best people and keep them happy for the long term. His seminar, titled “The Next Two Years: Your People,” promises to be both enlightening and entertaining.

Leading Saturday’s lineup will be a special presentation by world-class racer, broadcaster, entrepreneur, speaker and author Derek Daly, who provides invaluable information for drivers and parents on how to position themselves for success in motorsports, from stock cars to midgets, sports cars to formula cars. Daly literally wrote the book for young drivers when he penned “Race To Win: How To Become a Complete Champion,” which Mario Andretti called “The Bible” for young drivers and parents. “Derek Daly Academy: The Complete Champion Seminar… What If It’s You?” will be ideal for parents of young, up-and-coming racers looking to learn the ins and outs of the industry.

Also listed among Saturday’s seminars is “Opportunities in Land Speed Racing,” a panel discussion featuring four of the sport’s true insiders on the state of land speed racing, business opportunities for racing professionals, how to get involved in the sport, and much more. Expert panelists include Dennis Sullivan of the Utah Salt Flats Racing A.ssociation “LandSpeed” Louise Ann Noeth of Land Speed Productions, Steve Watt of Maxwell Industries and the Speed Demon, and Stuart Gosswein of Save the Salt and SEMA.

Finally, in “EricTheCarGuy’s YouTube Experience And How It Can Benefit Performance Automotive Businesses,” ASE certified master technician Eric Cook (aka EricTheCarGuy) will explain how he became a YouTube phenomenon, his successful strategies and techniques, and how racing entrepreneurs can effectively use video to work for their businesses.

To register for the PRI Trade Show, or for more information, please visit:
www.pri2015.com

Based on exhibitor sales and current plans, IMTS — The International Manufacturing Technology Show 2016 is expected to be one of the largest in show history with even more to offer visitors. The show will be held September 12-17, 2016, at Chicago’s McCormick Place. Registration will open on February 1, 2016.

Early results on participating exhibitors and exhibitor floor square footage contracted for IMTS 2016 are both ahead of the IMTS 2014 pace at 1,382 exhibitors and 1.256 million net square feet (twenty-two percent increase and eight percent increase, respectively).

“After the largest IMTS in more than a decade in 2014, the IMTS 2016 show is building to be even stronger. IMTS 2016 will expand to five halls of McCormick Place with the addition of Hall C in the North Building. It is very exciting to see the continued interest and real growth in manufacturing in the United States,” said Peter R. Eelman, Vice President — Exhibitions & Communications at AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which produces and owns IMTS. “The show is expecting more than 100,000 visitors from 112 countries who will come to gather ideas and see new technologies in action. IMTS is the place where innovation thrives.”

To help guide visitors around the vast exhibits and find their areas of interest quickly and easily, IMTS is organized into nine pavilions:

• The Abrasive Machining/Sawing/Finishing Pavilion features technology for applications that require high tolerance and precision surface finish including grinding technology, as well as sawing and cutoff machines and a variety of finishing technologies, such as lapping, balancing, honing and polishing machines.

• The Controls & CAD-CAM Pavilion offers the world of custom automation and the latest software needed to extract the maximum efficiency from machine tools to optimize plant operations and cost efficiency.

• In the EDM Pavilion, everything from CNC wire EDM equipment to die sinking machines can be found by manufacturing professionals in the tool & die industry and especially those who specialize in one-off or specialty components.

• The Fabricating/Laser/Additive Pavilion is devoted to showcasing the latest technology in fabricating, metal forming, laser, and waterjet-based machining and additive manufacturing, along with displays of welding, metal treating and marking equipment.

• The Gear Generation Pavilion is devoted to gear cutting, forming and finishing, as well as broaching, shaping and slotting machines and will spotlight traditional applications such as auto, construction, mining and ship-building, plus the emerging alternative energy and wind power sectors.

• Focusing on the myriad of goods needed to run a plant, the Machine Components/Cleaning/Environmental Pavilion will offer everything from the parts to service and monitor machines to the components necessary for safe and environmentally responsible operations.

• The Metal Cutting Pavilion is the center of the very foundation of the machine tool industry. Here, visitors will find the latest innovations in metal cutting equipment including machining centers, turning centers and the entire range of metal cutting technology.

• The Quality Assurance Pavilion features metrology equipment and systems that keep processes on track, as well as the equipment that will check the accuracy of machines.

• The Tooling & Workholding Systems Pavilion offers all the necessities and innovative solutions to tooling challenges. Here, visitors can maximize the investment in their machinery and equipment by finding the latest technology that will allow for minimum setup and machining time, give new capabilities to older equipment and explore the latest in state-of-the-art workholding systems.

