Appearance
Four major international trade shows serve the deep hole drilling industry on a rotating biennial cycle. IMTS (Chicago, even years) and EMO Hannover (odd years) are the premier events for seeing deep hole drilling machines, tooling, and technology. MACH (Birmingham, even years) covers the UK market, and GrindingHub (Stuttgart, even years) addresses the grinding technology essential for drill manufacturing and reconditioning. Understanding which show to attend and what to expect at each can save significant travel budget and ensure the right technology is seen.
Overview
The deep hole drilling industry does not have a dedicated trade show of its own. Instead, practitioners must follow the major manufacturing technology exhibitions where deep hole drilling machine builders, tooling manufacturers, and service providers exhibit alongside the broader metalworking industry.
The four primary shows form a predictable biennial cycle:
| Show | Location | Cycle | Typical Dates | Primary Focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMTS | Chicago, USA | Even years | September | Manufacturing technology, Americas |
| EMO Hannover | Hannover, Germany | Odd years | September | Metalworking, global |
| MACH | Birmingham, UK | Even years | April | Manufacturing, UK market |
| GrindingHub | Stuttgart, Germany | Even years | May | Grinding technology |
Each show attracts a different mix of exhibitors, visitors, and technology showcases. Choosing the right one depends on geography, role, and specific technology interests.
IMTS — International Manufacturing Technology Show
IMTS is the largest manufacturing technology show in the Americas, held at McCormick Place in Chicago. The 2026 edition runs September 14–19.
Scale and Reach
- 1.2+ million square feet of exhibition space
- 1,800+ exhibitors
- 80,000+ attendees from 100+ countries
- Organised by AMT (Association for Manufacturing Technology)
Deep Hole Drilling Presence
IMTS has a dedicated exhibitor category for deep hole drilling. Exhibitors listed under this category include:
- Ingersoll Machine Tools — deep hole drilling machines (gun drilling), listed under "Drilling Machines, Deep Hole (Gundrilling)" in the IMTS directory
- Delton International USA — gundrills, listed under cutting tools category
- Bourn & Koch — deep hole drilling machines for medical and aerospace applications
- Dormer Pramet — launched the Force Deep Hole drill as a new product ahead of IMTS 2026
Major machine tool builders exhibiting at IMTS (Okuma, Mazak, Haas, DN Solutions, DMG MORI) typically demonstrate deep hole drilling applications using their machining centres with G83 peck drilling cycles, though dedicated deep hole drilling machines are concentrated in the booths of specialist manufacturers.
What to See at IMTS
| Product Category | Exhibitors to Look For | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dedicated gun drilling machines | Ingersoll, Bourn & Koch, Mollart | New machine models, automation integration |
| Gun drill tooling | Delton, Dormer Pramet, Star SU | Coating advances, geometry optimisation |
| BTA tooling | Sandvik Coromant, ISCAR, Allied Machine | Insert grades, drill head designs |
| Coolant systems | ChipBLASTER, Coolant-related exhibitors | High-pressure delivery, filtration |
| Metrology for deep holes | Zeiss, Hexagon, Marposs | Bore measurement, straightness inspection |
IMTS 2026 Highlights
The 2026 edition is themed around foundational manufacturing technologies. Expected trends include:
- Automation integration — robotic loading of deep hole drilling machines for unattended operation
- Digital twins — simulation of deep hole drilling processes for cycle time optimisation
- Hybrid machines — combined additive and subtractive manufacturing including deep hole drilling capabilities
- Industry 4.0 connectivity — MTConnect and OPC-UA data from drilling machines for production monitoring
Tip: IMTS runs Tuesday through Saturday (not Monday–Friday). Plan travel accordingly. Wednesday and Thursday are the busiest days with the most machine demonstrations running.
EMO Hannover
EMO Hannover is the world's largest trade fair for metalworking, held at the Hannover Exhibition Center in Germany. The 2025 edition ran September 22–26 with the theme "Innovation Manufacturing."
