The American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA) historically has been linked to standards development that grew from demand in the automotive industry more than a century ago. Fast forward 107 years and AGMA has added quite a bit of value to their resume. Members that manufacture and supply gears, machines, materials, and more have joined from all over the world to learn, network, and grow with AGMA as their guide. Standards development remains a sturdy foundation for the association, but with the years came change and with change, came innovation.
Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo) — formerly GearExpo — is a tradeshow that reflects the innovation of the industry and showcases the incredible technology of businesses from around the globe. MPT Expo has already had an interesting history. In 2019, the show saw record-breaking attendance and exhibition, with an impressive lineup of expert speakers and education. Those that were once weary about the name change of the show began to see the importance of expanding the business opportunities to include electric and fluid power technologies. However, this amazing show took a hit in 2021 when it remained open as the only tradeshow of its kind after COVID had hit the world. Exhibitors saw aisles with less density and every conversation happened through a mask — it was not the type of show you would want every year — but it was at least something.
Now, it is 2023. Things might never be the same, but business is booming for many in manufacturing. With all of the new supply chain challenges, a face-to-face event is exactly what companies and sales teams need to find fresh leads, new suppliers, and potentially a new path to incorporate evolving technology into their processes. MPT Expo is always going to supply quality — no one goes to this show by mistake — so now it is just a matter of taking the time to reconnect.
Consider this your formal invitation and remember that with members in the driver’s seat, AGMA exists only for you.
About the show
Motion + Power Technology Expo (MPT Expo) will take place over three action-packed days in Detroit, Michigan, where end-users can shop the latest technology, gear products, and services, and compare benefits side-by-side. Prominent exhibitors will conduct demos and host information-rich seminars as well as offer-up technical expertise. With a large manufacturing base covering automotive, aviation, biotechnology, chemicals, electrical utilities, food and beverage manufacturing, refining, research, telecommunications, off-highway transportation, and more, Detroit is the perfect city to welcome MPT Expo attendees and all parts of the power transmission supply chain.
Networking Opportunities
FTM Networking Reception
Monday, October 16 | 6-8 p.m. | $75 early/advance, $85 late
Join attendees from the Fall Technical Meeting for a fun networking reception at The Yard in Corktown. The reception is included in your registration for Full FTM attendees, but tickets are available for single session passholders and other MPT Expo attendees interested in fun, games, food, and drinks. The reception includes dinner and fun activities including axe throwing, board games, shuffleboard, fire pits, and cornhole.
Who should attend: The reception is included in your registration for Full FTM attendees, but the reception is open to anyone interested in joining the fun.
Women in Manufacturing and Engineering Breakfast
Tuesday, October 17 | 7-9 a.m. | $40 early/advance, $50 late
AGMA and ASM are pleased to invite all women at MPT Expo to a networking breakfast where there will be a panel of industry experts sharing experiences and advice about how to become leaders in your field and how to avoid complacency in the workforce to advocate for your own career. Join others from all sectors of manufacturing and engineering, from new employees to high-level executives, to build new relationships, grow your network, and innovate for the future.
Who should attend: All women exhibiting or attending Motion + Power Technology Expo, the Heat Treat Conference & Exposition, or IMAT events who want to network and be inspired.
Opening Night Welcome Reception
Tuesday, October 17 | 5-6 p.m. | FREE to all attendees
Join us on the show floor for the Opening Night Welcome Reception October 17 at 5 p.m. Your expo pass includes two drink tickets, and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Come meet exhibitors, network with your peers, and meet new friends as we kick off MPT Expo.
Who should attend: All attendees and exhibitors.
Wednesday Networking Reception
Wednesday, October 18 | 7-10 p.m. | $80 early, $90 advance, $100 late
Take a night off from the tradeshow floor to unwind and network with industry professionals. Meet up with old friends or enjoy the open bar with new prospects. Enjoy local fare and drinks and get ready for an evening of fun and entertainment. More details regarding this event will be posted soon.
Who should attend: All those attending or exhibiting at Motion + Power Technology Expo, the Heat Treat Conference & Exposition, or IMAT events.
AGMA Electric Vehicle Technology Town Hall
Thursday, October 19 I 8-10 a.m. I Free
The two-hour town hall style meeting will begin with a short presentation by AGMA leadership on what current AGMA documents are available for use in the EV space. Next, attendees will be invited to share their thoughts on the current state of the EV sector including areas and topics where AGMA could step in to support the gear industry. Drawing on its 100-plus year experience, the goal of this event is for AGMA to gather the experts around a table to discuss outstanding issues identified by consensus and collaborate on consensus based, mutually beneficial solutions as it relates to the EV sector. Come be a part of the discussion.
Who should attend: This meeting is open to all interested from the gearing industry, specifically those involved in the electrical vehicle space.Participants should expect, and be ready and willing, to collaborate and share knowledge.
