United States Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker will deliver keynote remarks at the opening ceremony for IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, September 12, 2016, McCormick Place, Chicago. The opening ceremony takes place on Level 3 of the Grand Concourse at McCormick Place and runs from 9:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Speaking before hundreds of attendees, Secretary Pritzker will highlight the Department of Commerce’s role in strengthening America’s manufacturing industry, and how the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation is keeping this sector on the cutting edge of innovation. The NNMI has brought together companies, universities, academic and training institutions, and federal agencies to co-invest in “hubs” focused on emerging technologies, which are intended to encourage additional investment and production in the United States. In her remarks, Secretary Pritzker will preview the next chapter for NNMI as the network of institutes continues to grow.
Secretary Pritzker will tour the exhibits at 10:00 a.m. and host invitation-only press interviews at 12:00 p.m. Media wishing to interview Secretary Pritzker should contact the Department of Commerce Office of Public Affairs at publicaffairs@doc.gov. Media wishing to attend IMTS are required to register for a credential at www.IMTS.com/media.
During Pritzker’s tenure as Secretary of Commerce, she has been an advocate for the manufacturing industry on trade, innovation, and workforce development issues. Her support has been critical to achieving President Obama’s vision for a national network of public-private manufacturing institutes with unique technology focus areas. In addition, the Department of Commerce under Secretary Pritzker’s leadership has spearheaded the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership, which helps communities compete globally for manufacturing jobs and investment by leveraging a broad portfolio of federal tools and funding streams across eleven agencies. Also under her tenure, Manufacturing Day has grown from a small pilot to an initiative that last year reached over 400,000 people.
Secretary Pritzker will be introduced by Richard Simons, President/CEO of Hardinge Group™ and Chairman of AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, which produces and owns IMTS. AMT President Douglas K. Woods will open the ceremony.
“We are thrilled to have Secretary Pritzker visit IMTS,” said Peter R. Eelman, AMT Vice President – Exhibitions & Business Development. “It symbolizes the collaboration that continues to develop between the manufacturing industry and the U.S. government that will drive innovation forward.”
For more information about IMTS 2016 follow this link.