IMTS 2024 Trends: Saying Goodbye to Robotic Programming and Medical Devices Get Squeaky Clean

Every two years, the International Manufacturing Trade Show (IMTS) takes over Chicago for an entire week. Industrial professionals, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists fill McCormick Center to connect with other industrial companies, find potential customers, and check out the technology pushing the manufacturing sector to new heights. 

This year, several technologies were present on the trade show floor, but automation presented itself in every aisle. From heavy payload robots to industrial ultrasonic cleaning systems, here are just a few of the technology trends Thomas saw at IMTS 2024. 

Cleaning Systems for Medical Devices Easily Remove Grime 

Over the last few years, the healthcare sector has invested in technology to optimize processes. In fact, the global healthcare IT market was valued at $663 billion in 2023 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 15% between now and 2030. 

At IMTS, companies in this sector displayed how their technology is changing the game. Crest Ultrasonics, for example, had its heavy-duty ultrasonic cleaners on the trade show floor. According to Crest Ultrasonics, its devices outperform conventional cleaning methods with a combination of speed, reliability, and precision. 

Cleaning or removing lubricants, metal debris, abrasive blast media residue, and other contaminants can be challenging for medical devices in particular, but Crest Ultrasonics presented itself as a solution. 

In the medical device sector, automated cleaning systems are often implemented to reduce the risk of cross-contamination and infection. Ultrasonic devices are particularly useful for devices with hard-to-reach areas and for delicate instruments. 

Cobots and Eliminating the Steps of Robotic Programming  

Over the last several years, cobots have entered various sectors, from agriculture to welding to retail. IMTS is no stranger to cobots, with many companies showing off what their bots could do this year. 

Implementing robots on the factory floor can be daunting. That’s why Hurco brought its ProCobots-Hurco integration to the trade show floor. The company’s ProCobot can be moved from one industrial machine to another, and its Automation Job Feature eliminates the need for robot programming, which is often a long and additional step in the automation process. 

At the show, attendees also saw a collaboration between Hurco and Kawasaki Robots, who teamed up for the first time to deliver robotic CNC machine solutions without the need for programming knowledge. 

In 2022, IMTS declared it the “year of the cobot.” While cobots have advanced over the last two years, they still have a large presence on the IMTS floor. Companies like FANUC, Rethink Robotics, and Olis Robots displayed their bots as well. 

By the end of 2024, the global cobot market is expected to reach almost $2 billion but grow to $11.8 billion by 2030 – a CAGR of over 35%. 

Heavy Payload Robots Do the Big Lifting 

While FANUC showed off some cobots on the IMTS floor, its heavy payload robot took center stage, lifting a full-size red sedan. According to FANUC, its M-2000 series is the strongest 6-axis robot on the market today, with a handling capacity of 2.3 tons and a reach of up to 4.7 meters. 

Heavy payload robots are often used to optimize several processes, including material handling, assembly, palletizing, machine loading and unloading, and packaging. In the automotive sector, these robots are often used to handle heavy objects like car bodies, taking over jobs once manually done by forklifts and cranes. 

The heavy payload robot arm market is anticipated to reach $15 billion by 2029. 

CNC Routers Take Machining to the Next Level 

A low-cost alternative to CNC mills, CNC routers were also on full display at IMTS. CNC routers are designed to carve out complex shapes from soft materials like plastic, wood, and sometimes steel. From molding to packaging, CNC routers are used across various sectors.

At IMTS, C.R. Onsrud’s 3-Axis M-Series was carving designs on the trade show floor. The company touts the machine as perfect for limited floor space and budget and says automation also makes the manufacturing processes more efficient and safer. 

IMTS By the Numbers

• 10 different manufacturing sectors represented 

• 1,600 exhibitors 

• ~86,000 attendees

You can find Thomas at booth #433224 in the West Hall of McCormick Center.

Image Credit: Brooklyn Kiosow