Since the 19th century, Chicago has been a powerhouse of American manufacturing. It was here that Cyrus McCormick revolutionized farming with his mechanical reaper and Philip Armour re-engineered the meatpacking industry. Not to mention, Chicago is the birthplace of remarkable everyday goods we now take for granted, like Schwinn Bicycles and Wrigley’s Gum. So, it was fitting to launch the Manufacturing USA “Invented Here. Made Here.” campaign at IMTS 2026.
Every two years, nearly 100,000 attendees from around the world flock to Chicago for the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) to explore the latest trends and innovations and to connect with the best and brightest in the industry. Woven into the show were opportunities to engage with Manufacturing USA and learn how the network is working to ensure that what’s invented here can be made here by a skilled American workforce.
Making Connections
Visitors to the Manufacturing USA booth saw an emphasis on the network’s “Invented Here. Made Here.” mission. The space served as a home base throughout the week, where representatives from America Makes, ARM Institute, CyManII, IACMI, LIFT, MxD, and the NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing could engage with event attendees, learn about their challenges and concerns, and share information about institute programs. During the week, the booth hosted 17 informational sessions at its in-booth Knowledge Bar and debuted an interactive kiosk where attendees could explore network success stories.
Beyond the show floor, the IMTS Investor’s Summit was an opportunity for network representatives to help connect potential investors with the advanced manufacturing industry. Manufacturing USA was also a sponsor of the ELEVATE program, an informative and uplifting afternoon for women in industry.
Inspiring the Next Generation
In the Smartforce Student Summit, thousands of students explore careers in advanced manufacturing, while their educators gather resources on training and workforce development programs. At the Manufacturing USA booth, MxD staff shared their Virtual Training Center, and ARM Institute highlighted RoboticsCareers.org.
IACMI’s METAL and ACE programs were on full display, with a neighborhood of institute partners, including St. Cloud State University, Texas A&M, and Calhoun Community College. Each offered hands-on activities that emphasized manufacturing skills, like resin casting, clay forging, and the full process of making a cowbell.
Sharing Knowledge from the Stage
Presentations on IMTS stages offered attendees actionable strategies for solving their manufacturing problems. The Smart Manufacturing Experience stage, produced by SME, included two network presentations: “Smart Manufacturing Solutions from Manufacturing USA,” with CyManII’s Ed McCormick and LIFT’s Noel Mack, and “Unscripted Manufacturing: Real-Time Problem Solving Across the Industrial Ecosystem,” with MxD’s Berardino Baratta. ARM Institute’s Lisa Masciantonio spoke at the IMTS Industrial AI Conference, sharing workforce resources for AI-enabled manufacturing.
On Thursday morning, Manufacturing USA took to the IMTS Main Stage to open the show. The session was kicked-off by Doug Woods (AMT), with Mike Molnar (NIST), Chad Duty (IACMI), Suzy Teele (ARM Institute), and Mingu Khan (Aris Technologies) discussing how Manufacturing USA institutes help move advanced technologies from invention to production. Speakers shared how public-private partnerships across the network deliver industry impact through de-risked technology adoption, building the skilled workforce industry needs, and working to ensure innovations invented here can be made here.
Until Next Time
IMTS 2026 was an exhilarating week of learning about the latest in manufacturing technology, making meaningful connections, and sharing resources to help advance domestic manufacturing. We can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2028. In the meantime, stay tuned to our Events page to see where you can connect with the Manufacturing USA network before the next IMTS.