Recorded live from McCormick Place in Chicago, this episode marks the official kickoff of the MakingChips journey toward IMTS 2026. With nine months to go, we sit down with two leaders helping shape the show itself: Michelle Edmondson, Vice President of Exhibitions for IMTS, and Bonnie Gurney, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations.
What unfolds is a behind-the-scenes look at how the largest manufacturing technology show in North America is built — from campaign strategy and theme development to visitor planning, education tracks, emerging technologies, and student engagement.
This year's theme, "Achieve the Impossible," paired with the campaign message around "Six Days," reflects what IMTS is really about: momentum. It's not just about buying a machine this year. It's about seeing where the industry is heading five years from now.
We explore how exhibitors should define ROI, why attendees need a strategy before walking the floor, what's new in 2026 (including the Industrial AI Arena and the 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center), and how young people — including our own kids — can get plugged into manufacturing through Smartforce and the Student Summit.
Whether you're an exhibitor, an attendee, or still on the fence, this episode is a practical roadmap for how to get the most out of IMTS — and why it matters more than ever in today's manufacturing climate.
Segments
- (0:00) Live from Chicago: Exhibitor Workshop energy and early IMTS planning
- (2:17) Hennig's evolving booth strategy and bringing real machines to the floor
- (3:43) Why you need to be at the MFG Meeting 2026
- (4:38) Introducing Michelle Edmondson and Bonnie Gurney from IMTS
- (7:04) The power of long-term partnerships and IMTS' impact on careers
- (8:58) Defining ROI for exhibitors: Setting measurable goals before the show begins
- (11:16) Planning IMTS as an attendee: short-term shopping list vs. long-term vision
- (13:21) IMTS 2026 theme: "Achieve the Impossible" and the Six Days campaign
- (14:52) How real visitors shape the ad campaign and messaging
- (16:07) Student Summit and engaging the next generation
- (17:40) Family business, succession, and getting kids into manufacturing
- (21:55) Common exhibitor mistakes — territory gatekeeping and lost opportunities
- (23:48) Factur: Building consistent pipeline systems for manufacturers
- (24:54) Behind the scenes: how IMTS develops its theme and campaign strategy
- (29:25) 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center
- (30:04) Launch of the new Industrial AI Arena and AI conference
- (30:59) Education tracks, co-located conferences, and specialized programming
- (33:56) MakingChips live podcast studio plans at IMTS 2026
- (35:47) Rockford IMTS summer party and nonprofit partnership
- (37:35) Smartforce, Student Summit, and how schools can get involved
- (39:12) What visitors should be doing right now to prepare
- (41:19) Housing deadlines and avoiding scam hotel vendors
- (43:24) Hire MFG Leaders: Recruiting leaders who understand manufacturing
- (43:52) Will IMTS 2026 be the best show ever? Why optimism is high
- (45:53) Young founders in manufacturing and the entrepreneurship tailwind
Resources mentioned on this episode
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