How high is demand in the U.S. for advanced manufacturing technology? One look at exhibitor registrations for the 12–17 September 2016 run of Deutsche Messe’s five industrial trade fairs at McCormick Place in Chicago provides the answer: through the roof. Deutsche Messe’s events occupy two times more space compared to 2014. Partner event IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show currently registers increases of 10 percent in display area and 16 percent in exhibitor participation.

The growth of Deutsche Messe’s portfolio at IMTS reflects the resurgence of manufacturing in America. Industrial Automation NORTH AMERICA premiered in 2012. MDA NORTH AMERICA followed in 2014. Now ComVac NORTH AMERICA, Industrial Supply NORTH AMERICA, and Surface Technology NORTH AMERICA debut in 2016. Together the events account for double the display area in 2014 and represent five industry sectors: industrial automation; power transmission, fluid technology and motion control,; compressed air and vacuum technology; industrial subcontracting and lightweight design; and surface treatment. Compared to the same point in time in 2014, four times more space is sold for 2016 with 75 percent of registrations from companies based outside the U.S.

Surveys conducted in 2014 at IMTS, Industrial Automation NORTH AMERICA and MDA NORTH AMERICA indicate that 86 percent of visitors found solutions to specific manufacturing problems, 85 percent planned to make a purchase within one year, and 64 percent initiated new business contacts. Key trends at Deutsche Messe’s 2016 Chicago events include the "SMAC stack" (social, mobile, analytics, and cloud), which helps companies accelerate development and retain customers; the Industrial Internet of Things, which helps automate production and maintenance, freeing up more time for research and development; and next-shoring (developing and manufacturing products closer to where they will be sold), which improves production control and efficiency.

China, France, Italy, Germany and Taiwan are contributing country pavilions and the National Fluid Power Organization (NFPA) organizes the Fluid Power Area at MDA North America. Exhibiting companies include Beckhoff, B&R, Hawe, igus, Mitsubishi, Rockwell Automation, THK, Turck, and Wittenstein. Three conferences round out the program at Deutsche Messe’s events. On 13 September GIE Media runs three tracks– MDA plus ComVac, Industrial Supply and Surface Technology – for design, manufacturing and process engineers as well as plant managers and purchasing managers. On 14 September, CFE Media stages the Global Automation & Manufacturing Summit and NFPA organizes a fluid power track.

Industrial Automation NORTH AMERICA, MDA NORTH AMERICA, ComVac NORTH AMERICA, Industrial Supply NORTH AMERICA, and Surface Technology NORTH AMERICA are organized by Deutsche Messe’s U.S. subsidiary, Hannover Fairs USA, Inc., in cooperation with AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. The five events run parallel to IMTS 2016 and belong to Deutsche Messe’s HANNOVER MESSE Worldwide portfolio.