AME 2026 Agenda
Four Different Halls
all Local and Live!
AUTOMATION HALL
Robots, Cobots, Laser Markers, Safety, Motion, Vision, Machine Builders, Integrators, Logistics, Ergonomics, Universities, MMTC and The Right Place
MRO/SAFETY HALL
Showcasing a wide variety of new and advanced industrial and safety products which are current and readily available for same day delivery, online ordering or in-store pickup. Products include industrial supplies, safety and security items, workwear clothing, specialized cutting tools and much more.
METALWORKING HALL
Cutting Tools, Coatings, Work and Tool Holding, Metalworking Fluids, Additive Manufacturing, and Inventory Management Solutions
i4.0 TECH HALL
Automated Inspection, Autonomous Material Handling, Connected Worker, Digital Twin, Enterprise Optimization, IIoT Platform, MR/VR Training, Machine Monitoring, Simulation, 3D Printing.
Over 1100 Differnt companies in attendance
165,000 SqFt
16+ Presentations
225+ EXhibitors
10,500 Leads
100% FREE for all
WEDNESDAY
July 29th, 2026
DEVOS PLACE - GRAND RAPIDS, MI
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
(free entry & free 2 hour parking*)
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM
General Expo Admission
(Showfloor opens at 8:30 AM)
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Seminar Rooms with experts discussing Automation, Metalworking, Mechanical, and other manufacturing issues like exploring state and federal grants for training, equipment, or energy savings. Below you will soon see the 2026 Speaker/Breakout Room Agenda.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
AME 2026 Networking Event/Party at Mojo’s Dueling Piano Bar. This is a ticketed event and can be purchased when your register to attend the show. Tickets need to be purchased in advance are only available online.
ThursDAY
July 30th, 2026
DEVOS PLACE - GRAND RAPIDS, MI
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
(free entry & free 2 hour parking*)
7:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Networking Breakfast
Location: Grand Gallery across from registration.
This is a ticketed event and can be purchased when your register to attend the show. Tickets need to be purchased in advance are only available online. More details coming soon!
8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
General Expo Admission
(Showfloor opens at 8:30 AM)
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Seminar Rooms with experts discussing Automation, Metalworking, Mechanical, and other manufacturing issues like exploring state and federal grants for training, equipment, or energy savings. Below you will soon see the 2026 Speaker/Breakout Room Agenda.
Keynote Presentations
Keynote One
11 AM - wednesday July 29th
TBA
Keynote two
3 pM - wednesday July 29th
Keynote Three
1 pM - Thursday July 30th
Presentation / Breakout Rooms
Presentation / Breakout Rooms are located across from registration.
Automation Room
Wednesday July 29th
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM:
Masterclass: Stop Hard-Coding Friction. Engineering the Zero-Trust Factory Edge
Every time you manually configure a firewall rule or provision a VPN for a factory floor deployment, you are hard-coding friction into your system.
In modern industrial automation, the bottleneck isn't robotics or data collection—it's the catastrophic latency and fragility of legacy network architecture. Forcing rigid perimeter security onto heterogeneous OT environments results in endless downtime, brittle connections, and deployments that are dead on arrival
This masterclass is the blueprint for engineering your way out of the bottleneck. Eric Seme breaks down the shift to Edge-Native Fabric, demonstrating how to decouple your connectivity from the physical network entirely. Using the EmberNet ecosystem and Flux architecture, attendees will learn how to implement an advanced, mathematically secure infrastructure that prioritizes operational flow over infrastructure limitations.
Speaker: Eric Seme
Title: CEO
Presented by: Fireball Industries
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM:
IMRs and Mobile Robotics - Bridging the gap between Automation Islands
Most plants run on automation islands — robotic cells, CNCs, and packaging lines that each perform brilliantly in isolation, while material handoffs between them still depend on people and forklifts. This session explores how Intelligent Mobile Robots (IMRs) and AMRs bridge those gaps, turning disconnected stations into a coordinated, end-to-end workflow. DiFACTO Robotics America, a FANUC Authorized System Integrator and A3 member, walks through real deployment patterns, ROI drivers, and integration considerations for adding mobile robotics to existing operations.
