US Manufacturing Investment, Productivity Momentum Set Stage for IMTS 2026
September 19, 2026The United States continues to see renewed manufacturing investment and output growth, but sustaining reindustrialization depends on accelerating productivity. At IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, the manufacturers and job shops that build America will find the technologies, ideas, and connections that translate capital investment into greater efficiency, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.
U.S. manufacturing generates trillions of dollars in economic output, and IMTS serves as a marketplace connecting manufacturers with technology providers. According to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report, in the first half of 2026, new orders of metalworking machinery reached a record total of $3.44 billion, up 36% year over year and the strongest half since USMTO began tracking orders in 1998. New orders for manufactured durable goods increased $3.6 billion, or 1.1%, to $339.3 billion in July, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, marking the fourth increase in five months. The ISM Manufacturing PMI registered 54.6 in August, the eighth straight month of manufacturing sector expansion, while ISM's broader economic indicator has now shown growth for 22 consecutive months.
“Economic momentum, demand for a stronger U.S. industrial base, continued reshoring and foreign direct investment, new incentives for capital investment, and the launch of cutting-edge technologies are creating one of the most exciting moments manufacturing has seen in years – and one of the most important reasons to attend IMTS,” says Douglas K. Woods, president of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS. “Across aerospace, defense, medical, AI infrastructure, and other high-demand sectors, manufacturers are looking for the technologies, partners, and productivity gains that will help them compete and grow.”
Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 2.4% in the second quarter of 2026, as output increased 5.4% and hours worked increased 2.9%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Durable-goods manufacturers performed even better, increasing productivity 3.6% as output grew 7.3%. Manufacturing unit labor costs decreased 0.3%, with productivity gains offset by higher hourly compensation.
U.S. and foreign companies have announced $11 trillion in U.S. investment commitments, according to investments tracked by the White House, underscoring the scale of opportunity for manufacturers and technology providers gathering at IMTS.
The investment momentum aligns with reshoring trends that continue to reshape U.S. manufacturing.
“Manufacturing is surging,” confirms Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative. “Much of that strength is due to reshoring and foreign direct investment staying strong and being projected to reach a near-record 338,000 jobs announced in 2026 alone.”
To celebrate reshoring, Moser will present the 2026 National Metalworking Reshoring Award to two recipients, AccuRounds and Three M Tool & Machine & Ultra-Grip. Moser says balancing the country's $1.3 trillion goods trade deficit will require a 40% increase in manufacturing and a surge in investment and productivity. The award-winning shops demonstrate how manufacturers can help close that gap.
Learning and Inspiration
Beyond the exhibit floor, IMTS is a major forum for manufacturing education and networking, with more than 50 sessions on the IMTS+ Main Stage. Presentation themes include domestic manufacturing growth, the U.S. defense industrial base, AI, automation, additive technology, digital manufacturing, aerospace growth, women in manufacturing, next-generation education, technology investment, and more. People and organizations represented include:
· Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, Director, Submarine Programs for the U.S. Department of War, will focus on how the submarine enterprise is using data-driven insights to drive speed and innovation, particularly in advanced and additive manufacturing, and how industry partners can support their critical mission.
· Representatives from the Warfighting Investments, Resourcing, and Execution (WIRE) directorate at the U.S. Department of War will deliver a presentation titled “Build Freedom: Building the Workforce Behind America’s Manufacturing Strength.”
· A conversation on the U.S. Navy’s growing investment in 3D printing and what it means for the future of defense, featuring Captain Jason Deichler, Chief of Staff, Director, Submarine Programs for the U.S. Department of War, and John Barnes of Barnes Global Advisors.
· Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories, which respectively created drones and test flight vehicles that demonstrate surge production capabilities using additive manufacturing, automation, and AI.
· Technology and manufacturing industry leaders from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Autodesk, AWS, Boom Supersonic, Caterpillar, EOS, Google Cloud, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Mazak, Microsoft, Red Bull Technology, and Siemens.
· Investment, financial, and market perspectives from Bain & Co., The Barnes Global Advisors, Cantor Fitzgerald, IMEC, Held Holding, NewCap Partners, and others.
· People who make space exploration possible, featuring retired astronaut Wendy Lawrence and Dr. Sharon Cobb, associate program manager, NASA’s Space Launch System Program.
“As a country, we need to make more things here. Reindustrializing America depends on increasing our total productivity factor by adopting new technologies and business approaches,” says John “Jay” Rogers, co-founder and CEO of Haddy. Rogers will deliver an IMTS+ Main Stage speech on his approaches using AI-powered robotic 3D printing of drone boats and aircraft for military applications, furniture, and show sets for Disney World.
Investing in Productivity
For machine shops, equipment represents their largest capital investment, making IMTS an important venue for evaluating technologies that can improve productivity, expand capacity, and support more confident purchasing decisions.
“By investing in the best-of-the-best CNC and fabrication equipment, we’re able to produce better parts faster, with fewer defects and less postprocessing, which ultimately lowers costs and improves reliability for our customers,” says Jim Belosic, founder and CEO of SendCutSend, an on-demand manufacturing company specializing in custom sheet metal and CNC machining. Belosic will participate in IMTS+ Main Stage events.
New CNCs debuting at IMTS emphasize technologies that increase output per employee and machine, including process consolidation, 5-axis and multitasking capability, hybrid manufacturing, and unattended production. Highlights include:
· DN Solutions’ AM2CNC platform with a 5-axis machining center and automatic workpiece changer.
· Hurco’s BM500U for 5-axis or 3+2 machining, as well as a new eight-station pallet changer.
· Makino’s a630iT 5-axis horizontal machining center with Pro7 Control.Okuma’s MULTUS U1000 compact multitasking lathe and 13-pallet tower system.
· Trevisan Machine Tool’s GT350 with milling and U-axis turning spindles.
· United Machining Solutions’ Mikron Mill E 700 U Prime and AgieCharmilles CUT P 600 wire-cutting EDM.
To assess the technology unveiled at IMTS 2026, MakingChips podcast hosts Mike Payne, president and owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication, and Paul Van Metre, co-founder of ProShop ERP, will host afternoon sessions on the IMTS+ Main Stage on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
“Walking the IMTS floor shows you the technology. Presentations on the IMTS+ Main Stage, conferences, and networking events provide insight on how to make investment decisions with greater confidence and deliver lasting value,” Payne said.
Van Metre added, “IMTS brings together the people that have solved these challenges before. We’ll interview these experts so visitors can learn from their experience instead of starting from scratch.”
Manufacturers looking to increase productivity, expand capacity, and capitalize on renewed investment in U.S. manufacturing can connect with technology providers and industry leaders across IMTS exhibits, conferences, stages, and events.
For more information contact:
IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show
www.imts.com
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology
AMTonline.org
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