MAX Agenda & Programming

Smarter, Safer: Modernizing Manufacturing Safety with AI & Wearable Tech

Discover how AI-driven compliance tools and next-generation wearables are transforming safety programs on the factory floor. This workshop explores real-time monitoring, smart sensors, and emerging OSHA-aligned technologies that help manufacturers prevent injuries before they happen.

AI at Work: Using Digital Tools to Troubleshoot, Optimize & Accelerate Production

Learn how modern AI and digital systems identify bottlenecks, flag underperforming KPIs, and streamline operations on the factory floor. This workshop focuses on practical, real-world applications—not theory—to help teams boost throughput and reduce downtime.

Sustainable Technologies Powering Adhesives, Coatings and Packaging

Explore the breakthroughs reshaping modern production—from precision adhesive-dispensing systems and emerging de-bond-on-demand methods to rapid UV/EB curing innovations and the newest advances in chemical recycling and de-polymerization. This session highlights how these disruptive technologies are driving efficiency, enabling design freedom, and supporting a more circular manufacturing economy.

Automation at Work: How Robotics Are Transforming Modern Manufacturing

Explore how robots and automated systems are reshaping assembly, quality, material handling, and packaging. This workshop highlights practical applications that improve consistency, enhance safety, and boost overall productivity.

Welcome Reception

Join us for the Opening Night Welcome Reception, where you can mingle with fellow attendees before the exhibit hall opens. Pick up your name badge, enjoy a drink, and connect with others in a relaxed, casual setting. Don’t miss this chance to start building valuable connections ahead of Wednesday’s official kickoff!

Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility Packaging Legislation Across U.S. Manufacturing

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is the top issue in product packaging today, with several U.S. states in various stages of implementing fee-based sustainability programs directly related to a manufacturer’s end-of-life plan for its packaging. The more sustainable and truly circular the packaging, the less a manufacturer will generally pay into the system. This session will provide an overview of the status of these programs, with real-world examples from consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers.

Guided Tour 1: Manufacturing Software

Software is the backbone of the smart factory. From ERP and MES to digital work instructions and performance analytics, software is transforming how manufacturers operate. This tour introduces you to leading suppliers driving the digital transformation—streamlining operations, enhancing traceability, and optimizing plant performance.

Guided Exhibit Hall Tours at MAX

Focused. Efficient. Expert Led.

Make the most of your time on the exhibit floor with complimentary Guided Tours, each centered around a key topic in modern manufacturing. Whether you’re attending with a specific solution in mind or want help navigating the range of technologies on display, these tours provide a targeted, high-impact way to explore.

Each tour departs from the Main Entrance of the Exhibit Hall, where an editor from one of MAX’s participating media brands will lead a small group to five carefully selectedexhibitors offering solutions tied to the tour’s theme. At each stop, you'll hear directly from experts, see demonstrations, and get actionable insights to take back to your facility.

From Algorithms to Autonomy: Laying the Groundwork for Success With AI

Artificial intelligence is the hottest trend to hit factories since lean manufacturing in the 1990s. Manufacturers around the world are adopting AI to boost efficiency, improve quality and reduce errors. Applications include everything from data analytics to cybersecurity.

However, implementing AI isn’t merely a matter of uploading some software and getting results. Manufacturers have numerous issues to consider, including project selection and management, data quality, cybersecurity, and human resources.

In this session, a panel of experts will walk manufacturing managers through the minefield of AI implementation.

5G: How to Turn Your Factory Into a Smart, Connected Facility

Assembly plants are extraordinarily complex environments that rely on automation and connectivity. However, with miles of Ethernet cables connecting Wi-Fi drop points, plants have limited flexibility for setup and upgrades. In contrast, wireless 5G technology allows engineers to create a more flexible and connected facility. In this session, you’ll learn the what, why and how of 5G technology for factories from a panel of experts.

