I have been to many IMTS and EMO shows over my fifty years in the industry; yet the 2024 show proved to be a thrilling and confusing event that left me tired and looking forward to a future that will surpass even my meager manufacturing dreams. At the first manufacturing technology show I attended (even before McCormick Place was built), I was in my early twenties and gobsmacked by the huge milling machines with tool changers that were operated by tape drives—no CNC for the old school. Well, the 2024 show proved to be deep in the new school.

During a recent conference session on AI and manufacturing in Las Vegas, one presenter made a valid point about simplifying and accelerating shop floor processes. “AI has the potential to revolutionize the way companies design, develop, manufacture and operate.” This is happening in gear manufacturing shops, automotive OEMs, production plants—even mining facilities.

The 10,000-Year Clock, also known as the Clock of the Long Now, is a visionary project aimed at fostering long-term thinking and responsibility. Located inside a mountain in West Texas on land owned by Jeff Bezos, this clock is designed to keep accurate time for 10,000 years, serving as a powerful symbol of longevity and sustainability.