The U.S. manufacturing industry continues to grow stronger through new opportunities and technological innovations. These drivers converge at the 2026 edition of IMTS-The International Manufacturing Technology Show, connecting production facilities, contract manufacturers, and job shops with the innovations, opportunities, and people shaping the future of U.S. manufacturing.
"There has never been a more exciting time to attend IMTS or be in manufacturing," said Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS.
IMTS 2026 runs September 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL, where the industry will gather to explore technologies fueling the future, including automation, robotics, machining, AI, additive manufacturing (AM), and digital solutions.
The event offers a once-every-two-years opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in the manufacturing technology ecosystem. With more than 1.2 million sq. ft. of exhibit space and 1,800 exhibiting companies, IMTS enables attendees to discover foundational and advanced technologies that enhance competitiveness on a global scale.
"U.S. manufacturing leads the world because we innovate faster, adopt more efficiently, and foster a culture of pushing boundaries," added Woods.
Strength Generates Opportunity
With a GDP of $30.5 trillion, the United States is the largest economy globally, and with a 2025 annualized personalized consumption expenditure of $20.8 trillion, it remains the top destination for domestic and foreign investment.
"If our $2.9 trillion U.S. manufacturing economy were measured as a country, it would rank as the eighth-largest country in the world," said Woods. He also noted that foreign direct investment exceeded $275 billion in 2024, and since January 2025, new investments in U.S. manufacturing, technology, and infrastructure have totaled more than $8 trillion.
Beyond market size, advantages for investing in U.S. manufacturing include customer proximity, closer integration with engineering, lower freight and duty costs, shorter supply chains-which reduce geopolitical risk-and reliable, low-cost energy.
The 2025 Reshoring Survey confirmed these domestic advantages and identified one opportunity to make U.S. manufacturing even stronger: a larger and better-trained skilled workforce would motivate OEMs to reshore 30% of what they currently import-a greater motivator than lower taxes or tariffs, deregulation, or a decrease in value of the U.S. dollar.
"The 2025 Reshoring Survey found that 43% of contract manufacturers have already reshored work for customers or are actively fulfilling reshoring orders, while another 16% are currently quoting reshoring projects," said Harry Moser, founder and President of the Reshoring Initiative.
"Where manufacturing and investments in other developed economies have stalled, the United States is growing stronger," Woods added. "For example, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) strengthens investment conditions. AMT played a leading role in shaping this legislation, delivering long-sought tax incentives, investment opportunities, and financial relief to manufacturers."
Key OBBBA provisions benefiting the IMTS community include:
- Reinstates and makes permanent 100% bonus depreciation for qualified assets, including manufacturing equipment, machinery, and facilities
- Doubles the Section 179 small business expensing cap, from $1.25 million to $2.5 million
- Makes permanent the Section 199A pass-through business deduction of 20%
- Allows U.S.-based R&D costs to be fully expensed in the year incurred
- Permanently sets the estate tax exemption for small business owners at $15 million (individual) and $30 million (joint)
- Restores EBITDA-based deduction rules through 2029, allowing greater deductibility of interest expenses.
Growth Sectors
Precision manufacturers, a key IMTS audience, are poised to benefit from growth in aerospace, defense, and semiconductor sectors. Commercial air travel demand is strong; aircraft production issues are being resolved; and global defense spending is rising. OBBBA also increased the semiconductor investment tax credit from 25% to 35% to support domestic chip production. Construction investments in AI infrastructure are surging, and U.S. data center growth is expected to expand rapidly, supported by abundant energy and water resources. The United States is the world's top energy producer, exporting 30% of its production in 2024.
"There are abundant opportunities in key industries and more ways than ever for manufacturers to improve operational efficiencies," said Woods. "Technologies featured at IMTS can boost gross profit, sales per employee, and enable manufacturers to target new customers with enhanced capabilities. Beyond high-profile solutions like machining centers, AI, software, and automation, tens of thousands of time-saving machines and tools help free up people for higher-value work that generates better margins."
IMTS highlights these innovations in AMT's Emerging Technology Center (ETC). "The ETC showcases technology addressing today's most pressing manufacturing challenges, including automation, process integration, reshoring, aerospace and defense growth, and productivity per worker," said Bonnie Gurney, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations at AMT.
To connect with the leaders, technologies, and insights defining the future of advanced manufacturing and the U.S. industrial economy, register for IMTS 2026. Explore more exhibitors and features at IMTS.com.