Where to Begin?

Randy Stott, Associate Publisher & Managing Editor

A big trade show can be extremely overwhelming. There are so many important suppliers to talk to, it’s often hard to know even where to start, let alone how to plan a strategy to maximize your time spent.

When the show is as big as IMTS, the problem multiplies.

And now the show has gone and grown again. In 2018, IMTS includes the Integrated Automation, Motion & Drives fair (IAMD USA) from the organizers of the world-famous Hannover Messe. This show has a long way to go before it becomes as relevant for buyers of mechanical components as its European counterpart. But with every iteration, the IMTS experience becomes a little bit less about machine tools and a little bit more about automation, the digital factory and the rest of the manufacturing world.

Here are just a few of the companies you might want to go and visit at IMTS/IAMD USA (2018 PTE advertisers indicated in bold): Aerotech, Andantex, Atlanta Drive Systems, B&R Industrial Automation, Bega Special Tools, CGI Inc., Cone Drive, CW Bearing, DieQua, Elmo Motion Control, GKN Powder Metallurgy, Güdel, HBH Gears, Igus, J.W. Winco, KTR, Lenze Americas, Lafert N.A., Nachi America, Neugart USA, Nidec-Shimpo America, NSK Americas, Sesame Motors, SEW Eurodrive, Siemens, Shanghai Shine Transmission Machinery, Suhner Manufacturing, Sumitomo Machinery Corp., Wittenstein, and many more.

The ones I’ve listed above only begin to scratch the surface. You can read about some of them in our pre-show coverage, beginning on page 28, and in our Showstoppers special advertising section, beginning on page 34. But you really should come to Chicago, Sept. 10–15, to experience the show for yourself. We’ll be there, so visit us in the North Hall, booth #237314. If you’re interested in contributing to our magazine, our editors will be happy to chat with you. Or just stop by to renew your subscription. It will only take a minute!

But my theme for this column (“Where to Begin”) applies to far more than just the upcoming trade show. I’m constantly amazed at how much depth and variety we pack into every single issue of this magazine. This issue is no exception.

Our focus on couplings begins on page 16 with highlights of some of the latest and most interesting technology. That’s followed by a very interesting article from Motion Industries about the effects of thermal growth and its potential to cause failure in couplings and bearings. We also hope you’ll take a look at our Engineering Showcase, which features some of the leading coupling suppliers in the world.

We’ve also taken a look at design software. Our article on page 24 delves into how some of the components engineering packages have continued to grow, as well as how they keep themselves closely aligned with the manufacturing processes required to make the parts.

The food and beverage industry also take center stage this issue, with articles on pages 36, 42 and 44. If you need washdown-duty components and systems, or automation capable of improving your system’s efficiency, or food-compliant pneumatic systems, then these articles are for you.

Finally, we’ve prepared two great technical articles on gearboxes (pages 48 and 54), one on the potential for parasitic electric currents to cause gearbox failures, and the other on the holistic simulation of complete gearbox systems.

With all of that in mind, we’re confident you’ll find plenty worth reading this issue. We’d appreciate it you let us know how we’re doing. Send an e-mail to wrs@powertransmission.com or come see us at IMTS/IAMD USA.