Once again IMTS has come and gone. Millions of dollars have been spent on travel, booth displays, hotels and dining all with the sole purpose of getting owners to spend even more on new products and machinery. Though it is an event that comes every other year, has the hype been worth it? If IMTS ran on an annual basis like Westec, would it too be a dud of a convention?

Brian Kiddner attends IMTS exclusively though he operates his business in Palmdale, CA… a mere hour drive from Westec. “Westec is kind of lame. There’s no excitement in the atmosphere. No urgency to buy. Even most of the big tool companies pulled out in recent years. If they don’t want to be there, why should I? I’ve gone to Westec once in the last 5 years and this is my third time at IMTS. I can’t afford to miss IMTS.”

Craig Rogers of Nashville, TN makes it a habit of closing shop for a few days and traveling up with key staff to walk the seemingly endless aisles of product. “It’s a tradition even if the only thing we can afford to buy is the meals and hotels. I can’t imagine skipping an IMTS event. As far as events go, it’s like the Super Bowl of manufacturing. You can’t miss it.”

Mike Vidoso of Columbus, OH says similar, “IMTS is one of the only things I do to actually get my hands on some of the products I’ve read about over the past 2 years. I don’t have time to research every product I think might be a good addition to our company. IMTS is not just a habit, it’s a necessity.”

But what about you? Did you attend IMTS? What are your thoughts and experiences. Is it really a “can’t-miss-event”? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.