3D Printing and Other Advanced Technologies on Display at Smart Manufacturing Experience 2018

From April 30th through May 2nd, SME and AMT – the Association for Manufacturing Technology – will be presenting what is shaping up to be the leading smart manufacturing event in the United States. The Smart Manufacturing Experience 2018 is being held at the Boston Convention Center in Massachusetts, and will focus on how industry is being changed by advanced technologies such as 3D printing, automation and robotics, precision machining, 3D scanning and precision measurement, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

More than 100 exhibitors are already lined up to demonstrate their smart manufacturing technologies that can shape the future of manufacturing. Attendees can learn from several keynote presentations as well as take advantage of multiple special features such as knowledge bars, learning labs, a mixed reality experience, an event floor reception and an attendee meet-up lounge.

Along with SME and AMT the event is being co-sponsored by founding partners that include Mazak, the Robert E. Morris Company, Methods Machine Tools, and IMTS 2018 – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, leaders in advanced manufacturing that represent solutions in additive manufacturing, digital manufacturing, automation and more to major manufacturing companies around the world.

“Partnering with companies such as Mazak, The Robert E. Morris Co., and Methods Machine Tools ensures that the Smart Manufacturing Experience will deliver real solutions to manufacturers that they can use today,” said Debbie Holton, Vice President, SME Events & Industry Strategy. “These partners are committed to advancing manufacturing productivity, performance, and profitability using smart manufacturing technologies throughout the manufacturing value chain.”

In addition to the features mentioned above, the Smart Manufacturing Experience will also offer several workshops where attendees can learn about new possibilities in smart manufacturing and advance their knowledge of the technologies that are shaping industry today. These include:

• Optimal Precision Machining, given by Rick Schultz, Aerospace Program Manager, FANUC America
• Navigating Digital Manufacturing & Design, given by Dennis Thompson, President and Managing Partner, Equus Partners
• Getting Started with Robotics, given by Bob Rochelle, Manager, Güdel Inc.
• Fundamentals of Additive Manufacturing, given by Francisco Medina, Principal Engineer, Additive Manufacturing, Buffalo Manufacturing Works
• Where Smart Manufacturing Happens – the Intersection of the Digital Thread and IIoT, given by Conrad Leiva, Vice President, Product Strategy and Alliances, iBASEt
• MTConnect Testbed, given by Moneer Helu, Mechanical Engineer, and Thomas Hedberg, Research Mechanical Engineer, NIST

All workshops take place from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Monday, April 30th and include lunch.

The Mixed Reality Experience will feature participation from the VR/AR Association, PTC and Mechdyne, with focus on virtual, augmented and mixed reality technologies. Smart Manufacturing is driven by the integration of machines, systems and data, and VR and AR demonstrations will provide an immersive exploration of these technologies.

“It is our goal, every day, to help our customers do more with less,” said Lou Olson, President, The Robert E. Morris Co. “The Smart Manufacturing Experience will be an excellent opportunity to engage with area manufacturers and other advanced technology suppliers who share our passion for improving manufacturing productivity, profitability, and quality with the most highly sophisticated tools and resources currently and imminently available to them.”

More and more companies are implementing or considering implementing smart manufacturing strategies in their businesses as the Fourth Industrial Revolution arrives. A 2016 Advanced Manufacturing Media survey showed that 43 percent of manufacturers polled were considering implementing smart manufacturing solutions into their businesses over the next two years, and a Grand View Research study stated that the global smart manufacturing market is expected to reach $395.2 billion by 2025, up from $172.34 billion in 2016.

“Manufacturing is in an era of disruptive transformation unlike anything seen before,” said Douglas K. Woods, President, AMT. “It is imperative that companies learn how to best implement and leverage these technologies to stay competitive, whether it’s advanced robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, or any other technology that supports the connected factory. We are excited to have Mazak, the Robert E. Morris Co. and Methods Machine Tools on board to sponsor an event focused on the world’s most advanced smart manufacturing technology.”

Registration is now open for the Smart Manufacturing Experience, starting at $75. If you register by March 19th, you can be entered to win a Google Home Assistant.

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[Images: SME]