Scale and Reach
- ~2,200 exhibitors from 40+ countries
- 80,000+ professional visitors
- 180,000+ square metres of exhibition space
- Organised by VDW (German Machine Tool Builders' Association)
Deep Hole Drilling Presence
EMO has the strongest European representation of deep hole drilling technology among the four shows:
- CERATIZIT (Hall 5, Stand B42) — showcased the WTX-Deep Uni deep hole drill, emphasising process reliability, chip removal efficiency, and reconditioning capability
- Wohlhaupter / Allied Machine & Engineering (Hall 4, Stand A04) — deep hole drilling solutions, precision boring, modular tooling, and the 3ETech+ precision boring system with digital readout
- Dezhou Drillstar Cutting Tools (Hall 3, Stand A14) — Chinese specialist exhibiting gun drills (1–65 mm diameter), BTA single-tube and ejector drills, honing machines, and custom deep hole tooling
- HEULE — deburring, chamfering, and counterboring solutions for deep hole applications
- VARGUS — V-Drill line with live demonstrations on EMCO HyperTurn 50
European Deep Hole Drilling Machine Builders at EMO
| Company | Country | Speciality |
|---|---|---|
| Mollart Engineering | UK | Gun drilling and BTA machines |
| TBT (Tiefbohrtechnik) | Germany | Deep hole drilling machines, gun drilling, BTA |
| Gühring | Germany | Gun drills, BTA tooling, deep hole drilling tools |
| Botek | Germany | Single-lip gun drills, deep hole drilling tools |
| IET (Industrie-Einrichtungen Tiefbohrtechnik) | Germany | Deep hole drilling machines and tooling |
| UNISIG | Switzerland | Deep hole drilling machines (global) |
EMO 2025 Product Launch Highlights
- CERATIZIT WTX-Deep Uni — universal deep hole drill with replaceable head design
- Wohlhaupter 3ETech+ — precision boring system with micron-resolution digital readout
- Drillstar BTA systems — new ejector drill designs for titanium and Inconel alloys
Tip: EMO is the largest of the four shows by physical size. Allow at least two full days to cover the deep hole drilling exhibitors. Use the EMO app or online exhibitor search to pre-plan your route.
MACH — UK Manufacturing Exhibition
MACH is the UK's premier manufacturing technology exhibition, organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and held at the NEC Birmingham.
Scale and Reach
- 500+ exhibitors
- 25,000–30,000 visitors
- Four halls (17–20 at the NEC)
- Biennial, even years
Deep Hole Drilling Presence at MACH 2026
MACH has a smaller deep hole drilling presence than IMTS or EMO but covers the UK market comprehensively:
- Rainford Precision — represented Iwata Tool Co.'s deep hole drilling technology including Alt-coated three-flute drills (0.5–12 mm) achieving H7 tolerances in materials up to 72 HRC
- Gühring (Stand 20-362) — launched the 3-fluted FT 200 U solid carbide drill capable of drilling up to 12×D without pilot drilling
- DK Holdings (Stand 17-541) — diamond and CBN tooling for drilling, grinding, and cutting applications
- FANUC UK (Stand 18-449) — demonstrated an automated drilling cell developed in collaboration with Airbus
- Louis Bélet (via Rainford Precision) — premiered the Excalibur series with diameters as small as 0.1 mm and tool life 50–100× longer than solid carbide
UK Deep Hole Drilling Service Providers
MACH also attracts the UK's sub-contract deep hole drilling community:
| Company | Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Mollart Cox Engineering | Bore sizes 25–300 mm, lengths up to 10 m |
| Perfect Bore Manufacturing | Deep hole boring 25–400 mm diameter |
| Nexus Deep Bore | Deep hole boring and drilling, Sheffield |
| Hone-All Precision | Deep hole drilling, honing, CNC turning |
These service providers typically attend MACH as visitors rather than exhibitors, but the show provides an opportunity to meet them and discuss project requirements.
Tip: MACH is the most cost-effective show for UK-based professionals. The NEC is well-connected by rail and road. The show tends to have a practical, application-focused atmosphere compared to the larger international shows.
GrindingHub
GrindingHub is dedicated to grinding technology — the process by which deep hole drilling tools are manufactured, sharpened, and reconditioned. Held at Messe Stuttgart, it is the only show on this list that focuses on the tool manufacturing process rather than the drilling application itself.
