How to Fill Your IMTS Calendar With Meetings Before the Show

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Who this is for

Founders and commercial teams preparing for IMTS who want a structured outbound system to book meetings with engineering, procurement, and supply chain leaders in US manufacturing companies.

Why IMTS needs a different strategy

• IMTS is one of the busiest manufacturing events in the world
• Buyers receive hundreds of messages in the weeks before the show
• Exhibitors compete for the same attention
• US buyers prefer direct, concise communication
• Event week calendars fill early, not last minute
• High-intent outreach beats mass blasts every time

What makes a buyer meet at IMTS

• Immediate relevance to their supply, cost, or engineering challenges
• A message that is short and clear
• A small ask with zero friction
• Proof that you are credible
• Timing that fits their pre show planning window
• A workflow that saves time or reduces risk

The three week IMTS playbook

Week 1

Research and segmentation

• Identify high-intent manufacturers
• Filter by component complexity and lifecycle risk
• Prioritise companies showing US market signals
• Build a tight list of 50 to 150 accounts

Week 2

First touch and social reinforcement

• Send outcome-focused first-touch emails
• Keep subject lines under 3 words
• Connect on LinkedIn with a one-line note
• Start a call attempt sequence

Week 3

Conversion and calendar push

• Send a follow-up with a time suggestion
• Share a simple workflow sketch
• Keep asking for 15 minutes
• Offer on-site and virtual options

Pain signals you can target before IMTS

• Difficulty maintaining a market ready BoM
• Supplier delays impacting engineering timelines
• Slow alternate validation
• Lifecycle surprises creating redesigns
• Inefficient sourcing workflows
• Rising cost from urgent buys

Positioning in one line

Use IMTS as a focused window to help US manufacturers stabilise component decisions with real time availability, lifecycle clarity, and alternates.

Proof you can state without naming clients

• 16 meetings booked at IMTS using this structure
• 12 percent reply rate on targeted US lists
• 100 percent KPI achievement
• Strong engagement from engineering and procurement teams

Subject ideas

• imts meetings
• clear value
• better sourcing
• fast signals

Email opener

Name

A short idea to help your team use IMTS for targeted conversations on component availability and lifecycle risk. We surface real time signals and alternates so engineering and procurement teams make faster, clearer decisions. Open to a short mapping call before the show.

Call opener

Thanks for taking the call. Teams going to IMTS usually want 2 things valuable on site conversations and a clean list of high intent accounts. I can walk you through a simple workflow we used to book meetings with US engineering and procurement leaders.

LinkedIn opener

Saw you are attending IMTS. We help teams reduce engineering and sourcing friction using real time availability and lifecycle data. If useful for your programs, happy to compare notes before the show.

Sequenced outreach example

Day 1

• Email outcome plus proof
• LinkedIn connect with a one-line note

Day 3

• Call with a 30-second IMTS-focused opener
• Voicemail repeating the small ask

Day 7

• Follow up email with a time suggestion

Day 10

• Send a simple workflow sketch or two-minute screen capture

Objections and answers

We do not book meetings at events

Short mapping calls on-site help teams evaluate workflows quickly.

We already have vendors

This is about risk visibility and availability signals, not replacing tools.

Show value before meeting

Pick one metric: faster approvals, fewer redesigns, or fewer premium buys. We estimate expected impact in the first call.

Metrics that show progress

• Reply rate: 10 to 15 percent
• First meeting rate: 3 to 5 percent
• Show-up rate: 70 to 85 percent for pre-event booked calls