“Opportunity and innovation ... are the two things at the core of success. There’s always opportunity, and there’s always something more innovative.”
– Doug Woods, President of AMT
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1. Try It, Break It, Try It Again
Doug Woods, president of AMT, has been around machine tools since childhood. Weekends in his grandfather’s shop gave him a love for making things and a belief that great people matter more than great machines. His view on U.S. manufacturing: It has a bright future, thanks to reshoring, investment, and America’s culture of “try it, break it, and try it again.” Looking ahead, Woods sees AI, automation, and robotics driving the next wave, all on display at IMTS 2026.
2. Stack Attack
Know those pesky discs that form between layers when you drill stacked components? Sandvik tackled this drilling headache with big quality consequences: Its new CoroDrill DS20 stack-drilling insert (L5S) keeps holes clean and true even with 1-millimeter gaps, so parts don’t fail inspection later. Built for holes between 28 and 52 millimeters, it trims downtime and scrap. And with low axial forces, it can even protect hole quality in less-than-perfect setups and weldments.
3. Cobots Hit the High Seas
Universal Robots and Viam are bringing cobots to boatbuilding to automate fiberglass sanding, a job where human fatigue can quietly wreck surface quality. UR arms paired with Viam’s adaptive software deliver steady pressure and motion, producing more uniform finishes while easing labor shortages. Because the system can swap arm sizes and expand into polishing and coating, it turns a messy, variable step into a reliable quality stage across the build.
4. Smarter Workflow, Stronger Prints
Renishaw and Materialise’s new, next-generation build processor tightens the link between Magics and RenAM systems so quality doesn’t get lost in translation. Direct job export, swim-lane laser control for cleaner multilaser builds, and built-in path inspection help catch issues before they become bad parts. With implicit modeling and faster prep, AM users get a workflow that supports higher repeatability and better metal print integrity at scale.
5. BOM Problems? Send an Agent
The new BOM Intelligence Agent marks a shift in how supply chain teams deal with the messy reality of part data. Instead of digging through scattered systems to check availability, find replacements, or verify compliance, teams can upload a bill of materials and let the agent sort out deprecated parts, alternative options, and sourcing details in minutes. Early users say it’s turning a once-tedious chore into a faster, clearer decision process – one more sign of how AI is reshaping everyday engineering work.
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