Scale and Reach
- ~460 exhibitors from 28 countries (2026)
- 11,000+ professional visitors
- Three exhibition halls (Messe Stuttgart)
- Organised by VDW, Messe Stuttgart, and SWISSMEM
Relevance to Deep Hole Drilling
While not a deep hole drilling show per se, GrindingHub is directly relevant to:
- Tool manufacturing — grinding of gun drill flutes, BTA head geometries, and carbide tip profiles
- Tool reconditioning — regrinding of worn gun drills and BTA heads
- Drill point grinding — specialised geometries for deep hole drilling tools
- Coating preparation — surface finishing before PVD/CVD coating
Key Exhibitors for Drill Manufacturing
| Company | Booth (2026) | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| VOLLMER | Hall 7, D71 | VGrind infinity LINEAR tool grinder, VHybrid 260 grinding + erosion |
| ANCA | — | CNC tool grinders for drill manufacturing |
| Reishauer | Hall 10, C60 | Grinding wheels, dressing devices, clamping systems |
| LACH Diamant | Hall 7, C56 | Diamond tooling for drill grinding |
| United Grinding | — | Cylindrical and internal grinding for drill tubes |
| Fives Landis | Hall 9, 9B31 | Precision grinding for tooling components |
2026 New Features
- Grinding Solution Forum — practical sessions covering automation, AI, digitalisation, and process stability
- Startup Hub — 7 young companies from Germany, Czech Republic, and Switzerland
- Grinding Solution Park — bridge between industry and research institutions
- Americas expansion announced — GrindingHub Americas to launch in Cincinnati in 2027
Tip: GrindingHub is the most technical and focused of the four shows. It is ideal for tooling engineers and manufacturing engineers responsible for drill grinding and reconditioning rather than for purchasing managers or sales professionals.
Regional Trade Shows and Exhibitions
In addition to the four primary shows, several regional exhibitions are relevant to deep hole drilling professionals:
CCMT — China CNC Machine Tool Fair
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Next edition: April 21–25, 2026
- Theme: "Digital · Connected · Intelligent Manufacturing"
- Deep hole exhibitors:
- SHIN-IL STARK (Booth N2-B183) — deep hole drilling machines, BTA and gun drill tooling
- Dezhou Drillstar (Booth E4-A422) — gun drills, BTA drills, custom deep hole tools
TMTS — Taiwan International Machine Tool Show
- Location: Taichung, Taiwan
- Next edition: March 25–28, 2026
- Deep hole exhibitors:
- Hong Ji Precision Machinery (Booth G0226) — deep hole drilling machines, gun drilling, BTA machines
Suzhou International Machine Tool Exhibition
- Location: Suzhou, China
- Next edition: April 9–12, 2026
- Deep hole exhibitors:
- SHIN-IL STARK Machinery (Booth D1-12) — deep hole drilling machines and tooling
Comparison with Major Shows
| Show | Region | Scale | Deep Hole Focus | Recommended For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMTS | Americas | ★★★★★ | Strong | Production managers, buyers |
| EMO | Europe/Global | ★★★★★ | Strongest | Engineers, technical managers |
| MACH | UK | ★★★★ | Moderate | UK-based professionals |
| GrindingHub | Europe | ★★★ | Tool manufacturing | Tooling engineers |
| CCMT | China | ★★★★ | Growing | China-market professionals |
| TMTS | Taiwan | ★★★ | Moderate | Taiwan/Asia supply chain |
How to Maximise Trade Show Attendance
Before the Show
- Search the exhibitor directory — all major shows provide searchable online directories. Search for category terms: "deep hole drilling," "gun drilling," "BTA drilling," "gundrills," "deep hole drilling machines"
- Pre-book meetings — deep hole drilling specialists are often the busiest people at their booths. Schedule meetings in advance
- Identify target products — make a shortlist of specific technologies to evaluate (e.g., "BTA drill heads for 40–60 mm diameter in Inconel")
- Prepare technical questions — bring specific application parameters (material, hole depth, diameter, tolerance) for detailed discussions
At the Show
| Activity | Priority | Time Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-scheduled meetings | High | 30–60 min each |
| Target exhibitor visits | High | 20–30 min each |
| New product demonstrations | Medium | 15–20 min each |
| Networking with peers | Medium | As available |
| General walk-through | Low | 1–2 hours |
After the Show
- Collect business cards and literature — most exhibitors now use digital lead capture (QR codes, badge scanning)
- Follow up within one week — technical inquiries lose momentum quickly
- Compare competing technologies — use show notes to build comparison matrices
- Share findings with colleagues — create a brief report covering new products, technology trends, and pricing
Budgeting for Trade Show Attendance
