CMTS gets bigger and better in 2015

The latest Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS), set for September 28 to October 1 at The International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, will be “bigger and better” than its predecessor, says Julie Pike, event manager of SME Canada, the show organizers.

“The show will feature more advanced manufacturing, more machine tools, and more metalworking than in 2013. Visitors will experience live equipment and machines from 400 exhibiting companies who will be displaying world leading manufacturing brands. We are expecting more than 8,000 manufacturing professionals from across Canada to be in attendance,” says Pike.

Held every two years, CMTS is the biggest event of its kind in Canada. CMTS 2013 (which also took place at The International Centre), had 390 exhibitors, an aerospace display devoted to the Avro Arrow and a total attendance of 8,107.

All told, CMTS 2015 will take up 375,000 square feet at The International Centre, making the show “a bit larger than 2013,” states Pike.

Visitors can expect to see the latest and greatest in machine tools, tooling, metal forming and fabricating, automation, 3D printing/additive manufacturing, design engineering and plant management.

The theme of CMTS 2015 is “Manufacture the Future”. To this end, floorspace at the show will be divided into “targeted technology zones” says Pike.

Hall 1 will feature advanced manufacturing, while Halls 2, 3 and 4 will host machine tools, tooling and metalworking.

CMTS kicks off with an opening keynote address from Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Guelph, Ontario’s Linamar Corporation, on September 28. The same day, the Toronto-based Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association will be holding an APMA Outlook Conference as part of CMTS.

Introduced for the first time in Canada last year, the RAPID Canada Conference, centered on additive manufacturing, 3D printing and scanning technology, will be held at CMTS September 29 – 30. Launched in 1994 in the United States by SME, the RAPID conference is focused on a burgeoning market.

According to consulting firm, Wohlers Associates, global sales of 3D printing products and services—which manufacturers can use to make parts and prototypes—will near $6 billion by 2017. The RAPID Pavilion will be based in Hall 1.

“This year, the RAPID conference is focusing on two tracks—the first being design, R&D and materials development, while the second looks at the latest developments in medical device manufacturing involving additive manufacturing technologies,” states Pike.

The medical manufacturing track will feature presentations on “How 3D Metal Printing Revolutionizes the Medical Industry” and “Changes in Dentistry with the use of 3D Scanning and CAD/CAM Technology.”

Jeff Degrange, chief commercial officer of Impossible Objects LLC, will offer the RAPID Conference keynote address. His presentation— open to all CMTS attendees—is entitled, “Embracing Emerging Technologies.” Impossible Objects is

a carbon fiber composites additive manufacturing provider based n Chicago.

Hall 1 will also feature a “3D Playground” where “newly developed ideas in additive manufacturing will be presented and the audience can interact with 3D printing and scanning technologies,” says Pike. Hall 3 meanwhile houses something called Innovation Alley, “a dedicated area which will feature cutting-edge technologies applied across various manufacturing sectors,” according to Pike.

Among other highlights, Innovation Alley will showcase high-tech automotive and aerospace prototypes and new university R & D into manufacturing technologies. There will also be a virtual reality segment and a robotics competition.

Exhibitors express great excitement 

“CMTS is the single most important Canadian show for Haas in 2015,” says Joel Weiss, trade show manager at Haas Automation, headquartered in Oxnard, California. “Haas corporate has selected to exhibit at this show with strong support from our territory distributor. This show will be the show Haas showcases several CNC machines for cutting metal and making parts.”

According to Ray Buxton, general manager of Mazak Corp. Canada, another major show exhibitor, “CMTS is the CANADIAN show. It is (or should be) for Canadians, by Canadians … Mazak thinks very highly of the CMTS show and we always are able to turn opportunities into orders at this very vibrant and rejuvenated event.” CMTS 2015 takes place against a backdrop of worrying economic indicators in Canada, including slumping oil prices, a sinking dollar and a potential recession. Despite these factors, exhibitors still have high hopes.

“There is no doubt that there have been great economic pressures at play as of late mainly due to the price of oil and the resulting effect on that industry. However our customers in the non-oil related industries are busy and in fact continue to buy machines as projects present themselves … our quotation levels also remain brisk. In some cases we are seeing a longer than usual final decision making scenario, but again the reality is that customers are busy and machines continue to be sold. All of this coupled with the fact that we are displaying some great new Haas products that are excellent return on investment packages, give us confidence that CMTS-2015 will be a great show,” says Dan Ferko, president of Sirco Machinery Company Limited, a Haas factory outlet with branches in Toronto, Montreal and Windsor.

Haas’ non-oil related customers come from “a broad range of industries including automotive, medical and general job shops for products being exported into U.S. markets.

These companies have become extremely competitive in those U.S. markets with the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Canadian dollar,” explains Ferko.

Ferko says Haas closed a dozen machine orders at their booth during CMTS 2013, with several additional follow-up sales generated by show leads.

Elliott Matsuura Canada, a machine tool supplier in Oakville, ON and CMTS exhibitor, also has great expectations, despite current economic turmoil.

“Some sectors such as aerospace, aircraft, high-tech, etc., are very busy. We are hopeful that there will be a good turn-out to the show, giving us the opportunity to showcase the latest in technology from our major suppliers,” says Elliott Matsuura Canada vice-president, Vince D’Alessio.

DMG MORI Canada, based in Mississauga, wants to “showcase our company’s growth even through these hard times” notes the company.

DMG MORI Canada “looks forward to high traffic in our booth” and hopes “to show all visitors that we are the world’s largest and most advanced machine tool builder by presenting a selection of our latest machines, all with ‘live’ demos.”

The show isn’t just for big players; small job shops will benefit from attending, says Pike. As proof, she points to a Job Shop Appreciation Reception scheduled from 5 to 7 pm on September 30. Drinks and food will be on the house, while former Toronto Maple Leaf star Darryl Sittler will be in attendance.

On the night of the Job Shop Reception, “the exhibit halls will remain open after regular business hours to accommodate small and medium-sized businesses who cannot afford to miss time away from their shops,” states Pike. CMTS gets top marks from exhibitors, even when compared to similar events around the world such as IMTS and EMO.

“Many products that you see at the larger international shows are not necessarily well represented in Canada. The CMTS allows us to not only present the equipment, but also demonstrate our service and support capabilities, giving our customer the confidence to invest in our equipment,” says D’Alessio.

“CMTS is the IMTS of Canada, making it the most important show for Canadian manufacturers to attend,” adds Mark Rentschler, director of marketing at Makino. “It also provides international suppliers and distributors…the perfect opportunity to speak directly to the unique needs and concerns of the Canadian market. It’s an exceptional opportunity to network and discover true game-changing solutions that will drive business growth.