Every two years, North America's largest manufacturing technology show takes over Chicago's McCormick Place, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet. IMTS 2026 runs September 14–19, with over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space and more than 2,000 exhibitors expected across four buildings. For the first time in several cycles, abrasive machining, sawing, and finishing has its own dedicated product category alongside additive manufacturing, automation, and tooling — a signal of how central surface finishing and material removal have become to modern production.
You don't need a plane ticket to Chicago to care about this. The technology previewed at a show like IMTS tends to filter down into the wheels, discs, belts, and finishing media that shops across Canada rely on within a year or two. Here's what's on display and why it's worth watching.
Finishing systems built to cut handling, not just material
A recurring theme among finishing exhibitors this year is reducing the number of times a part gets lifted, staged, and moved between stations. Integrated systems that combine bulk finishing (spiral or centrifugal barrel processes) with inline washing in a single line are being pitched specifically on cycle-time and injury-reduction grounds — fewer manual transfers means fewer opportunities for repetitive-strain and handling injuries on the shop floor, not just faster throughput.
Centrifugal and mass-finishing equipment aimed at exotic and hard-to-finish metals — titanium, Inconel, and stainless alongside aluminum — is also getting attention, reflecting continued growth in aerospace and precision component work that demands consistent, repeatable surface finishes.
Abrasive waterjet cutting keeps gaining ground
Abrasive waterjet systems are another focus area, with newer machines offering 5-axis cutting heads, tighter positional accuracy, and larger work envelopes than earlier generations. Waterjet has long been a niche alternative to plasma and laser cutting for thick or heat-sensitive materials; the precision gains on display suggest it's becoming a mainstream option for shops that need to cut exotic alloys, composites, or thick plate without introducing heat-affected zones.
What this means for WA customers
- Expect incremental product upgrades, not overnight changes. Trade-show technology usually reaches everyday cutting, grinding, and finishing consumables gradually. Don't expect your go-to flap discs or cut-off wheels to change overnight, but do expect continued emphasis on longer life and reduced operator fatigue in new product lines over the next year or two.
- Cycle time and safety are being engineered together. If you're evaluating new finishing or deburring equipment, look for the same principle exhibitors are chasing at IMTS: fewer manual handling steps, not just a faster machine.
- Plan abrasives stock around your busy season, not the show calendar. IMTS lands mid-September — a good prompt to review your cutting, grinding, and sanding consumable inventory ahead of Q4 production pushes, regardless of whether new equipment factors into your plans this year.
- You don't have to attend to benefit. Trade publications and manufacturer newsletters will cover the highlights in the weeks after the show closes, so it's worth a quick check-in even if Chicago isn't in the budget this year.
Frequently asked questions
What is IMTS?
IMTS (the International Manufacturing Technology Show) is North America's largest manufacturing trade show, held every two years in Chicago. It covers machining, tooling, automation, additive manufacturing, and — this year with its own dedicated category — abrasive machining, sawing, and finishing.
When and where is IMTS 2026?
IMTS 2026 runs September 14–19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
Do I need to attend to benefit from what's shown?
No. Most of what debuts at IMTS reaches distributor catalogs and everyday consumables gradually over the following year or two. Following trade coverage after the show is usually enough to stay current.
Reviewing your cutting, grinding, or sanding consumables ahead of a busy fall production schedule? Browse our full catalog for the wheels, discs, and belts your shop runs on.