IMTS Insider

July 7, 2026

69 days until IMTS

14 Tips for Choosing a Cobot at IMTS

"The biggest mistake fabricators make is evaluating cobots like static equipment," says Zach Boyd, chief technology officer at Hirebotics (IMTS booth #236341). "You’re not just buying a robot arm. You’re buying into a software platform, a support ecosystem, and a vendor relationship."

Here are 14 tips for choosing a cobot and evaluating suppliers at IMTS, drawn from input from Universal Robots, FANUC, Hirebotics, Productive Robots, and Vectis Automation.

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Exclusive IMTS Registration Contest: Week 1

Register for IMTS 2026 between July 6-10 with the code IMTSUS250. The first 100 registrants using the code will win a limited edition hat celebrating U.S. manufacturing and the builders and innovators who move this industry forward.

Click here to register and enter IMTSUS250 at checkout.

Industry News

• Explore 10 smart part-movement systems from bar feeders to RFID error-proofing that boost manufacturing by automating part flow, transfer, and setup.

• Watch: In an AI and automation age, Markus Stolmar makes it clear that people still drive manufacturing. Human skill remains the ultimate advantage.

• Trade officials will institute replacement tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners, following the Supreme Court ruling against most new tariffs.

• Learn the 3 foundational steps to prepare for lights-out production that ANCA says manufacturers must take now.
  
  

• Watch: See how one shop delivers complex, custom designs at speed, serving everyone from aerospace engineers to hobbyists.

Meet Our Exhibitors

The latest tools and technologies from IMTS exhibitors

IMTS Early Bird Registration Pricing Ends July 31

Discounted pricing ends soon – register now to attend the largest manufacturing technology trade show in the Western Hemisphere. See 1,800+ exhibitors on more than 1 million square feet of exhibit space. 

Upcoming Events

CD/DC: Computational Design in Washington, D.C.

CDFAM brings computational design, simulation, and AI-native engineering practitioners and policymakers to Washington, D.C., July 15-16. Dive into two days of technical talks plus a live demo of six interoperable engineering tools operating on a shared model. Registration is now open.

Upcoming Events

2026 AMT Summer Economic Forum

Timely economic insights and meaningful connections await at the 2026 AMT Summer Economic Forum on July 16. Join us in Whitestown, Indiana, or online for expert perspectives on the economy, manufacturing, and machine tools, plus an AMT Meetup happy hour after the event.

Conferences

See What’s Next for Manufacturing Markets

Build smarter strategies at MTForecast 2026. Gain expert economic forecasts, sector outlooks, and market intelligence to help your business navigate change, uncover opportunities, and prepare for what’s ahead in manufacturing.

About IMTS

IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is where the creators, builders, sellers, and drivers of manufacturing technology come to connect and Achieve the Impossible. Produced by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, IMTS is the largest manufacturing technology show in the Western Hemisphere. IMTS 2026 will be held Sept. 14-19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago.