Two of Mason's largest advanced-manufacturing employers brought new robotics and machining technology to the International Manufacturing Technology Show, which ran Sept. 14–19 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

Makino, whose Americas headquarters sits at 7680 Innovation Way, and FANUC America, which operates a Central Regional Office at 7700 Innovation Way, both exhibited at the six-day trade show. The City of Mason Economic Development office spotlighted both companies in posts on X on Sept. 23, describing Makino as part of Mason's advanced manufacturing hub driving tech growth and calling the company an international leader that has kept its Americas headquarters in Mason for more than 45 years.

In a separate post, the office said FANUC has been part of the interconnected network of manufacturing strength in Mason for nearly 30 years and is driving momentum for the future of robotics and automation.

The show drew big numbers. Robotics Tomorrow reported that IMTS 2026 attracted 91,295 registrants from all 50 states and 123 countries, with 1,788 exhibiting companies spread across 1.17 million square feet. AMT — The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which owns and produces IMTS — calls it the largest manufacturing technology event in the Western Hemisphere. The show generates an estimated $250 million in economic impact for Chicago and Illinois, according to PHCPPros.

Makino displayed its new EDAF2i Ultra sinker electrical discharge machine at Booth 338519, featuring what the company calls High-Quality Surface Clarity technology. Makino provides machining technology for the metalcutting and die/mold manufacturing industries.

FANUC America, a subsidiary of Japan's FANUC Corporation, showcased more than 50 products across two booths. New products on display included the CRX-3iA collaborative robot, the D74CS ROBODRILL machining center and the M-810/190-20B robot. The company also demonstrated Physical AI technology powered by Amazon Web Services that allows robots to respond to natural-language voice commands during manufacturing tasks.

"IMTS 2026 highlighted how quickly manufacturing technology is moving from concept to application," Mike Cicco, FANUC America's president and CEO, said in a post-show recap published by Robotics Tomorrow. Cicco also serves as chairman of AMT's board.

The show arrived during a strong stretch for the industry. Manufacturing technology orders had exceeded $500 million for the fifth consecutive month as of the show's opening, only the second time that has happened since AMT began tracking orders in 1998. Year-to-date orders through July reached $4.03 billion, up 37.1% compared with the same period in 2025.

FANUC America's corporate headquarters is in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Its Mason office provides training, service, sales and customer support for the region.