IMTS 2024

[#Rekd™]

Just wondering who is going to IMTS 2024 this year? I am heading down on the Tuesday.

 

[cncappsjames]

I should be there M-F.

[crazy^millman]

Glad to go if anyone is willing to sponsor me. I might be back in the Chicago area around then just have to see what different customers are doing. Here in the area this and next week then back home on the 27th.

[gcode]

I've never been to IMTS and it's not likely that I ever will.

I still remember my first time at Westec, back in its heyday.

Talk about a country boy in the big city !!!  I could have spent a week there and not seen it all.

I haven't been to the new Westec at the Long Beach Convention Center either.

I went to the last Westec at the LA Convention Center, and it was just sad.

I walked the place in 3 hours and left.  I suspect the Long Beach version is even sadder.

[Brad St.]

Been to IMTS once, the main reason I feel I'd go back to so see you guys and to buy you all a beer for all the help you've ever given me!

[cncappsjames]

22 hours ago, gcode said:

I've never been to IMTS and it's not likely that I ever will.

I still remember my first time at Westec, back in its heyday.

Talk about a country boy in the big city !!!  I could have spent a week there and not seen it all.

I haven't been to the new Westec at the Long Beach Convention Center either.

I went to the last Westec at the LA Convention Center, and it was just sad.

I walked the place in 3 hours and left.  I suspect the Long Beach version is even sadder.

Long Beach is where Trade Shows go to die.

WESTEC is on life support... and the SME just doesn't want to admit it.

[Aaron Eberhard]

I'll be there.. I haven't 100% locked in days yet, but I believe I'll be there Monday-Thursday.   I've got a few people I'm meeting so I'm trying to juggle everyone's schedules.  You know how it goes.  It'll be my first time at a trade show from the other side of the rope.  I've been to 20 or 30 of 'em now, but always an exhibitor.

[ajmer]

Ill be there this year at the mastercam booth..hopefully meet a few of u guys

[MIL-TFP-41]

Maybe to most likely here. My preference would be earlier in the week tho I am not the one to 100% make that call. Need to investigate more automation options & alternative makes/models of machines.

[crazy^millman]

Might be able to align onsite with a customer during that week. I have been coming to the area 2 weeks at a time so I can come early and then stay couple days into the week after IMTS to makeup for days I go to the show.

[TFarrell9]

On 7/18/2024 at 8:22 AM, gcode said:

I've never been to IMTS and it's not likely that I ever will.

I still remember my first time at Westec, back in its heyday.

Talk about a country boy in the big city !!!  I could have spent a week there and not seen it all.

I haven't been to the new Westec at the Long Beach Convention Center either.

I went to the last Westec at the LA Convention Center, and it was just sad.

I walked the place in 3 hours and left.  I suspect the Long Beach version is even sadder.

I went to Westec for the first time last year and was super underwhelmed. I don't even think we were there for 3 hours.

[GoetzInd]

Quote

I've never been to IMTS and it's not likely that I ever will.

@gcodeyou're welcome to stay here for some free lodging. Assuming you don't mind waking up to a two year old crying or creepily staring at you next to the bed.....

MIke

[MIL-TFP-41]

Last & only time I went to WESTEC OJ Simpson was on trial.  So 1994, 1995 ish?

I remember being seriously unimpressed. The only other show I had been to previously was IMTS in 1990, and WESTEC was minuscule in comparison.

[cncappsjames]

WESTEC heyday was mid-late 1990's. It consumed 3 Floors of the Los Angeles Convention Center South Hall and Two Floors of the North Hall. So maybe 25% of what IMTS is ft² - wise.

WESTEC now... about 25% of what it was BITD. Doesn't even consume the entire floor of the Long Beach Convention Center. Pretty sad really.

When I worked for Mori Seiki in the 90's, we begged the SME to run WESTEC in IMTS Off-Years because of the cost. They told us "leave the shows to us, we know what we're doing.". By 2000, it had shrunk to just consume the South Hall and slow but sure, less and less space to what we have now. Had the SME listened, I think it would still be a healthy show... at least 2 floors of the South Hall. It will never go back to the way it was. There's just no need. Builders do not announce new machines there so really it's just for people West of 105°.

IMTS has shrunk also. Maybe by 25% from the biggest I've seen it.

Shows are EXPENSIVE. They serve a purpose still, but not nearly to the scale they were BITD. Information is much more readily available. FEW people are buying machines based on a show live cutting demo anymore. Things have changed.

The old adage adapt or die is in FULL effect.