In 2016, I went to the International Manufacturing Tools Show (IMTS) in Chicago with my Dad. At this show, there were 2,407 companies, in 1,808 booths, covering 1,415,848 sq.ft., showing off everything new and revolutionary to the world of manufacturing. Companies such as FANUC, DMG MORI, AutoCAD, Siemens, Zeiss, Mitsui Seiki, and Haas to name a few, had large displays at this show. The show exhibited everything from massive FANUC robots moving a corvette around like a toy, to machines 3d printing metal parts using lasers, to electromagnets that can be turned on and off and can even remain magnetized when the power is turned off. Even though I was still in high school at the time, this show gave me a great opportunity to see all of the jobs that I could do with a degree in engineering. This trip also gave me an opportunity to speak with people from these impressive companies and I learned not only about many incredibly innovative products but also about the companies that make them.
