First-Time IMTS Experience: Uncovering Innovations for Moldmakers

Earlier this month, I attended IMTS 2024 in Chicago for the first time and I was excited to do so as part of the MMT team.

MMT team takes on IMTS 2024. We explored the show floor all week, observing the key technologies and services, both proven and new, that are impacting the moldmaking industry.

This massive manufacturing event highlighted a variety of industries found within metalworking. However, I attended the show to learn more about the new and proven innovations specific to the moldmaking community.

After experiencing IMTS, I can confidently say the moldmaking industry has a lot to look forward to in the near future in terms of smart and efficient manufacturing.

The MMT team walked a total of 72,000 steps (36 miles) to find all things mold-related on the show floor. Keep reading to learn more about my key insights from the show as well as my reflections as a newcomer to the industry.

Show Floor Observations

The four halls of the show were vibrant and bustling with whirling machines big and small, eye-catching software screens, robotic arms moving about and so much more. Not to mention the hundreds of exhibitors and attendees moving from booth to booth.

I visited around 40 booths and with each visit, I had the opportunity to learn something new about the moldmaking industry.

To name just a few of the exciting innovations that blew me away: Seeing EDM technology for the first time in-person, precision-machined mold components so smooth and seamless you wouldn’t even know it could be pulled apart, automatic tool changers with an impressive amount of tool changer options, an on-the-go, mold backpack cleaner and so much more on the show floor!

Other exciting happenings on the show floor:

The Student Summit offered a plethora of technologies for students to explore and learn from in a hands-on setting. It was great to see the future generation take an interest in moldmaking and other manufacturing industry opportunities. The students were particularly interested in the NASA’s booth, where they could learn about NASA’s Artemis campaign to live and work on the moon.
AMT’s Emerging Technology Center offered a glimpse into the technologies seen as disruptive in the advanced manufacturing world. One word comes to mind from my stop here: Robots! One technology that stood out to me was a Next-Generation Hybrid System, which integrated a multi-process manufacturing cell developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The cell highlighted processes such as wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), a machining center, a heat-treating system, as well as a 3D laser scanning metrology station.
At the IMTS Main Stage, every day, there were different industry leaders discussing hot topics, challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing world. Panels, podcasts, keynotes and conversations took place here. MMT’s very own Editorial Director, Christina Fuges was spotted on stage for a Shop Talk with Bill Herman, the Vice President of Membership and Sales at AMT to discuss the latest trends in moldmaking that are shaping the near future.

mmt at IMTS 2024

The MMT team walked fast and furious to see what the show floor had to offer moldmakers at IMTS.

At Belmont Equipment & Technologies booth, the MMT team saw the company’s process for manufacturing graphite electrodes.

This sleek, cylindrical grinding machine was featured at YCM Alliance’s booth.

Blum-Novotest featured this automatic tool changer at its booth to show to benefit of forgoing the need to stop and start in order to change tooling out during a job.

I had the chance to try on this surprisingly not heavy backpack cleaner from LaserStar. Quickly cleaning a mold in-house has never been so easy.

At Hexagon’s booth, I got to see a demonstration of the company’s new, hand-held scanner.

This fan impeller tool mold was on display at Hermle’s booth.

IMTS 2024 drew a large crowd this year, the halls were always bustling with exhibitors and attendees alike.

Trending Topics and Technologies

While at the show, I observed the following key trends as well as technologies that are impacting the moldmaking industry.

Automation
Precision and Advanced Machining
Software Solutions
Process Optimization
3D Printing
Inspection/Measurement Solutions

When asking exhibitors about what’s hot on the show floor, the most common answer received was automation. I saw an abundance of booths exhibiting different automation solutions to improve moldmaking processes in terms of time and cost reductions. Automation helps reduce the time it takes to get from design to prototype. Examples that I saw on the show floor that come to mind are cobots, robotic arms and automated tool changers.

As far as precision and advanced machining, there’s a lot of tried and true and new technology out there. Precision and advanced machining is critical in moldmaking as these enable the best accuracy possible to ensure costly mistakes are not made. On the show floor, I saw examples of this in machines with five-axis abilities at exhibitor booths like Kitamura, Grob Systems and Takumi. Five-axis capabilities enable moldmakers to work at quicker speeds while retaining accuracy.

Software solutions were not lacking on the show floor. Whether it be CAD/CAM solutions, new AI features or VR training, one thing is evident: these options offer moldmakers solutions to the workforce shortage the industry is facing.

A trend that struck me as particularly fascinating was that of process optimization. The idea that before a mold can be made, there often needs to be many changes to optimize the process. Whether you are a supplier or molder, a concrete process is always necessary. Quality checks for process and planning ahead saves time, money and efforts in the long run. While visiting Belmont Equipment & Technologies, they described their process in going into their customers shops and smoothing out any kinks before they even begin implementing their services. Key steps in this consultative process include: Visiting the customer in-person to assess process and facility capabilities, ascertaining where improvements need to be made before any concrete steps are taken, active communication with the customer and keeping a detailed log/list of progress.

3D printing remains impactful on the manufacturing world, and moldmakers continue to find ways to utilize additive manufacturing (AM) technology to streamline production processes. Whether it be for quick prototyping, injection molding or creating molds with intricate geometric structures, AM provides solutions that are worth exploring.

Last but not least, I noticed a significant amount of inspection/measurement equipment and software solutions on the show floor. From hand-held scanners to ensure mold cavities are on par, to software that enables tons of CAD capabilities, its clear there is a large focus on these quality control systems.

First IMTS in the Books

With my first IMTS under my belt, I feel privileged to have learned from and attended this staple event for the manufacturing industry. The energy of the entire show was incredible and it was a great opportunity for me to see, first-hand some of the innovation going on within the world of moldmaking.

The moldmaking community is one that is eager to share knowledge, connect and progress together. My knowledge of the industry was greatly increased by attending IMTS 2024 and I look forward to nurturing the connections I made here.