Frontier ERP Is Heading to IMTS 2026
The future of manufacturing is coming together in Chicago, and Frontier ERP will be there.
From September 14–19, 2026, manufacturing leaders, technology providers, engineers, operations professionals, and innovators will gather at McCormick Place in Chicago for IMTS 2026, the International Manufacturing Technology Show.
IMTS describes itself as the largest manufacturing technology trade show in the Western Hemisphere, bringing together technologies spanning machining, automation, additive manufacturing, digital solutions, quality, AI, and more.
For Friedman Corporation, IMTS provides an opportunity to demonstrate something increasingly important to manufacturers:
The factory of the future needs more than advanced machinery. It needs connected operations.
That is where Frontier ERP comes in.
Manufacturing Technology Is Becoming More Connected
Today’s manufacturers have access to extraordinary technology.
Automation is becoming more capable. Equipment is becoming more intelligent. Real-time data is becoming more accessible. AI is creating entirely new opportunities for analyzing information and improving workflows.
IMTS itself is highlighting how digital engineering, AI, automation, additive manufacturing, and connected systems can operate together as complete manufacturing workflows.
But adopting individual technologies is only part of the equation.
Manufacturers still need to connect:
- Customer demand
- Product configuration
- Engineering
- Purchasing
- Inventory
- Production scheduling
- Manufacturing execution
- Shipping
- Financial management
- Business intelligence
When those processes remain disconnected, employees become responsible for filling the gaps.
That’s where ERP becomes increasingly important.
Why Frontier ERP Is at IMTS 2026
Frontier ERP is built specifically for manufacturers that design, build, modify, or assemble products to order.
Unlike generic business software designed primarily around standardized products, Frontier supports the complexity associated with make-to-order, configure-to-order, and other custom manufacturing environments.
At the center of Frontier is product configuration technology designed to help manufacturers translate customer requirements into accurate, buildable products while connecting those requirements to the rest of the manufacturing operation.
The official IMTS exhibitor directory categorizes Frontier ERP across several areas of the show’s Software and Digital Solutions offering, including:
- ERP for Make-to-Order Manufacturing
- ERP for Standard Products Manufacturing
- Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
- Database Management
- Artificial Intelligence
That combination reflects where manufacturing software is headed.
ERP is no longer simply about recording transactions.
It is becoming the operational foundation connecting the business.
What Manufacturers Can Explore with Frontier ERP at IMTS
1. Configure Complex Products More Efficiently
Manufacturers producing configurable products face a fundamental challenge:
How do you give customers more choices without creating more complexity inside the factory?
Product configuration can help.
Frontier ERP includes a rules-based product configurator that enables manufacturers to centralize engineering logic and customer-selectable product options.
That can help organizations:
- Validate product combinations
- Reduce configuration errors
- Improve quote accuracy
- Standardize engineering knowledge
- Accelerate order processing
- Ensure only buildable products reach production
Instead of relying on a handful of experienced employees to manually validate every configuration, manufacturers can embed product knowledge directly into the system.
2. Connect Sales Orders to Manufacturing
One of the biggest opportunities in modern manufacturing is eliminating the information gaps between what customers order and what production needs to build.
A connected ERP environment helps create continuity between:
Quote → Order → Configuration → Engineering → Materials → Scheduling → Production → Shipping
That matters even more for manufacturers where every order can contain different dimensions, materials, features, components, or engineering requirements.
Reducing manual handoffs can help manufacturers improve accuracy while accelerating the path from customer request to production.
3. Improve Production Visibility
Manufacturers cannot effectively manage what they cannot see.
Operations teams need current information about:
- Open orders
- Production status
- Material availability
- Work center capacity
- Scheduling priorities
- Inventory
- Delivery commitments
When that information is spread across spreadsheets and disconnected applications, employees spend valuable time assembling the operational picture themselves.
Integrated ERP helps bring that information together.
The objective isn’t simply better reporting.
It’s faster decision-making.
4. Connect ERP and Manufacturing Execution
One reason IMTS is particularly relevant for Frontier is the growing convergence between business systems and manufacturing execution.
The official IMTS directory includes Frontier within the Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) category as well as ERP.
That reflects an important shift.
Manufacturers increasingly need information to flow between enterprise planning and what is actually happening in production.
Connecting ERP and manufacturing execution can help organizations gain better visibility into:
- Work orders
- Production activity
- Material consumption
- Labor
- Scheduling
- Manufacturing progress
- Order completion
The closer those systems become, the easier it becomes to turn operational activity into actionable business information.
5. Build the Data Foundation for AI
AI will be one of the major conversations throughout manufacturing technology in 2026.
IMTS is highlighting AI alongside automation, robotics, additive manufacturing, digital engineering, and connected systems, while Frontier itself is categorized under Artificial Intelligence in the IMTS Software and Digital Solutions directory.
