Many trade shows have disappeared or diminished in recent decades—but not the International Manufacturing Technology Show, a biannual event held every even-numbered year in Chicago, this year from Sept. 12–17. In its 33rd year, IMTS was of sufficient scope to take up nearly half of McCormick Place—with its 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space, the largest convention center in North America.

IMTS 2022 needed the room for its 86,307 registrants, 1,816 exhibitors, and more than 1,600 booths. The show occupied 1.2 million square feet of floor space, making a solid case for IMTS as one of the biggest trade conventions in the world.

It was a triumphant return to viability for the show after the world pandemic seemed to threaten its very existence.

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