Speaker: Kiran Sankanur
Title: Manufacturing & Technology Facilitation Manager
Presented by: DiFACTO Robotics America
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM:
Manufacturing Reimagined: How Modern ERP is Rewriting the Rules
Manufacturers are under pressure to move faster, operate leaner, and make smarter decisions with real-time data. In this session, we’ll explore how modern ERP is transforming the way manufacturers plan, produce, and scale. Learn how a connected, cloud-based platform like Acumatica breaks down silos between the shop floor and the front office, delivering visibility, automation, and agility across your entire operation. Walk away with practical insights on how to replace outdated processes with a system built for today’s manufacturing challenges—and tomorrow’s growth.
Speaker: Nancy Bielke
Title: Senior ERP Executive
Presented by: i-Tech Support Services Inc
Thursday July 30th
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM:
Your ERP Can't Schedule. Now What? The Smart Scheduling Solution for Manufacturers
Most manufacturers aren't struggling because they lack talent — they're struggling because their scheduling and routing processes are held together with spreadsheets, whiteboards, and tribal knowledge. When a job slips through the cracks, there's no system to catch it.
In this session, we'll show you how manufacturers like you are using JobTraQ - a flexible, AI-powered workflow platform - to bring real structure to job scheduling and shop floor execution, without the cost and complexity of a traditional ERP implementation.
If you've ever had a job fall through the cracks, a deadline slip because nobody had full visibility, or a new employee struggle to figure out "how we do things here," this session is for you.
Speaker: Carl Casserly
Title: Product Specialist
Presented by: JobTraq
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM:
Advanced Manufacturing Technology Adoption
i4iQ is an AI-powered decision-support platform that helps manufacturing engineers discover, evaluate, and adopt industrial automation technologies faster and with greater confidence.
Instead of spending months manually researching vendors and comparing fragmented information, i4iQ uses a structured manufacturing ontology and use-case-driven intelligence engine to match operational problems with relevant solutions objectively and transparently.
The result is faster technology scouting, better problem-solution fit, reduced pilot failure risk, and accelerated time-to-value for manufacturing organizations.
Speaker: Scott Phillips
Title: Founder
Presented by: i4IQ
Metalworking Room
Wednesday July 29th
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM:
Master Modern Machining: Technical Training by Sandvik Coromant Academy
Having the right tooling strategy significantly impacts machining time and profitability. Developing the best strategy requires proper training in fundamental metal cutting principles. Sandvik Coromant's Metal Cutting Technology class provides a strong foundation in basic metal cutting theory and teaches participants how to apply it effectively.
Registration for this training session is required. Please register by contacting: Angela Pierret at angelap@crestonindustrial.com
Speaker: Jon Godwin
Title: Corporate Training Specialist
Presented by: Sandvik Industries
i4.0 Tech Room
Wednesday July 29th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM:
Using AI to Strengthen Your Competitive Advantage
Attendees will walk away with a clear understanding of how in-factory AI is evolving, why custom AI is becoming the standard, and what first steps manufacturers can take now to move forward responsibly. This is a big-picture, business-focused keynote designed for leaders who want clarity, confidence, and control as AI becomes essential to manufacturing success.
Speaker: Daniel Pereira
Title: Founder and CEO
Presented by: Conduit
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM:
Industry 4.0 In Action: From Paper-Based Processes to Fully Digitalized Grade A Traceability
In this workshop, we'll show how small and mid-sized manufacturers can move step by step from paper-based processes to a fully digital operation - achieving Grade A traceability, stronger process control, and the visibility that larger, more demanding customers expect. We'll walk you through what it took to get there, and how we can help manufacturers like you do the same.
Speaker: Willson Deng and Kishen Kavikondala
Title: Founder & CEO, and President
Presented by:SK International
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM:
Project DIAMOnD®: Distributed, Independent Agile Manufacturing on Demand
Additive manufacturing is becoming a practical business tool for improving flexibility, reducing supply-chain risk, and responding faster to changing demand. This seminar introduces Project DIAMOnD®, a real-world framework that helps manufacturers use additive manufacturing through distributed production, secure digital workflows, and marketplace-based access to parts, print services, and digital licensing. Designed for CEOs, owners, presidents, and business leaders, the session focuses on where additive manufacturing fits today, how to avoid common misconceptions, and how manufacturers can engage without major capital investment. Real Project DIAMOnD® examples will show how manufacturers are using additive to address tooling, service parts, lead-time pressure, and resilience challenges. Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of how additive manufacturing can support business growth without overcommitting.