But successful AI adoption begins with something much more fundamental:
Reliable data.
Manufacturers need accurate information across sales, engineering, inventory, purchasing, production, and financial management before AI can deliver meaningful operational insights.
Integrated ERP helps establish that foundation.
Before asking:
“Where can we add AI?”
Manufacturers may first need to ask:
“Is our operational data connected enough to make AI useful?”
The Shift From ERP System to Manufacturing Platform
For years, ERP systems were often treated primarily as systems of record.
Enter an order.
Purchase materials.
Update inventory.
Create an invoice.
Record the financial transaction.
Those capabilities remain critical.
But modern manufacturers increasingly expect ERP to help coordinate the entire operation.
Frontier ERP connects areas such as customer and dealer orders, supply chain activities, manufacturing processes, financial management, and product configuration within a common environment.
That changes the role of ERP.
Instead of simply documenting what happened, ERP can help manufacturers understand what is happening now and what needs to happen next.
Who Should Meet Frontier ERP at IMTS?
A conversation with the Frontier team may be particularly valuable if your company:
- Manufactures configurable or custom products
- Operates in a make-to-order environment
- Relies heavily on spreadsheets
- Has disconnected engineering and production systems
- Experiences frequent manual data entry
- Struggles with product configuration complexity
- Needs better production visibility
- Wants to modernize an aging ERP environment
- Is evaluating manufacturing automation
- Is preparing its data infrastructure for AI
Frontier is designed for manufacturers producing complex products at volume, including make-to-order, configure-to-order, engineer-to-order, and assemble-to-order environments.
What to Ask ERP Vendors at IMTS 2026
IMTS can be overwhelming.
With manufacturing technology everywhere, it’s easy to focus on impressive features rather than business outcomes.
If you’re evaluating ERP or manufacturing software at the show, consider asking:
Can the system handle our actual product complexity?
A manufacturing ERP should fit how your company builds products rather than forcing your operation into generic workflows.
How does product configuration connect to production?
Configuration shouldn’t stop when the quote is accepted. Product requirements should flow into downstream manufacturing processes.
Can it connect with our existing technology?
ERP increasingly needs to coexist with machinery, engineering software, customer applications, analytics platforms, and other manufacturing systems.
Does it reduce manual work?
Look for technology that eliminates duplicate data entry and unnecessary administrative processes.
Can employees access current information easily?
Manufacturing technology should reduce the time employees spend searching for answers.
Will it support where our business is going?
An ERP implementation is a long-term investment. Manufacturers should evaluate whether a platform can support future automation, integration, analytics, and AI initiatives.
From Advanced Machines to Smarter Manufacturing
IMTS is famous for manufacturing technology.
Visitors will see extraordinary equipment and innovation across the show floor.
But the most powerful machine in the world cannot solve every operational problem on its own.
Manufacturers still need to coordinate:
People. Products. Materials. Orders. Machines. Data. Customers. Financials.
The companies that connect those elements effectively will be better positioned to improve productivity, shorten lead times, control costs, and respond to customers.
That is the broader conversation Friedman Corporation is bringing to IMTS 2026.
Meet Frontier ERP at IMTS 2026
If you’re attending IMTS this September, add Frontier ERP to your show plan.
Event: IMTS 2026
Dates: September 14–19, 2026
Location: McCormick Place
City: Chicago, Illinois
The official IMTS directory lists Frontier ERP as an exhibitor within its Software and Digital Solutions categories.
Come talk with the Frontier team about:
- Manufacturing ERP modernization
- Product configuration
- Make-to-order manufacturing
- Manufacturing execution
- Production visibility
- Workflow automation
- Data connectivity
- AI readiness
- Your manufacturing technology roadmap
Whether you’re actively evaluating ERP software or simply trying to understand what the next generation of connected manufacturing could look like, we’d welcome the conversation.
We look forward to seeing you in Chicago.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is IMTS 2026?
IMTS 2026 takes place September 14–19, 2026, at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
What is IMTS?
IMTS, the International Manufacturing Technology Show, is the largest manufacturing technology trade show in the Western Hemisphere. It brings together manufacturing professionals and technologies spanning machining, automation, additive manufacturing, digital solutions, quality, AI, and other areas.
Is Frontier ERP exhibiting at IMTS 2026?
Yes. Frontier ERP has an official IMTS 2026 exhibitor listing within the show’s Software and Digital Solutions categories.
What type of manufacturers use Frontier ERP?
Frontier ERP is designed for manufacturers that design, build, modify, or assemble products to order, particularly make-to-order and other configurable manufacturing environments.
What can manufacturers discuss with Frontier at IMTS?
Manufacturers can explore ERP modernization, product configuration, manufacturing execution, production visibility, data integration, workflow automation, and strategies for creating more connected manufacturing operations.
