Collaborative Education Is Paramount at imX Summit on Future of U.S. Manufacturing

Manufacturing leaders from companies across the United States will learn from each other, colleagues and competitors alike in a unique series of “Knowledge Bars” and Industry Panels this fall, components of the Interactive Manufacturing Experience (imX). Taking place Sept. 12 to 14 in Las Vegas, imX features an unprecedented industry summit that will chart a new course for the domestic manufacturing industry.
 
Announced today by the imX executive committee, the event’s Knowledge Bars and Industry Panels will offer hundreds of participating manufacturing executives the intimate learning and collaborative opportunities imX committee members believe are critical to the future of manufacturing in the United States. The Knowledge Bars and industry Panels complement other important imX components, including a series of interactive Learning Labs <http://www.imxevent.com/imx2011/public/Content.aspx?ID=225>  addressing timely manufacturing topics.
 
The imX executive committee includes top executives from event eXperience partners DMG/Mori Seiki U.S.A., FANUC, Kennametal, MAG IAS LLC, Makino, Methods Machine Tools, Okuma America and Sandvik Coromant. imX is jointly presented by leading industry associations the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) <http://www.amtda.org/website/article.asp?id=560> and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME). <http://www.sme.org>
 
 
Knowledge Bars
 
Knowledge Bars will be located directly on the imX event floor. They are designed as one-on-one interactive Question & Answer sessions and are facilitated by one of nearly 80 imX eXhibit Partners, manufacturing companies ranging in size from just a few employees to hundreds. Scheduled on the hour each of the three days of imX, the Knowledge Bar learning sessions are a medium for eXhibit partners and eXecutive guests to share and discuss innovative solutions to manufacturing issues and challenges. Knowledge Bar topics will range from lowering production and manufacturing costs and increasing production volume to improving quality, workflow or developing other manufacturing efficiencies.
 
The Knowledge Bars are hosted by the editorial and publishing team of Manufacturing Engineering. Sessions at the Knowledge Bars will facilitate a comfortable exchange of technical information and practical knowledge for no more than 10 guests each in a 300-square-foot “bar” replete with refreshments.
 
“Knowledge Bars will carry the imX theme of innovation, discussion and collaboration to every corner of the event floor,” said Steve Prahalis, experience manager, imX. “Our hope is for the relationships formed in these conversations and throughout imX to serve as a basis for the cooperative efforts that will secure the future of domestic manufacturing.”
 
 
Industry Panels

The Industry Panels to be showcased during imX will enable manufacturers to engage with leading end users and industry observers. The series will consist of different topics and presenters for every day of the show with audience question-and-answer included in each session. Gardner Publications Inc. is the host and exclusive sponsor of the imX Industry Panel series.
 
Panel topics include:
·       Top Shops. MODERN MACHINE SHOP will present findings from its recent “Top Shops” industry survey, including benchmarks and best practices from leading metalworking facilities.
·       The Edge Factor. A new episode of “The Edge Factor”—a show highlighting dramatic manufacturing applications—will make its debut at imX. The manufacturer starring in this episode is a maker of extreme mountain bike components using automation to manufacture cost-effectively.
·       Market Outlook. Gardner Publications Inc. will share details of its industry forecasting—including the company’s Metalworking Business Index and its Capital Spending Survey—to provide a look at what manufacturing business will be like in 2012, including information by geographic area and market segments.
 
“imX is unlike any other manufacturing event, in mission, in content and in the quality of conversation,” Prahalis said. “The event’s Industry Panels, Knowledge Bars, Learning Labs and other components will spark discussions among executives at manufacturers large and small like never before. Those discussions will drive the innovation, creativity and collaboration this industry requires to continue its momentum in the United States well into the future.”
 
Gardner Publications is the publisher of manufacturing media brands including Automotive Design & Production, Modern Machine Shop, MoldMaking Technology and Production Machining.
 
 
The Event
 
At imX, the manufacturing industry will, for the first time, come together not as competitors but as collaborators <http://www.imxevent.com/imx2011/public/Content.aspx?ID=133&sortMenu=102001> with a common goal and focus of long-term industry viability. Participants will meet to discuss and foster an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing their customers, their competition and the latest manufacturing technologies.
 
The invitation-only event is expected to draw 9,000 manufacturing leaders, top suppliers and high-level, qualified U.S. buyers to the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas. Manufacturing executives can apply to be an eXecutive Guest at the event via the “Apply Now” <https://www.xpressreg.net/register/IMXE091/reginfo.php> link at http://www.imxevent.com.
 
Dozens of eXhibit Partners already have committed to joining the conversation and to demonstrating their own manufacturing innovations at imX, among them: Allied Machine & Eng Corp, Automated Precision, Balluf Inc, Big Kaiser, BigC, Blaser Swisslube, Blum LMT, Briney Tooling Systems, Busche Workholding, CAMplete, Carl Zeiss IMT, Caron Engineering, Castrol Industrial, CGS North America, CGTech, Chiron America Inc, Cimcool Industrial Products, dataZen Engineering, Delcam, Epicor Software, ERI America, ERIEZ Hydroflow, Esprit/DP Technology, Exsys Tool, Factory Automation Systems, Fastems, GTR mbH, Haimer USA, Hangsterfers Lab, Heimatec GmbH, Hermle Machine Co., Hexagon Metrology, HORN USA, Huot Mfg, Hurco Companies, Index Corp, Innovative Workholding Alliance, Ion Quality Systems, Iscar Metals Inc, Jauch Schmider GmbH, Kitigawa-Northtech Inc, Koma Precision, Kuka Robotics, Losma, Marubeni Citizen-Cincom, MasterCAM, MD Tooling, Midaco Corp, Mitsui Seiki, MP Systems, Okamoto Corp, Pat Mooney Inc, Precision Dormer, REGO-FIX, REM Sales, Renishaw, RobbJack Corp/Crystallume, Royal Products, Schunk, Seco Tools, Selway Machine Tool Inc, Servotech Inc, Sescoi USA, SNW Autoblok Corp, SNK America, SpaceClaim Corp, Spring Technologies, StarragHeckert, Stratasys, Surfware, System 3R, TDM Systems, TE-CO, Unisig, United Grinding Tech, Von Ruden Mfg, Wohlhaupter Corp, WTO Inc, Yamazen Inc, Zoller.

Registration and other information about imX can be found at http://imxevent.com <http://imxevent.com> . For the latest event details, follow imX on Twitter at http://twitter.com/imxevent <http://twitter.com/imxevent> or find the event on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/imXevent.