GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Joe Teague, owner and organizer of the Advanced Manufacturing Expo, says this year’s event will help manufacturers sort through a crowded AI and Industry 4.0 technology market. 

AME’s Industry 4.0 Tech Hall will focus heavily on AI-driven data and manufacturing technologies. Several breakout sessions will address how manufacturers can use plant-floor data to improve operations. 

Teague said the number of AI tools available to manufacturers has made in-person evaluation more important. For manufacturers trying to determine which technologies fit their plants, trade shows can provide a way to see equipment, speak with experts and build trust with suppliers. 

“If you try to search for AI solutions online, whew! You're gonna get buried in opportunities,” Teague said. “There are a lot of them out there. I think most people are going to resonate with... going to meet and talk to an individual who understands what the ones and zeros are doing.” 

The Advanced Manufacturing Expo will be held July 29-30, 2026, in Grand Rapids. The event brings together manufacturers, technology suppliers and industry leaders across automation, metalworking, MRO and safety, and Industry 4.0. 

Listen to the full conversation on ASSEMBLY Audible.