The Canadian Manufacturing Technology Show (CMTS) recently brought together those in the manufacturing industry to showcase new products, processes, and technologies. CMTS offered those in attendance a massive trade show floor, keynote addresses, panel discussions, and workshops.
“CMTS continues to evolve with the Canadian manufacturing landscape, delivering a program lineup that presents the latest technologies from global OEMs while also addressing the manufacturing revolution that is upon us,” said Julie Pike, Director, Canadian events, SME. “Ontario is where 700-plus parts suppliers and 500-plus tool, die, and mould-makers converge along a 400-kilometre automotive corridor, forming one of the most robust supply chains in the world.”
One of the keynote addresses was by Jim Balsillie, Co-founder and Chair of the Council of Canadian Innovators, who spoke about the importance of building strategic intellectual property capacity.
“To grow and remain profitable in the era of automated manufacturing, Canadian companies need sophisticated strategies to generate, commercialize, and protect their IP in all stages of the manufacturing process,” said Balsillie. “It’s a pre-condition for sustained commercial success in today’s knowledge-based economy.” Another address was by The Honourable Jean Charest, former Quebec Premier and Partner at McCarthy Tétrault LLP.
“The rest of the world is going in the wrong direction. They’re re-trenching behind their borders whereas Canada is opening up, continuing to focus on immigration and workplace strategies aimed at recruiting the talent we need, from researchers and professionals to tradespeople and labourers,” said Charest.
Other keynotes included Ric Fulop, CEO and Co-Founder of Desktop Metal (Additive Manufacturing as an Enabler of Industry 4.0); Andrew Witherspoon, Vice-President of Industry Solutions at Salesforce (Accelerating Customer-centric Digital Transformation); Colin Singh Dhillon, Chief Technical Officer for the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (Vehicle 2 Everything (V2X) Technology); and David Nedohin, Co-Founder and President of Scope AR (Show Me the ROI: How Augmented Reality is Modernizing Manufacturing).
The biggest part of the show was the trade show floor, which included over 400 exhibits, where over 9,000 attendees could see everything that is new in the manufacturing world. Many machines were on the floor and demonstrations were provided upon request.
