Tag Archives: International manufacturing technology show

Discover Chicago! Make the Most of the Industrial Laser Conference and the International Manufacturing Technology Show

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LIA’s first-ever Industrial Laser Conference takes place September 13, 2016, in Chicago, Illinois at the International Manufacturing Technology Show – and we want you to make the most out of your trip!

Before heading out to the conference, review our complete guide to points of interest, events, and locations worth checking out in The Windy City – and prepare yourself for the adventure of a lifetime!

The inaugural year of LIA’s Industrial Laser Conference is a can’t-miss event, as it will set the standard for subsequent conferences in the years to come! The exciting part? You, laser professional, will have a hand in it.

Future-forward industrial laser applications such as additive manufacturing, welding, and marking will be covered throughout the event, and four educational sessions led by notable laser professionals will provide everything you need to know to get started with lasers – or advance your shop’s current laser endeavors.

What’s more, the International Manufacturing Technology Show, considered one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, will be at your feet. Focusing on manufacturing technology, over 2,000 companies are projected to exhibit state of the art tools, computers, systems, and processes at the event. LIA members and manufacturing experts will have particular interest in the Fabricating/Laser/Additive Manufacturing pavilion. Take advantage of all of these resources from September 12-17.

Exploring Chicago

After a long day of learning, exploring, and networking, some attendees may want to get out and explore the city – and we encourage it! After all, we think that’s one of the added benefits of attending a conference or tradeshow. Here are some of our picks for food, drinks, transportation, and entertainment:

Food

Chicago is world renowned for its deep dish pizza – and those looking to find out what all the buzz is about might find themselves drawn to Lou Malnati’s, one of Serious Eats’ recommendations for traditional deep dish pizza, just down the street from McCormick Place.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is a can’t miss while at the Industrial Laser Conference and IMTS.

If you have time to catch a game, or want to relax, The Anthem may seem like a traditional sports bar in appearance and atmosphere, but a closer look at their menu reveals some surprisingly healthy options. If you or someone in your party has dietary restrictions, this might be a perfect choice to grab a bite after the conference. After all, where else can one find jumbo chicken wings, hummus plates (with gluten-free pita!) and Veggie sliders on the same menu?

Those seeking a fine dining experience may find themselves drawn to Acadia. Described as “contemporary American cuisine,” Acadia features five and 10-course tastings, which change seasonally. Reservations are required, and will likely fill up as IMTS draws near. You’ll be hard- pressed to find a poor review of Acadia, with many critics raving about its selections. Make a reservation with your fellow attendees today!

Drinks

In some instances, attendees may want to have a drink or two with new colleagues or acquaintances they met at the conference. Others may just want to unwind! Chicago has no shortage of watering holes and breweries to wet your whistle after the conference.

IMTS recommends Motor Row Brewing as a stopping point on your visit to the Chicago area. Offering a wide array of craft brews, Motor Row Brewing lives up to its namesake maintaining a warehouse-esque atmosphere harkening back to Chicago’s 20th-century status as an automobile industry haven. While the establishment does not serve food, they do encourage guests to bring their own or even order delivery from a number of local eateries! Motor Row Brewing is ideal for a small group. Tours of the facility are also available, for those interested in the brewing process.

Discover Chicago near McCormick Place.

Vice District Brewing is another notable stop for craft beer selections. Founded by two neighbors with a passion for brewing (and consuming!) unique beers, Vice District Brewing tries to capture the spirit of a neighborhood gathering. Traveling professionals might want to take advantage of the outlets spread throughout the taproom, making it easy to get work done, while still enjoying some of what Chicago has to offer. Vice is only a few blocks away from McCormick Place, making it very easy to access after the conference.

Sightseeing

If you plan on spending multiple days in Chicago, take advantage of some sightseeing and attractions in the area. Grant Park is home to a number of Chicago’s most well-known destinations such as the Art Institute of Chicago, Adler Planetarium, and Shedd Aquarium.

The Navy Pier is a top rated tourist destination for the region. Formerly a Navy training facility, the area is now used as a recreational, leisurely, and social space. Featuring an IMAX theater, nightly fireworks, and significant shopping destinations, you’ll need more than a single day to explore everything the pier has to offer.

Learn even more about the Industrial Laser Conference! Be sure to check out Why was the Industrial Laser Conference Created? Post on the Lasers Today blog, the premier industry blog for laser experts, professionals, and enthusiasts – and tell your colleagues and classmates.

Last, but certainly not least – don’t forget that the Industrial Laser Conference is less than a month away! If you’re attending the International Manufacturing Technology Show, and would like to register, click here.

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Weekly Wrap-Up – Week of August 5, 2016

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It was a big week for lasers in the workplace, as we covered recent trends in scanning methods, industrial laser applications, manufacturing, and accident prevention across our website and social media channels.

The Leica Absolute Scanner LAS-20-8. (Image courtesy of Hexagon MI.)

Laser Industry News

A recent study predicts substantial growth for 3D scanners through the end of 2016. Worth noting, however, is the majority market share held by 3D laser scanners. Find out what is driving this new, projected trend here.

