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The Best of IMTS 2026
The Manufacturing Tech Innovations Worth Watching in 2027

Industrial AI, robotics, and smarter production systems are reshaping manufacturing. At IMTS 2026, ABI Research identified the technologies, vendors, and emerging approaches worth watching over the next 12 months.

ABI Research The Best of IMTS 2026 Cover 3D resource

 

The Manufacturing Technology Innovations Worth Watching After IMTS 2026 

IMTS 2026 offered a firsthand look at how manufacturing technology is evolving. Key showcases encompassed industrial AI,  cloud-based engineering, next-generation MES platforms, production technology, and robotics.

This report from ABI Research highlights the innovations and vendors that stood out on the show floor. It examines how manufacturers and technology suppliers are applying AI to engineering and operations, connecting design and production through the cloud, modernizing MES, and advancing robotics with Physical AI and more accessible automation.

 

Topics Covered

  • Industrial AI: Agentic AI, data contextualization, engineering assistants, and emerging Physical AI applications
  • Manufacturing Execution Systems: Established MES platforms, digital thread strategies, and newer AI-powered approaches
  • Design and Engineering Cloud: Cloud-native and cloud-connected CAD/CAM, collaboration, scalability, and AI integration
  • Manufacturing Production Technology: Edge AI, virtual control, industrial automation, and the shift from data challenges to AI execution
  • Robotics: Physical AI, industrial and collaborative robots, humanoids, and AI-ready robotics platforms
  • Automation for SMEs: Turnkey robotics, machine tending, and technologies designed to make automation more accessible to smaller manufacturers

 

Download the report for ABI Research's view from IMTS 2026 and explore the manufacturing technologies, vendors, and developments worth watching over the next 12 months.

ABI Research The Best of ITMS 2026

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Which manufacturing technologies stood out at IMTS 2026?
Download the ABI Research report for a firsthand look at the Industrial AI, MES, cloud, production technology, and robotics innovations shaping the next phase of manufacturing.