AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology is bringing new excitement to IMTS 2026 and North America through its partnership with the European trade show producer Mesago Messe Frankfurt GmbH – the producers of Formnext and SPS – Smart Production Solutions – and Gardner Business Media.
This endeavor combines AMT's impact as the producer of IMTS – the largest manufacturing show in the western hemisphere; Mesago's rich history as the producer of robust European shows Formnext and SPS, and the leading mulltimedia organization Gardner Business Media, which represents industries from manufacturing to additive, to plastics and composites.
Together they offer a cross-section of events, technology, and media to bring solutions that meet the expanding needs of the workforce, productivity, and business management issues faced by OEMs, job shops, and small and medium-sized businesses representative of the IMTS audience.
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SPS – Smart Production Solutions Comes to the United States
Organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, SPS – Smart Production Solutions (SPS) is a renowned global trade event for the automation industry held in Nuremberg, Germany. As a vital platform for knowledge exchange and advancement in the field of industrial automation, SPS is expanding into the U.S. market.
Together Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing, and Gardner Business Media, bring collective strengths in events, manufacturing technology, and media to produce the first-ever industrial automation trade show experience beginning with the new Automation Sector, accelerated by SPS – Smart Production Solutions at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14 - 19, 2026, at McCormick Place, in Chicago, Ill. IMTS audiences will experience an abundance of smart and digital automation solutions for industrial manufacturing.
An independent event SPS Atlanta 2025, will debut Sept. 16-18 and occur every two years. This stand-alone event will further accelerate and facilitate the exchange of ideas and innovation in the automation industry. From electric drive systems to machinery and sensor technology, SPS Atlanta 2025 will provide visitors new solutions to improve their operational efficiencies with a full look at the expansive collection of smart and digital automation products and services.
AMT's Michelle Edmonson, vice president of exhibitions, sits with Sylke Schulz-Metzner, vice president of SPS – Smart Production Solutions, and Katerina Hodinova-Bauer, senior sales manager of SPS – Smart Production Solutions to talk about the SPS trade fair and bringing it to the U.S. in 2025.
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 160 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.
About Messe Frankfurt North America, Inc.
Messe Frankfurt North America, Inc. is a subsidiary of Messe Frankfurt and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Messe Frankfurt North America, Inc. 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, Festival of Motoring Atlanta, and Process Expo.
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.
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.