This week, we featured another entry in the Laser Accident Series – this time, with a focus on how a lack of laser safety knowledge led to life-changing injuries for two individuals. The Laser Accident Series is a continued emphasis on education and safety through the use of lasers by bringing to light real-life accidents, as reported by OSHA, and caused by lack of proper procedure. Learn more about the injuries and how LIA and OSHA are working to prevent these incidents from occurring here.

If you’re seeking ways to save time and cut costs on your manufacturing processes, be sure to check out How to Save Time and Money on Manufacturing. Here, you can discover ways to stay on the leading edge in your industry through attending conferences, such as the Industrial Laser Conference, and becoming more acquainted with the concept of additive manufacturing. While you’re there, download our SlideShare presentation on The Cost of Manufacturing with Lasers vs. Without Them. Find it all here.

Conference Updates & Information

Speaking of the Industrial Laser Conference – this week, we continued our Industrial Laser Conference blog series by unpacking just why the conference was created. Learn about four of the many valuable features of the conference today by reading our blog here. Included is a link to sign up for the inaugural conference, held at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago. Registration is open now.

ICALEO is right around the corner, taking place October 16-20 in San Diego, California. In preparation, we compiled a list of the top five things to see and do at ICALEO. From plenary sessions, to great networking opportunities, there’s plenty to check out in our post here. Haven’t registered for ICALEO, yet? You can find out how to sign up here.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. For more information on conferences, laser safety training, or other laser related needs, check us out at www.lia.org.

 

Why Was the Industrial Laser Conference Created?

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Why was the Industrial Laser Conference created, who is it for, and how can it help advance your industrial manufacturing career? This blog explains it all.

Registration is now open for Laser Institute of America’s inaugural Industrial Laser Conference, to be held at the International Manufacturing Technology Show on September 13, 2016 at the renowned McCormick Place in Chicago. All the buzz about this new conference by LIA may have you wondering why the Industrial Laser Conference was created, who it’s designed for, and most importantly, how it can help advance your manufacturing career. These four pillars of the conference say it all:

1. It’s Designed for the Manufacturing Professional: Designed exclusively for the industrial manufacturing professional, the conference will showcase laser applications that are driving the evolution of manufacturing. From manufacturing directors to automation engineers to production specialists, every member of the industrial manufacturing workforce can benefit from attending this conference, learning over the course of a full day how to leverage lasers into their manufacturing processes in a high-tech, high-demand market.

2. It Was Created to Meet Industry Demands: As Industrial Laser Conference Program Chair Elizabeth Kautzmann of FANUC America Corporation explains, these innovative techniques are emerging and revolutionizing the industry to meet market demands, all rooted in the field’s collective understanding of conventional machining. “Just as significant as discussions about technology, are the means by which legacy manufacturers can incorporate and powerfully exploit the versatility of the technology,” Kautzmann said. “We can now migrate conventional subtractive processes into realms where newer approaches, which combine innovative and fresh perspectives based on solid manufacturing building blocks, are already in place.”

3. It Provides Laser and Manufacturing Professionals with the Tools They Need to Succeed: This event is perfect for both industrial manufacturing professionals who want to improve their laser program – and those who have considered lasers as part of their processes before, but haven’t made the leap just yet. From the novice to the expert, every member of the industrial manufacturing spectrum can benefit from this future-forward event that is 100 percent focused on your individual and collective success.

4. It Covers All Industrial Applications of Lasers: The event covers industrial applications of lasers, such as: Additive Manufacturing, Cutting, Welding, Marking and more. Most importantly, we will show you how to apply lasers to increase your profits & efficiency.

Inspired yet? Learn even more about the Industrial Laser Conference – and why you should be there in our Five Things to Know blog. You can also sign up today: Click to register. If you have any additional questions, we’d be happy to help. Contact our Conference Team: conferences@lia.org, or +1.407.380.1553.

Five Things You Should Know About LIA’s Industrial Laser Conference

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There’s more to this inaugural conference than you think. 

Have you heard the buzz about our inaugural Industrial Laser Conference?  This one-of-a-kind industrial laser event is presented by Laser Institute of America and will be held at the September 2016 International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. It is the foremost way for you and your team to learn how to incorporate lasers into your manufacturing processes, so you can stay competitive – and grow – in the current high-tech market.

Debuting on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at the world-renowned McCormick Place, the Industrial Laser Conference will cover the spectrum of industrial applications of lasers, such as Additive Manufacturing (AM), Cutting, Welding, Marking, and more. Most importantly, the experts at the conference will show you exactly how to apply lasers to increase your organization’s profits and efficiency.

We couldn’t possibly pack every engaging detail about the conference in one Lasers Today blog post, but we can share with you our five favorite things about the first-annual event. Here are the top five things you can expect at the Industrial Laser Conference – and this is just the beginning:

1. The Industrial Laser Conference will be held at the famous IMTS

IMTS will run in its entirety from September 12-17, 2016, and will showcase over 2,000 exhibiting companies and more than 114,000 attendees.

