6 Key Insights from IMTS 2026

The 2026 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago ran from September 14-19, sparking new discoveries, ideas, and connections.

At the ZOLLER booth, we had our largest ever display of ZOLLER Automation Solutions and talked to industry leaders from across the globe, giving them deeper insight into the trends that are shaping manufacturing: automation, standardization, and specialized tool management efficiency solutions for growing markets.

Here’s what they want to share:

Tight competition is fueling an interest in automation…

At IMTS 2022, the ZOLLER »roboBox« was seen as something of a novelty. Manufacturers were interested, but they weren’t convinced it was a must-have solution.

That view has changed significantly in the past four years.

“The biggest interest at the moment is in automation,” said Nelu Bilba, a ZOLLER Manufacturing Productivity Specialist. “Companies who haven’t considered it in the past are considering it now. Customers want on-time delivery, and if companies don’t deliver, they can lose the customer.”

With labor shortages and skill gaps straining manufacturers’ resources, automation has become critical to driving productivity in a cost-effective way. Companies that aren’t considering automation are now seen as outliers that risk losing ground in the market. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Smart Manufacturing and Operations Survey, an estimated 92% of manufacturers “said they believed smart manufacturing will be the main driver for competitiveness over the next three years.”

The popularity of automated solutions at this year’s IMTS, such as the ZOLLER »coraVarion« automation cell for indexable insert changing, tool presetting, and measurement, reflects the industry’s growing interest in using automation to drive efficiency, minimize human intervention, and reduce manual errors.

Automation solutions such as the ZOLLER »coraVarion« and »micBox« were one of the main attractions of the ZOLLER booth at IMTS 2026.

...and demand is outpacing technology

In fact, Bilba says that automation has become so popular that “demand is being pushed to the limit.” Some companies at IMTS 2026 are asking for solutions and capabilities that haven’t been invented yet.

ZOLLER is aware of these conversations and keeping its fingers on the pulse of the industry to make sure developing solutions will fulfill customer needs.

“People bring us their challenges, and we take great pride in solving them,” said Alexander Zoller, President of ZOLLER Inc. “We listen closely to our customers to create solutions with higher speeds, top-notch quality, and bulletproof automated workflows.”

ZOLLER has developed, and continues to develop, a combination of hardware and software that optimizes processes for cutting tool management and complete tool assemblies. Tool logistics, preparation, inspection, and transportation have all been streamlined with automation solutions that continue to drive the Smart Factory forward.

Manufacturers are recognizing the importance of standardization.

This growing interest in new, automated solutions has also created a growing appreciation for more tried-and-true solutions, such as tool presetters and tool balancers. Although these machines have more “basic” functionalities, they create more consistent processes across the shop floor.

“Companies have seen their production become a mess over the years, so they’re looking for uniform processes,” Bilba explained. “You need standardization in tool management to lay the foundation for automation.”

Dietmar Moll shows ZOLLER technology — Dietmar Moll, Director of Sales at ZOLLER Inc., shows IMTS attendees ZOLLER technology.

But flexibility is key.

Despite the need for standardization, IMTS attendees were also looking for customization. At this year’s IMTS, ZOLLER drew praise for its continued partnerships with different OEMs, which provides open interfaces to directly integrate with OEM machine tools.

“Every company has its own process and collection of technology,” said Zoller. “Our integration with third-party software enables companies to streamline data flow across their existing manufacturing cycle.”

The market for micro-tools is growing.

Other markets have also flourished in recent years. Aerospace components, medical devices, and electronics are all becoming smaller and more precise as industries tighten tolerances and look for ways to improve efficiency.

Werner Lueken, Director of Inspection Solutions at ZOLLER, said manufacturers have noted this change and are eager to enter the growing market for micro-tools, but tool measurement solutions have historically not been able to confirm their geometry data or quality.

At IMTS, he noticed innovators like ZOLLER addressing these challenges with new solutions built specifically for micro-optics. The ZOLLER »pomBasic MTI«, for example, has a special high-resolution micro-camera with coaxial lighting, enabling precise tool inspection of the smallest size: the zoom lens can capture micro-tools in extreme detail with a magnification range of 125x to 1250x.

“This machine is going to be very helpful for our customers in the medical industry, aerospace…anything that’s going to be on that very small scale, this is going to be the machine for you,” said Chloe Doherty, a ZOLLER Industry 4.0 Tech Center Engineer.

Manufacturers are excited for the future.

Manufacturers have been challenged in recent years by transportation bottlenecks, a shortage of skilled talent, and the rising cost of raw materials. But ZOLLER noticed IMTS attendees still have a positive outlook on the industry in 2026.

“Companies are looking forward and embracing new ways of doing business,” said Lueken. “They’re collecting orders and taking on interesting new projects.”