AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the owner and producer of IMTS-The International Manufacturing Technology Show, has joined forces with the Women in Manufacturing Association (WiM) to strengthen and advance the manufacturing technology community. Together, the organizations will coproduce IMTS ELEVATE, powered by AMT and WiM, a half-day conference and networking reception debuting at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19, at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL.
The event is designed to unite professionals across every sector of manufacturing technology, including engineers, technicians, executives, educators, and entrepreneurs.
ELEVATE is open to manufacturing professionals nationwide, with a special emphasis on Chicago's manufacturing community and the more than 86,000 visitors IMTS attracts, from global manufacturers to exhibitors, who come to experience the show firsthand and build meaningful connections with innovators, peers, and emerging leaders. The program builds on successful IMTS 2022 and 2024 events that highlighted women in manufacturing, featuring conversations on leadership, innovation, and the growing influence of women across the manufacturing technology sector.
Highlights include opening remarks from WiM and AMT leaders, an inspiring keynote on resilience and authentic leadership, and a panel of women driving transformation across engineering, operations, and manufacturing technology. During a fireside chat, Allison Roberts Grealis, President/founder of WiM, and a prominent industry leader will explore career pivots and the future of women in advanced manufacturing. The event concludes with closing remarks and a networking reception to connect attendees and continue the dialogue. A full speaker list will be released in spring 2026.
The IMTS ELEVATE Conference is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from 1-4:30 PM, followed by an exclusive on-site networking reception from 4:30-6 PM at McCormick Place. Registration is now open. Learn more, sign up, or explore sponsorships at IMTS.com/ELEVATE.