If you’re already attending IMTS – the Industrial Laser Conference is a great complement to inspiring your skill set and furthering your company. Enjoy the entirety of the IMTS event, plus the Industrial Laser Conference – or travel to Chicago to learn about leading edge industrial laser manufacturing over a course of a day.

 2. The conference is perfect for Production Pros, Manufacturing Engineers, Directors of Manufacturing, Design Engineers, Technicians – and more.

From manufacturing directors to automation engineers to production specialists, every member of the industrial manufacturing workforce can benefit from attending this conference, learning over the course of a full day how to leverage lasers into their manufacturing processes in a high-tech, high-demand market.

 3. It is chaired by FANUC America Corporation’s Elizabeth Kautzmann

Take it from us – Industrial Laser Conference Program Chair Elizabeth Kautzmann of FANUC America Corporation is ready to kick off this future-forward inaugural event. As Kautzmann explained to us in a recent interview, the innovative techniques on center stage at the Industrial Laser Conference are emerging and revolutionizing the industry to meet market demands, all rooted in the field’s collective understanding of conventional machining. You can read more about what this industrial laser leader has to say about the conference here.

 4. It’s Industrial Laser Content-Packed

Anyone who works in industrial laser manufacturing can benefit from this event. From the “Tracking Trends in Lasers” program that will discuss today’s industrial laser opportunities in depth, to the latest advances in Additive Manufacturing, Hybrid Manufacturing, and Kautzmann’s favorite, “Trends in the Trenches,” there is something for everyone at the Industrial Laser Conference. View the full program here.

5. It’s Future-Forward – and Focused on You

This event is perfect for both industrial manufacturing professionals who want to improve their laser program – and those who have considered lasers as part of their processes before, but haven’t made the leap just yet. From the novice to the expert, every member of the industrial manufacturing spectrum can benefit from this future-forward event that is 100 percent focused on your individual and collective success.

Learn More about the Event – Sign Up Now! Click to register. If you have any additional questions, we’d be happy to help. Contact our Conference Team: conferences@lia.org, or +1.407.380.1553.

Weekly Wrap Up (Week of July 15th)

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Another week is in the books, laser enthusiasts!

This week, we wrap up by taking a closer look at Laser Welding Fundamentals — with an overview of the key aspects of laser welding and current production processes, from the varying types of welds, to commonly used welding methods. Discover the elements of laser welding systems here.

We wrap up with a little chat about Laser Welding…and more.

In addition, recent reports show that Industrial Lasers are outperforming machine tools in sales growth. Despite an uncertain economy in recent years, industrial lasers have experienced notable growth. Check out the analysis of industrial laser sales and market share, in relation to current industry trends, as well as what these numbers mean for the second half of 2016 here.

While we are still years away from creating meals out of thin air, the Replicator (as seen in Star Trek) may not be as fictional as it once seemed. In this week’s Science Fiction or Science Fact, find out how the Extreme Light Infrastructure, which is expected to be able to produce small particles, in a vacuum, could make a device like the Replicator an eventual reality. Learn more here.

Registration for LIA’s Inaugural Industrial Laser Conference is now open. The conference will be held during IMTS 2016, taking place September 13th, 2016 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL. The Industrial Laser Conference is designed for industrial manufacturing professionals and will showcase the applications driving the future of manufacturing. Registration for the Industrial Laser Conference includes access to the exhibit floor on all six days of IMTS. Learn more about the conference and register to attend here.

Clark-MXR, Inc is July’s Featured Corporate Member. Clark-MXR, Inc. is an industry leader in ultrashort pulse laser-based micromachining, production of ultrafast lasers, and laser solutions for scientific and industrial applications. Learn more about the company’s rich history, from its Michigan origins in 1992 to the launch of their micromachining division, as well as the company’s active role within LIA. Read more about the company here.

In this week’s Throwback Thursday, we explored the history of Laser Tag. Rising to popularity in the 1990’s, learn about the early origins of the game, how it actually works, and what its popularity means for lasers today. Check out the post here.

New updates to OSHA requirements will give more insight into workplace accidents. The new regulations, which aim to “modernize” the incident reporting process, require reports on illness, injuries, and fatalities to be submitted digitally. This records will be available to the public via the OSHA website. The new requirements have had a mixed response with some seeing it as a way to improve safety in the workplace, through transparency. Others find the new requirements “invasive” and worry about the potential for negative press surrounding the companies involved. Learn more about the updates here.

Our Laser Accident Series features laser-related accidents that may occur if proper laser safety protocols are not met. This week’s entry features real accidents reported to OSHA (names have been changed to protect those involved) involving laser applications. Learn about what steps LIA is taking to prevent accidents like these, as well as how laser safety training impacts the likelihood of these accidents here.

LIA offers laser safety training in the classroom, online, and in some cases, on-site! Learn more about the courses available to you, as well as view a digital presentation to see if online training is right for you in our post Choose the Laser Safety Training That’s Right For You found here.

The Laser Institute of America (LIA) is the international society for laser applications and safety. Our mission is to foster lasers, laser applications, and laser safety worldwide. Join us next week as we wrap up another week of laser learning and fun. In the meantime – visit us at www.lia.org.