Guided Tour 2: Automated Assembly Machines & Systems

Automation continues to redefine how products are assembled. This tour explores integrated machines and systems that improve throughput, reduce labor costs, and boost flexibility. From semi-automated stations to fully automated lines, you'll see how manufacturers are streamlining production at scale.

Guided Exhibit Hall Tours at MAX

Focused. Efficient. Expert Led.

Make the most of your time on the exhibit floor with complimentary Guided Tours, each centered around a key topic in modern manufacturing. Whether you’re attending with a specific solution in mind or want help navigating the range of technologies on display, these tours provide a targeted, high-impact way to explore.

Each tour departs from the Main Entrance of the Exhibit Hall, where an editor from one of MAX’s participating media brands will lead a small group to five carefully selectedexhibitors offering solutions tied to the tour’s theme. At each stop, you'll hear directly from experts, see demonstrations, and get actionable insights to take back to your facility.

Bringing It Home: Lessons Learned from Manufacturers That Have Reshored Production

Whether they want to increase resiliency, shorten supply chains, or protect intellectual property, a growing number of U.S. manufacturers are striving to bring production back from overseas. However, the process of reshoring production takes more than simply loading machinery onto a ship and sending it back to the states. There are many issues to consider. Will additional workers be needed? Are there local sources of parts and materials? What are the financial implications of the move? What “tribal knowledge” might be lost in the transfer? In this panel discussion, learn from local manufacturers that have successfully reshored production.

Happy Hour Reception

Wrap Up Day 1 with Cheers, Bites, and Connections! Join us on the exhibit floor for a Happy Hour Reception you won’t want to miss! Sip on something refreshing, savor delicious Tennessee-inspired treats along Main Street and MAXimum Drive, and keep the conversations flowing. It’s the perfect way to mix, mingle, and unwind while exploring the show floor and connecting with fellow attendees and exhibitors.

Morning Mingle & Breakfast

Kickstart Your Day at the Morning Mingle & Breakfast! Join us on the exhibit floor for a complimentary continental breakfast and a fresh cup of coffee to jumpstart your final day. It’s your last chance to swap ideas, trade cards, and make those meaningful connections before the event winds down. Come for the coffee, stay for the conversation!

Guided Tour 3: Quality Measurement & Inspection

In modern manufacturing, precision is non-negotiable. This tour spotlights technologies that ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance—featuring suppliers specializing in measurement tools, inspection systems, and real-time data solutions to reduce defects and uphold quality standards.

Guided Exhibit Hall Tours at MAX

Focused. Efficient. Expert Led.

Make the most of your time on the exhibit floor with complimentary Guided Tours, each centered around a key topic in modern manufacturing. Whether you’re attending with a specific solution in mind or want help navigating the range of technologies on display, these tours provide a targeted, high-impact way to explore.

Each tour departs from the Main Entrance of the Exhibit Hall, where an editor from one of MAX’s participating media brands will lead a small group to five carefully selectedexhibitors offering solutions tied to the tour’s theme. At each stop, you'll hear directly from experts, see demonstrations, and get actionable insights to take back to your facility.

Guided Tour 4: Robots & Robot Accessories

Robots are no longer optional—they’re essential. This tour features innovations in industrial and collaborative robots, along with end-of-arm tooling, vision systems, and accessories that extend functionality and enable smarter, safer operations on the plant floor.

Guided Exhibit Hall Tours at MAX

Focused. Efficient. Expert Led.

Make the most of your time on the exhibit floor with complimentary Guided Tours, each centered around a key topic in modern manufacturing. Whether you’re attending with a specific solution in mind or want help navigating the range of technologies on display, these tours provide a targeted, high-impact way to explore.

Each tour departs from the Main Entrance of the Exhibit Hall, where an editor from one of MAX’s participating media brands will lead a small group to five carefully selectedexhibitors offering solutions tied to the tour’s theme. At each stop, you'll hear directly from experts, see demonstrations, and get actionable insights to take back to your facility.