IMTS 2022 Recap

What a week at IMTS 2022!

    The team at HM Manufacturing had an incredible week at IMTS 2022. The show was very busy and it was great to be able to see old friends and meet many new people. The large amount of innovation and technology showcased the exciting places our industry is headed. President and CEO, Nicole Wolter, spoke at many events throughout the week discussing a variety of different topics. 

    On Monday, Nicole spoke alongside Andrew Crowe and Chris Czarnik to discuss workforce development and retention at the IMTS Job Shop Workshop. Formatted like a Ted Talk, the three spoke on the issues in front of an audience and answered questions at the end from the crowd. The session was very insightful and had many meaningful thoughts from all three panelists.

    Over at the Okuma booth, Production Specialist, Wade Anderson, invited Nicole to speak on the podcast and talk about her background along with the purpose of attending IMTS. The full podcast will be out on Okuma’s platforms soon. Not to mention, NTD News interviewed Nicole for a segment on their channel about using social media resources and trends to recruit new members to the workforce. Nicole is a strong believer in using platforms such as Instagram and TikTok to appeal to a younger generation.

    Marley led a discussion between Nicole and Anessa Muthana on the IMTS Main Stage on Wednesday afternoon. The three talked about what they had seen at IMTS so far and what they hope young women can take away from the event. Both also touched on what it was like to take over a family business and what it meant to them to continue their family’s legacy. Along with that, Marley specifically asked Nicole to speak on how investing in technology helps recruit and retain a younger workforce. The entire main stage session will be available through IMTS. 

A busy day on Thursday included a session about cell phone etiquette for Edge Factor in the Student Summit section of IMTS. This short interview talked about the appropriate way to use your cellphone in both the classroom and the workplace. Not only that, Nicole spoke with three others on issues facing women in technology. This group of women spoke for over an hour and answered audience questions regarding their discussion. Nicole was also delighted to speak with Milachi Greb, of Elite Automation, to highlight her background and how she got into the manufacturing industry. The two had an insightful discussion, and the full interview will be up on Elite Automation’s platform.

As the week came to a close, the entire HM Manufacturing team came to IMTS on Friday to explore the various different booths and spot anything they believed could aid in the production on the plant floor. We ended the day with a team lunch where we were able to discuss everything that was seen and any ideas that they had. Team member, Eric Taylor, found many interesting aspects including a vice fixture that could pick up gears of any shape. Our whole team had a great time at IMTS 2022 and we cannot wait to be back in two years!

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