Rockford IMTS 2026 Pre-Party with MakingChips & Mfg Happy Hour
About this Event
Rockford-area manufacturers, mark your calendars for a good ol' fashioned end-of-summer parking lot party! With IMTS right around the corner, MakingChips and Manufacturing Happy Hour are here to get you primed for manufacturing's biggest event in style.
Manufacturing leaders from across northern Illinois (and beyond) are invited to this unique celebration of manufacturing: a summer festival of food, drinks, live music, yard games, and a whole lot of fun.
The outdoor party will be taking over MakingChips HQ, adjacent to Advanced Machine & Engineering. Food will be provided by Franchesco's of Rockford, plus live music. Drink tickets are included with your ticket to the event.
A portion of proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to a soon-to-be-named charity.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected]. We can't wait to see you in Rockford.
Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty, and remember...if you're not making chips, you're not making money!
About MakingChips:
The mission is simple: to equip and inspire manufacturing leaders. At MakingChips, we believe in this industry, and we believe in the people who work to make a living in it.
Nick Goellner, Mike Payne, and Paul Van Metre are leaders with diverse expertise in the manufacturing industry, united by their passion for equipping and inspiring the Metalworking Nation. Nick, a sales and marketing leader at a global OEM, brings deep industry knowledge and a talent for connecting with manufacturers. Mike’s journey spans Private Equity, M&A, and ownership of multiple manufacturing companies, offering strategic financial insights. Paul, a founder of ProShop ERP and a former aerospace machine shop owner, leverages his expertise to drive operational excellence. Together, they’ve shaped MakingChips into a platform where manufacturers can learn, grow, and thrive!
About Manufacturing Happy Hour:
Manufacturing Happy Hour is a podcast and event platform that's on a mission to connect manufacturing with culture and community. The top-ranked weekly podcast - described as "TEDx meets 'How It's Made" - seeks to simplify the latest trends in manufacturing leadership and technology and is hosted by Chris Luecke. To date, Chris has interviewed over 300 leaders in the industrial sector and has built Manufacturing Happy Hour into one of the largest independent communities in the industry.
About AMT:
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology represents and promotes U.S.-based builders and distributors of manufacturing technology - the high-tech machinery, devices, and digital products that enable advanced manufacturing. Located in McLean, VA, near our nation's capital, AMT supports its members by acting as the industry's voice to grow its global competitiveness, speed the pace of innovation, and develop the smartforce of tomorrow. AMT also provides expertise in industry research and data, in addition to extensive international business support.
About IMTS:
IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is where the creators, builders, sellers, and drivers of manufacturing technology come to connect and be inspired. Attendees discover advanced manufacturing solutions that include innovations in CNC machining, automation, robotics, additive, software, inspection, and transformative digital technologies that drive our future forward. Presented by AMT, IMTS is the largest manufacturing technology show and marketplace in the Western Hemisphere. Be the change at IMTS 2026, Sept. 9-14, 2026.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 55.20 to USD 65.87
