Development of Automation Sector at IMTS 2024 and SPS – Smart Production Solutions 2025 trade show in Atlanta, Georgia

McLean, Va. and Stuttgart, Germany (January 19, 2023) – Two of the global manufacturing industry’s premier organizations, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and Mesago, a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt Group, today announced a collaboration to create the Automation Sector at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show in 2024, and SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2025.

The Automation Sector at IMTS and SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta will be held in alternate years, and both events will be supported by Gardner Business Media (GBM), the leading publisher for manufacturing in North America.  

Automation Essential

The Automation Sector at IMTS 2024, powered by SPS – Smart Production Solutions, will feature an expansive offering of automated, robotic, connected, and digital manufacturing technologies. IMTS 2024 runs Sept. 9-14 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. 

IMTS 2022, the largest manufacturing technology event in North America, witnessed an unprecedented number of demonstrations featuring robots, cobots, vision systems, and other automated solutions around manufacturing processes such as additive manufacturing, CNC machining, metrology, and part handling. Exhibitors featured complete system-solutions that also included connectivity for data management and process optimization, as well as digital twin technology and new solutions for CAD/CAM and ERP/shop management software.  

“The Automation Sector at IMTS expands IMTS’ appeal as a must-attend event for businesses that want to increase their manufacturing efficiency through automation,” says Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT, which owns and produces IMTS. “By working with SPS – Smart Production Solutions, IMTS 2024 will have even more exhibits featuring advanced motion systems, vision and imaging, data analytics, systems integration, artificial intelligence, and cloud and edge computing.”

Solutions Tomorrow 

SPS – Smart Production Solutions will be held Sept. 23-25, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The inaugural event will host exhibits from simple sensors to intelligent solutions, from what is feasible today to the vision of a fully digitalized industrial world.

“Manufacturing in the Southeast region is flourishing, and as one of the national leaders in advanced manufacturing, Georgia is the perfect backstory for an automation industry event in the United States,” says Constantin von Vieregge, president and CEO, Messe Frankfurt Inc. “Working in concert with AMT, GBM, and our sister company, Mesago, the development of SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta will cater to a multiplicity of sectors providing a platform to elevate the advancing technological innovations.”

The Atlanta event is an expansion of the SPS – Smart Production Solutions trade show held annually in Nuremberg, Germany. It is Europe’s leading trade fair for digital industrial solutions. SPS 2022 attracted 44,000 visitors and featured about 1.2 million square feet of gross exhibition space and 1,000 exhibitors involved in advanced automation solutions. As an international meeting place for the industry and representing the complete spectrum of smart and digital automation, SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta will benefit from the international network already established in Germany.

Together, both events will facilitate a faster exchange of knowledge, which is particularly relevant to global issues involving supply chains, logistics, staff shortages, and cost pressures. All these issues increase the need for automation technologies that leverage worker productivity and boost business profitability. “The SPS in Atlanta in the alternative years allows for the continuity of this ever-important exchange,” underlines Martin Roschkowski, president of Mesago Messe Frankfurt. “The strength of SPS in the global automation industry, coupled with IMTS, will provide important business platforms for companies involved in this rapidly changing environment.”  

Mesago Messe Frankfurt also produces SPS fairs in China, Italy, and the Middle East, as well as events focusing on electronic assemblies, intelligent motion, and additive manufacturing. 

“Creating the Automation Sector at IMTS and SPS – Smart Production Solutions in Atlanta reflects our commitment to helping manufacturers enhance and accelerate their productivity and support the expanding U.S. manufacturing market,” says Woods. “By working with Mesago Messe Frankfurt, we can showcase an even broader spectrum of digital technologies that are essential for fueling manufacturing growth.”

Additionally, Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT, and Gardner Business Media recently announced a collaboration to bring several Formnext additive manufacturing events to the United States, including launching Formnext Chicago in 2025.

Download the full press release (PDF)

About AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology

AMT represents and promotes U.S.-based manufacturing technology and its members — those who design, build, sell, and service the continuously evolving technology that lies at the heart of manufacturing. Founded in 1902 and based in Virginia, the association specializes in providing targeted business assistance, extensive global support, and business intelligence systems and analysis. AMT is the voice that communicates the importance of policies and programs that encourage research and innovation, and the development of educational initiatives to create tomorrow’s Smartforce. AMT owns and produces IMTS — The International Manufacturing Technology Show, which is the premier manufacturing technology event in North America (AMTonline.org).

About IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show 

IMTS is the largest and longest running manufacturing technology trade show in the United States is held every other year at McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill. IMTS 2024 will run Sept. 9-14. IMTS is ranked among the largest trade shows in the world. Recognized as one of the world’s preeminent stages for introducing and selling manufacturing equipment and technology as well as connecting the industry’s supply chain. IMTS attracts visitors from every level of industry and more than 121 countries. IMTS 2022 stats: registrations (86,307), net square feet of exhibit space (1,212,806 sq. ft.), and exhibiting companies (1,816). IMTS is owned and produced by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology (IMTS.com). 

About Mesago Messe Frankfurt

Mesago, founded in 1982 and located in Stuttgart, specializes in exhibitions and conferences on various topics of technology. The company belongs to the Messe Frankfurt Group. Mesago operates internationally and is not tied to a specific venue. With around 150 members of staff Mesago organizes events for the benefit of more than 3,300 exhibitors and over 110,000 trade visitors, conference delegates and speakers from all over the world. Numerous trade associations, publishing houses, scientific institutes and universities work with Mesago closely as advisers, co-organizers and partners. ( mesago.com)

Background information on Messe Frankfurt

The Messe Frankfurt Group is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. The Group employs approximately 2,450 people at its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main and in 29 subsidiaries around the world. The company generated annual sales of approximately €257 million in 2020 after having recorded sales of €736 million the previous year. Even in difficult times caused by the coronavirus pandemic, we are globally networked with our industry sectors. We have close ties with our industry sectors and serve our customers’ business interests efficiently within the framework of our Fairs & Events, Locations and Services business fields. One of the Group’s key USPs is its closely knit global sales network, which extends throughout the world. Our comprehensive range of services – both onsite and online – ensures that customers worldwide enjoy consistently high quality and flexibility when planning, organising and running their events. We are expanding our digital expertise with new business models. The wide range of services includes renting exhibition grounds, trade fair construction and marketing, personnel and food services. Headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, the company is owned by the City of Frankfurt (60 percent) and the State of Hesse (40 percent). 

For more information, please visit our website at:  www.messefrankfurt.com

About Messe Frankfurt North America

Messe Frankfurt Inc. is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Messe Frankfurt North America produces and manages 10 shows within the United States, Canada, and Mexico, including: The Clean Show, Texworld New York City,

Apparel Sourcing New York City, Home Textiles Sourcing, Techtextil North America, Texprocess Americas, INA PAACE Automechanika Mexico City, Waste & Recycling Expo Canada, and Process Expo. For more information, please visit our website at  www.us.messefrankfurt.com.

About Gardner Business Media, Inc. 

Gardner Business Media is the premier publisher and event producer for manufacturing in North America – providing unique, one-of-a-kind, relevant information of keen interest to the people who power plants, shops, and factories. With powerhouse media brands like Modern Machine Shop, Plastics Technology, Composites World and Additive Manufacturing Gardner has unprecedented reach into the North American manufacturing ecosystem (Gardnerweb.com).