Speaker: Padma Kuppa
Title: Chief Information Officer
Presented by: Automation Alley
Thursday July 30th
12:00 PM - 2:30 PM:
Applying the Project DIAMOnD® Model: Manufacturing Fundamentals for Distributed Production
This workshop is designed for manufacturing engineers, design engineers, additive leads, and operations professionals who want practical guidance on applying additive manufacturing in real production environments. Using the Project DIAMOnD® model, participants will explore how manufacturing fundamentals still govern additive success, from design intent and specifications to workflow discipline, quality, and repeatability. Real Project DIAMOnD® examples will show how additive is used for tooling, replacement parts, production aids, and time-sensitive functional applications. Topics include design for additive manufacturing (DfAM), workflow control from CAD to part, validation expectations, and how digital parts and distributed production can extend manufacturing capability. Emerging topics such as AI-assisted design and process traceability will also be addressed in practical terms.
Early Bird Rate (though May 30th): $149
Regular Rate: $195
Speaker: Padma Kuppa
Title: Chief Information Officer
Presented by: Automation Alley
general Manufacturing
Wednesday July 29th
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM:
From Pain to Performance: Addressing Musculoskeletal Disorders with ART®
This concise presentation explains what musculoskeletal disorders are, why they develop, and why many traditional approaches fail to resolve them. Attendees will learn how Active Release Techniques® (ART®) addresses soft‑tissue problems at the source and why OSHA recognizes ART as a first‑aid treatment for recordkeeping purposes. The session highlights how ART Corporate Solutions delivers effective, compliant care that helps prevent injuries from escalating while supporting a healthier, more productive workforce.
Speaker: Todd Prather
Title: Sales Manager
Presented by: Active Release Techniques
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM:
Working with robots not around them: How roles, safety and trust are changing
As automation and AI continue to advance the role of humans in industrial environments is not disappearing, it is changing. Human involvement in automation is becoming more deliberate, safer, and impactful. Including fewer risks, and unknown variables. Rather than replacing people, modern automation is redefining how responsibility and collaboration are shared between humans and machines. This session explores how work changes when employees move beyond operating equipment to owning and improving automated systems over time. Drawing from real world industrial examples, it shows how workers transition into roles such as system owners and internal automation drivers. The focus is on human to robot collaboration, evolving safety concepts, and building trust in automated systems that enable organizations to scale automation while strengthening workforce capability.
Speaker: Jacob Sanchez
Title: Industry Solutions and Community Development
Presented by: Igus
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM:
How Rise Vision is Transforming Safety, Communication, and Efficiency Across Industrial Environments
This session explores how Rise Vision, a leading digital signage software solution, is transforming safety, communication, and operational efficiency across industrial environments like plants, factories, and warehouses.
Key Topics Covered:
The Communication Challenge
Safety & Compliance
How it Works
Core Features
Real-World Impact
The presentation concludes with a live demonstration of the software followed by a brief Q&A session.
Speaker: Johnny Cabral
Title: Senior Account Executive
Presented by: Rise Vision
Thursday July 30th
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM:
Data Orchestration Across the Manufacturing Tech Stack
Manufacturers are generating more operational data than ever, but most of it lives in disconnected systems that don't talk to each other. Pilots stall. Analytics underperform. Digital twin and automation initiatives wait on a foundation that was never built.
This session reframes the problem with a practical lens: data is horizontal, the tech stack is vertical. Before teams scale AMRs, inspection systems, connected worker tools, robotics, or advanced analytics, they need to know what data is being created, where it lives, how it moves, who owns it, and how it becomes actionable.
Sanjay Kumar will ground the conversation in a real manufacturer case study, walking through how fragmented operational signals get organized into a connected data layer. Attendees will leave with a readiness checklist and concrete questions to take back to their own facilities.
Speaker: Sanjay Kumar
Title: Expert in Residence
Presented by: i4.0 Accelerator
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM:
TBA
Speaker:
Title:
Presented by: Narratize