| Expense Item | IMTS/EMO | MACH | GrindingHub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration | $100–200 | Free–£50 | €50–100 |
| Travel (international) | $1,000–3,000 | $200–500 | $500–2,000 |
| Accommodation (3 nights) | $1,000–2,000 | $500–800 | $600–1,200 |
| Meals and expenses | $400–600 | $200–400 | $300–500 |
| Typical total | $2,500–5,800 | $900–1,750 | $1,450–3,800 |
Summary
| Show | Next Edition | Location | Deep Hole Drilling Focus | Key Exhibitors | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMTS | Sep 14–19, 2026 | Chicago, USA | Dedicated category | Ingersoll, Bourn & Koch, Dormer Pramet | Americas market, production buyers |
| EMO Hannover | Sep 22–26, 2025 | Hannover, Germany | Strongest European presence | CERATIZIT, Wohlhaupter, Drillstar, HEULE | Global technology overview |
| MACH | Apr 20–24, 2026 | Birmingham, UK | Moderate, growing | Gühring, Rainford, DK Holdings, FANUC | UK market, cost-effective |
| GrindingHub | May 5–8, 2026 | Stuttgart, Germany | Tool manufacturing | VOLLMER, ANCA, Reishauer | Tool grinding engineers |
| CCMT | Apr 21–25, 2026 | Shanghai, China | Growing | SHIN-IL STARK, Drillstar | China manufacturing supply chain |
| TMTS | Mar 25–28, 2026 | Taichung, Taiwan | Moderate | Hong Ji Precision | Taiwan/Asia machine tools |
FAQ
Which trade show is best for seeing deep hole drilling machines?
EMO Hannover has the strongest concentration of dedicated deep hole drilling machine builders, particularly from Germany and Switzerland. IMTS also has a strong showing, particularly for the Americas. MACH is limited for dedicated deep hole drilling machines but covers general drilling technology well.
Is there a trade show specifically for deep hole drilling?
No. Deep hole drilling is represented within broader manufacturing technology shows (IMTS, EMO, MACH) and specialised categories within grinding shows (GrindingHub). There is no standalone deep hole drilling trade show.
When is the next IMTS and how do I register?
IMTS 2026 runs September 14–19 at McCormick Place, Chicago. Registration opens approximately 6 months before the show at imts.com. Early registration is typically discounted.
Does MACH 2026 have deep hole drilling exhibitors?
Yes. MACH 2026 features several exhibitors relevant to deep hole drilling: Gühring (deep hole drill tooling), Rainford Precision (Iwata deep hole drills), DK Holdings (diamond/CBN drilling tooling), and FANUC UK (automated drilling cells). The show also attracts the UK sub-contract deep hole drilling community.
What is GrindingHub and why should a deep hole drilling professional attend?
GrindingHub is the leading trade fair for grinding technology. It is relevant to deep hole drilling because gun drills, BTA heads, and other deep hole drilling tools are manufactured and reconditioned using precision grinding. Tooling engineers responsible for drill manufacturing or regrinding will find dedicated grinding machine manufacturers, abrasives suppliers, and measurement systems at GrindingHub.
How often are these trade shows held?
All four major shows are biennial (every two years). IMTS and MACH run in even years. EMO Hannover runs in odd years. GrindingHub runs in even years (2024, 2026, 2028), offset from EMO.
Which show is best for a production manager from a small machine shop?
For a US-based shop: IMTS provides the best return on investment — it covers the broadest range of technology in one location. For a UK-based shop: MACH is cost-effective with free registration and good UK-specific content. For a European shop: EMO Hannover is the best option for seeing the broadest range of deep hole drilling technology.
Can I attend multiple shows in the same year?
Yes, but travel and accommodation costs can accumulate quickly. A common approach is to attend one international show (IMTS or EMO) per year and one regional show. For example, a European professional might attend EMO 2025 and GrindingHub 2026, while a US professional might attend IMTS 2026 and supplement with EMO in odd years.
Are there any online or virtual trade show alternatives?
Most major shows now offer digital companion platforms with exhibitor directories, product listings, and virtual meeting scheduling. However, these are supplementary to the in-person events. The value of trade shows for deep hole drilling — where hands-on inspection of tooling and machine demonstrations is critical — remains in physical attendance.
What new deep hole drilling products were launched at recent shows?
EMO 2025 saw the CERATIZIT WTX-Deep Uni universal deep hole drill and the Wohlhaupter 3ETech+ precision boring system. MACH 2026 featured the Gühring FT 200 U 3-fluted drill (12×D capability) and the Louis Bélet Excalibur micro-drill series. IMTS 2026 is expected to launch new automation-integrated deep hole drilling cells and expanded digital twin capabilities.