IMTS stands for the International Manufacturing Technology Show. It was the largest manufacturing technology trade show in the Western Hemisphere — a showcase of the machine tools, automation, tooling, software and processes used to make metal and composite parts. IMTS 2026 was held September 14–19, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
The show dates back to 1927 and runs on a two-year cycle, held in even-numbered years at McCormick Place in Chicago. It is owned and produced by AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the trade group representing U.S. manufacturing-technology builders and distributors.
IMTS 2026 ran across more than 1.2 million square feet, with 2,000-plus exhibiting companies from 29 countries and roughly 90,000 registrants. It is effectively the North American equivalent of Germany's EMO — the place where machine-tool builders launch new models, demonstrate live cutting, and where shops come to compare equipment side by side.
For buyers and sellers of used CNC machinery, IMTS matters because it sets the market: new model launches, technology shifts and pricing signals at the show ripple through the used market for years. Understanding what debuted — and what it replaced — helps you value an older machine accurately.
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is a biennial Chicago trade show — the Western Hemisphere's biggest — where the manufacturing world gathers to see the machines that make everything.
Official show site: imts.com · Dates: September 14–19, 2026 · Venue: McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois.
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