Where Industries Intersect

Students gather for the Smartforce Student Summit, an interactive exhibit featuring leading industry manufacturers demonstrating a range of today’s breakthrough technologies.
Photo Credit: All photos by Products Finishing

When you think of an industry trade show, what comes to mind?

I joined Products Finishing during the early days of the COVID pandemic and trade shows, conferences and business travel had come to a standstill. When my work travel resumed last year, I quickly jumped at the chance to connect with folks. Events like SUR/FIN and Powder Coating Week were the first that I had the chance to attend. While these events were great at helping me connect with the electroplating and powder coating communities, I found myself wanting to learn more about how those industries interacted with the larger manufacturing world.

In the meantime, the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the largest manufacturing trade show in the Western Hemisphere, had been stalled. Normally held every 2 years, the trade show was held virtually during 2020 — so it’s been 4 years since the industry came together for the show. And so, during my entire time with Gardner Business Media and having worked on two of its brands, I have managed to miss the trade show that is synonymous with the big picture of what PF’s parent company and our sister brands do.

For me, attending IMTS is an inspiring reminder that despite the unique focus each of the areas Gardner’s brands serve — machining, additive manufacturing, plastics, mold making, composites fabrication — at the end of the day our true mission is fostering the spirit of “making stuff.” From the everyday products that are so often taken for granted to the innovations that we hang our hopes for a sustainable future on to the technologies that make it possible to venture further into the cosmos than ever before — manufacturing is intertwined with our very existence.

Gardner’s message at this IMTS is about moving manufacturing forward — about the roles all of those involved in the industry play in forwarding innovation. And that means paying attention to where the various areas within the whole of manufacturing intersect. IMTS is an amazing opportunity for learning and exploring how different processes and technologies work together toward end applications. As trends and needs within the manufacturing industry at large evolve, staying informed and connected is critical for keeping your business relevant.

Here are a few of the themes that stood out as I walked the IMTS show floor.

Robotics provider FANUC showcases a robotic painting system.

Automation and IoT

Just like the rest of manufacturing, finishers and coaters are looking for ways to streamline their process. Finishers today are increasingly finding ways to implement robotics and data-driven solutions to address such challenges as workforce shortages, quality control and repeatability.

While automation isn’t new and has been working its way into the manufacturing world at an increasing rate, it seems that we have reached a tipping point where it’s on the mind of even old-school shops. Finishing operations have traditionally been a slower adopter of the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation solutions, but many factors have been influencing a ramp-up for much of the industry. The COVID pandemic, for example, forced many operations to consider alternate ways of getting things done as staffing concerns worsened with people sick and with a segment of workers exiting the workforce.

3D Printing

It’s an understatement to say that 3D printing is growing by leaps and bounds. As this technology continues to move from the realm of R&D and short-run production to full-scale production, an increasing number of fabricators will need to outsource the finishing of additively manufactured parts. What considerations are involved in finishing a 3D-printed part? It depends on the materials you’re using, but options range from plating on plastic processes to powder coating using a UV cure. Finishing will play an increasingly important role in partnering with additive manufacturers.

Electrification of Automotive

With a growing number of automotive OEMs investing in new capabilities to grow their EV and hybrid offerings, finishes will be needed for a range of parts from electrical motor components to batteries. The technologies that will ultimately help EVs occupy a larger portion of the total transportation market continue to be developed. Many of the challenges EVs present have various solutions and the industry hasn’t totally converged. For example, various intumescent coatings, including powder coating and liquid coatings, are used to insulate battery boxes and isolate thermal activity.

Collaboration is Key

It’s easy to become siloed within your business. Putting your effort first and foremost on the markets you serve and the capabilities that make your business thrive is only natural. But it’s also important not to lose sight of the bigger picture of how all sectors of manufacturing work together and the consumer trends that are driving various markets. That is where new opportunities lie and where you’ll find avenues to grow your business in new and perhaps unexpected ways.