There are some exciting new additions to this year’s show from Hannover Fairs USA. They will bring three additional shows to IMTS, including:

1. Industrial Automation North America
The best in industrial automation solutions will be featured at Industrial Automation North America, a show that made its North American debut in 2012. Featuring factory, process, and building automation, this event is distinguishing itself as the place to see the automation industry’s most innovative solutions and technologies.

2. Motion, Drive & Automation North America
The inaugural Motion, Drive & Automation North America became a networking hub of North America’s power transmission, motion control and fluid technology sectors. Meet face-to-face with key suppliers from around the world and see first-hand the best new technology available.

3. Surface Technology North America
This event will cover the entire spectrum of industrial surface treatment and finishing — from cleaning and pre-treatment to coatings, paint finishes, and electroplating. Surface Technology will surely provide a powerful platform for business development and expanding professional networks.

4. ComVac North America
Highlighting the latest product developments, technology, and plant & system components for all areas of compressed air and vacuum, ComVac will surely provide a great opportunity for networking and create a strong synergy with the already well-established Industrial Automation North America and Motion, Drive & Automation North America.

5. Industrial Supply North America
Covering the entire spectrum of industrial subcontracting and lightweight construction, this is the event where you will find supply solutions across the entire industrial value chain.

AMT’s Emerging Technology Center will return in the North Building showcasing advancements in the medical technology industry.

After building the first 3D-printed car, Strati, at IMTS 2014, Local Motors will continue to bring excitement to the show. This time with a race track, another addition to the Hall C, so visitors can take a ride in some of their most inventive automobiles, including the Strati, as seen on the Today Show and on the cover of Popular Mechanics.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), brought to you by Gardner Business Media, Inc. and IMTS, will explore the top trends and technologies being adopted by leading manufacturers. A visit to the AMC in the West Building will give visitors knowledge they need to understand the application and relevance of these top trends in their plant/shop. The booth will also feature highlights from two dynamic conferences at IMTS 2016: The Additive Manufacturing Conference, which will focus on additive technologies for industrial part production, and the TRAM (Trends in Advanced Machining, Manufacturing and Materials) Conference, which is additionally sponsored by Boeing and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre of the University of Sheffield.

Another featured booth in the West Building is the Today’s Technology Center (TTC), sponsored by GIE Media and IMTS. The TTC will again feature top advancements in each industry segment, including medical, aerospace, energy, and automotive. One of the highlights will be the Ohio State University’s EcoCar3 Challenge team which will bring its modified 2016 Chevy Camaro to the show and staff the booth with engineering and communications students. Students will explain how they’ve transformed the muscle car into a plug-in hybrid and how they hope to get top fuel economy and sports car performance levels at the same time.

There will be nine educational opportunities for visitors to attend. The four-day IMTS Conference runs Sept. 12-15, 2016, and is slated to include 69 sessions that explore topics including process innovations, manufacturing technology and trends, alternative manufacturing processes, metrology/quality and plant operations. Conferences sponsored by Hannover Fairs USA include: the Motion, Drive & Automation Conference; Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit; Industrial Supply N.A.; Surface Tech; and Fluid Power. EOS North America is offering its North American Users Conference. Gardner Business Media will once again sponsor the popular TRAM — Trends in Advanced Manufacturing Conference, along with the Additive Manufacturing Conference. Registration to any of the conferences affords participants access to the show floor. Conference registration opens in May 2016.

The Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS is designed to encourage the next generation of young people to consider a career in manufacturing. The bar was set high in 2014 when students, educators, administrators and parent chaperones from more than 450 schools and dozens of scout troops attended. The goal is to extend the reach of the Student Summit into more U.S. states to attract more students who will be nearing workforce readiness now and around IMTS 2016.

The Miles for Manufacturing 5K Walk/Run, presented by GIE Media and IMTS, will return to the show, where it got its start in 2014, to raise money for a school that promotes manufacturing to its students. Since the inaugural race, the Miles for Manufacturing 5K has been held at The MFG Meeting, March 5, 2015, and will be held at the Global Forecasting & Marketing Conference, October 13, 2015, in Cleveland, Ohio. It’s a great opportunity for IMTS attendees to get moving for a cause that supports workforce development in manufacturing.

“At one year out, we can say with confidence that IMTS 2016 will provide the environment for the industry to find solutions to their biggest manufacturing challenges and strategies to increase profits,” Eelman said. “Be sure to put IMTS 2016 on your calendar, Sept. 12-17, and join us in Chicago where you will see the latest in technology from leading manufacturing companies.”