Education
Monday, October 16 – Wednesday, October 18
AGMA Fall Technical Meeting
Technology is changing manufacturing, so to keep up in today’s marketplace, designers and manufacturers must follow emerging trends and communicate the latest ideas with fellow experts in the field. AGMA’s in-person Fall Technical Meeting (FTM) is the perfect forum for this. AGMA selects authors to write peer-reviewed technical papers on gear industry topics. Topics include: design, analysis, manufacturing, quality, materials, metallurgy, heat treatment, operation, maintenance, efficiency, and gear failure. Authors present their papers in a single-track conference. Full registrants receive copies of all papers, can see all presentations, ask the presenters questions, and network with their peers over three days.
Tuesday, October 17
Basics of Gearing
William Mark McVea, KBE+, Inc. | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dramatically improve your knowledge and productivity through Basics of Gearing. This course will be presented in a two-day format and will give you a comprehensive overview of standard gearing nomenclature, gear involute geometry, inspection procedures, and much more.
Integration and Trade-Offs in Gear and Bearing Systems
Michael Berhan, Ford Motor Company | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The purpose will be to cover the concurrent design and analyses of gears and bearings in integrated systems like gearboxes, transmissions, and electric motor drives, so as to allow for good integration and faster optimization of the overall system. This will help gear engineers and suppliers better determine the trade-offs with the bearings, help bearing engineers and suppliers similarly with the gears, and system engineers better understand both. The examples covered are generic but should be useful both within and across industries that use these components and systems.
Reverse Engineering: Why, When, and How – Avoiding Pitfalls and Litigation
Raymond Drago, P.E. | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Reverse engineering a gear system is a not too unusual task and in many, but not all, cases the process goes fairly well, thus it is easy to become complacent. It is important, however, to fully understand the process and the best practice procedure for reverse engineering a gear system. This course will review the basic types of reverse engineering projects. The need for understanding the operation of the system in which the gears will be used, the conditions that led to the need for the project and especially, the specific nature of the failure that occurred, if that is the reason for the project, are key, often ignored, elements of the process.
Wednesday, October 18
Basics of Gearing
William Mark McVea, KBE+, Inc. | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dramatically improve your knowledge and productivity through Basics of Gearing. This course will be presented in a two-day format and will give you a comprehensive overview of standard gearing nomenclature, gear involute geometry, inspection procedures, and much more.
Integration and Trade-Offs in Gear and Bearing Systems
Michael Berhan, Ford Motor Company | 8 a.m. – noon
The purpose will be to cover the concurrent design and analyses of gears and bearings in integrated systems such as gearboxes, transmissions, and electric motor drives, so as to allow for good integration and faster optimization of the overall system. This will help gear engineers and suppliers better determine the trade-offs with the bearings, help bearing engineers and suppliers similarly with the gears, and system engineers better understand both. The examples covered are generic but should be useful both within and across industries that use these components and systems.
Why Bearings are Damaged
ABMA | 1 – 5 p.m.
The American Bearing Manufacturers Association is offering this course on rolling element bearings for those involved in industrial equipment design, reliability, and maintenance. It will include a basic overview of rolling bearings, their selection, precision and mounting considerations, service life estimation, and lubrication-related influences. A hands-on damage analysis session will be the featured portion of this program.
Involute Spline Design and Rating
Raymond Drago, P.E. | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This course will address both geometry and rating of involute splines of various types. Types of spline joints and their applications are discussed. Spline configuration variations including half depth and full depth and special function designs will be addressed. Both fixed and flexible spline configurations are treated in terms of usage and design. Lubrication methods, including grease, oil bath and flowing oil as well as coatings appropriate for various spline applications are discussed. Shear and compressive stress rating methods are discussed with analyses methodology presented in both equation and graphical methodology via various rating charts.
Thursday, October 19
Modern Automated Gear Quality Assessment Technology
William Mark McVea, KBE+, Inc. | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
This course is intended to provide a thorough understanding of the information contained within a typical gear inspection report. Specifically, we will look at the contents and meaning of the information contained within the gear charts, as well as the techniques used by the gear-measurement system to assess gear quality. An explanation of basic gear measurement techniques, how measurement equipment and test machines implement these techniques, and how to interpret the results from these basic measurements will be covered. We will also discuss how to interpret the results and what corrective actions may be considered if the quality of a particular gear is unsatisfactory.
Materials Selection and Heat Treatment of Gears
AGMA and ASM International | 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Because of their unique contribution to the operation of so many machines and mechanical devices, gears have received special attention from the technical community for more than two millennia. New developments in gear technology, particularly from the materials and heat treatment perspectives, have improved gear performance. This course, developed jointly by AGMA and ASM International, will provide an overview of materials selection and heat treatment of gears. Topics covered include: Gear material selection, heat treatment, material hardenability, allow steel selection, gear failure concerns, manufacturing considerations, material form, cast iron, powdered metal, bronze and brass, and plastics.
Register for free using the AGMA code: MPT062 at motionpowerexpo.com
