Precision Plus at IMTS 2016
IMTS 2016 has wrapped up, and by all accounts, it was a great success with over 115,000 visitors attending. It was also a great reminder that the workforce of tomorrow has to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology, and our youth needs to be inspired today.
Precision Plus was an active participant, sponsoring three coach buses filled with students, teachers, and several of our team members that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the show. It was also great to see two more coach buses headed down that Friday with students and faculty from Gateway Technical College. I cannot imagine any better opportunity to showcase the state of today’s manufacturing than to tour the IMTS floor. One really needs to experience it to grasp the grand scale of the show, but here are a few facts to provide a little perspective:
- 1,370,256 square feet of exhibit space. Yes – that is 1.37 million square feet!
- 2,407 exhibiting companies from all over the world
- 76 million pounds of materials moved into McCormick Place
- Equipment and tooling worth nearly $1 billion!
As I spoke with different exhibitors during the show, the feedback was very similar. The show generated good traffic and the attendees were very optimistic about business prospects going forward. As we are well aware, manufacturing is key to our country’s economic growth and prosperity.
On Day 4 of IMTS 2016, I had an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time and walk the halls before the chaos of the show. In order to beat the traffic, I arrived a full three and half hours before the show opened at 10:00. This allowed me to reflect upon just how massive, and important, this show really is. That evening, I attended a boat party on Lake Michigan, thanks to Olaf and Claudia Tessarzyk of ZPS America. It was a wonderful evening, spent with like-minded manufacturing enthusiasts, overlooking one of the finest skylines of any big city.
Technological advancements, like those seen at IMTS 2016, are changing the industry at an increasingly rapid pace. Moving forward, we need to open our doors to students so that they may see the beauty in what manufacturing careers can offer them. Creating through the application of technology and problem solving is what builds value, and ultimately wealth. The importance of manufacturing to our nation’s economic wellbeing is evident. Make a difference and get involved. Be a proactive force in creating opportunity for the next generation of manufacturers.
There is no time like the present to get excited about manufacturing. October is Manufacturing Month, and you’ll see Precision Plus celebrating and promoting the importance of this all month long. We will continue to spread the message, especially to our youth, that a career in manufacturing is a rewarding and well-paying one. To learn more about Wisconsin Manufacturing Month, visit https://www.wmc.org/programs/manufacturing-month/.
Regards,
MIKE
Michael J. Reader, President
Precision Plus, Inc.
ReaderM@preplus.com
