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Mark Albert,
Editor-in-Chief
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No Gloom And Doom At IMTS
“Despite what you hear in the news, American manufacturing has a lot of vitality. Manufacturing remains strong in the United States and North America.” I heard these remarks over and over again from top officials at companies exhibiting at IMTS. This hopeful, optimistic outlook was heartening. That a different message is going out to the public was disheartening. Why the optimism? Among other indications, it is clear that key industries such as energy, medical and aerospace are looking to buy new machine tools and upgrade the equipment that supports them.
Why isn’t the message getting out? Although several Chicago-area newspapers reported on the upbeat mood at this show, we can expect little good news about manufacturing to be picked up by the general news media. Click here for the full story.
Industry Information
By The Numbers
For a more objective evaluation of the metalworking industry, check the Metalworking Business Index, a report that analyzes tendencies in changing business activities among metalworking companies. Find the latest readings and their meanings here.
Inbox Insights
How Eager, Young Eyes Look At IMTS
Doug Bowman heads up the Advanced Manufacturing program at Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana. He and Tim Bauer, one of his instructors in the program, brought 28 students to IMTS to spend a week seeing the exhibits and helping out in the Haas Automation booth. The students received special training so they could take shifts running some of the CNC machines in the booth. Apparently, the week was a fantastic experience for these future machinists, CNC programmers and manufacturing specialists.
In his summary report, Professor Bowman’s own words capture the spirit of this experience. Read it here. A sample of the comments from the students is especially revealing and encouraging.
Be There
Yellow Means GO For New West Hall Show Traffic
One thing different about this IMTS was the use of the new West Building at McCormick Place. The Tooling and Workholding Systems Pavilion and MMS’s own Advanced Manufacturing Center (a big hit!) were in this hall. Show sponsors worked hard to be sure the new hall got lots of attendee traffic. No question, they succeeded. Sandvik Coromant's booth in this building was handing out “messenger pouches” to visitors and the bright yellow bags could be seen all over McCormick Place, proving that circulation to the new exhibit space was vigorous. The company reportedly gave away all 30,000 of the bags prepared for this show.
Your Thoughts
Does IMTS Get TOO Much Attention?
We love IMTS. It’s an intense week of frenzied activity and excitement for us editors. New technology. New products. New friends and old acquaintances. Four huge halls of fantastic exhibit space. A great American city and a beautiful Great Lake as the setting.
But maybe the build-up and hype are out of proportion. What’s your view? How relevant—or not—is IMTS to your company?
If we publish your response, you’ll receive your choice of one free book from the metalworking section of the Hanser Gardner bookstore.
To respond, send an e-mail to Mark.
Our Next Issue
Machining Centers, EDM "Turning" 
Video cameras on one company’s machining centers make life more rewarding both in the shop and away. Modern Machine Shop’s October issue tells the story of the shop owner’s experience.
Another article looks at how a new user of a very large machining center relearned the basics to optimize operations involving big, heavy parts. We’ll also see how electrical discharge machining has taken a new “turn” for a shop near Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Modern Machine Shop’s new size and format make this another great looking, easy reading issue. Don’t miss it.
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