MD&M South 2026: Multi-Sector Manufacturing Expo with a Medical Device Focus
Medical device manufacturing gets a boost at MD&M South 2026, where design, automation and materials converge.
Hosted at Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, N.C. (April 22-23, 2026), the trade show gathers six specialized but interconnected sectors: medical devices, automation, design & manufacturing, plastics, packaging, and processing.
With more than 3,000 attendees, 300 exhibitors and more than 50 education sessions, the event draws buyers, OEMs and advanced manufacturing professionals from across the Southeast converge.
A Curated Conference Agenda Helps the MedTech Ecosystem Solve Problems
A conference agenda centers on the latest challenges, emerging technologies and real-world applications shaping the field. It creates a space where engineers connect with peers to share goals and obstacles and gain confidence by leaving with fresh perspectives.
Five MD&M South Highlights You Don’t Want to Miss
1. Keynote: Leveraging VR, AI & Robotics to Solve Automation Challenges
MD&M South presents Steven King, CEO of Blue Sky Robotics and the Distinguished Professor of Innovation and Emerging Technologies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Keynote: Thurs., April 23, 2026 at 12:45 p.m. ET)
2. Bridging Compliance and Innovation: Integrating the EU AI Act, MDR and ISO/IEC 42001 into Advanced Medical Device Manufacturing
Find out what manufacturers are doing to align data integrity, validation and automation practices with EU AI Act, MDR, and ISO/IEC 42001 requirements. (MedTech Theatre, Thurs., April 23, 2026 at 10:15 a.m. ET)
3. AI Agents for Manufacturing Excellence: Lessons from Leading Manufacturers
Paving the way for next-generation manufacturing, Chris Kuntz, VP of Strategic Operations at Augmentir, draws on case studies from Colgate-Palmolive, Hershey and Graphic Packaging to show how Industrial AI Agents are used to upskill the workforce. (Advanced Manufacturing Theater, Wed., April 22, 2026 at 11:45 a.m. ET)
4. Crowdfunding Success for MedTech Startups: A Step-by-Step Interactive Guide
Justin Starbird, CEO of The Aebli Group, will guide attendees through the key steps to launching and executing a successful B2B crowdfunding campaign.
(MedTech Theater, Wed., April 22, 2026, at 3:15 p.m. ET)
5. Peer-to-Peer Networking: Medtech
Structured, one-hour sessions tailored to maximize networking efficiency. Click on the relevant sector for locations.
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Medtech
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Automation
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Packaging
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Design & Manufacturing
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Powder & Bulk Solids
- Peer-to-Peer Networking: Plastics
Register for the Show
The expo is free to attend and you may also register for paid workshops. Click here for registration information.
For comprehensive MD&M 2026 coverage, check out Machine Design’s MD&M West 2026 hub.
About the Author
Rehana Begg
Editor-in-Chief, Machine Design
As Machine Design’s content lead, Rehana Begg is tasked with elevating the voice of the design and multi-disciplinary engineer in the face of digital transformation and engineering innovation. Begg has more than 24 years of editorial experience and has spent the past decade in the trenches of industrial manufacturing, focusing on new technologies, manufacturing innovation and business. Her B2B career has taken her from corporate boardrooms to plant floors and underground mining stopes, covering everything from automation & IIoT, robotics, mechanical design and additive manufacturing to plant operations, maintenance, reliability and continuous improvement. Begg holds an MBA, a Master of Journalism degree, and a BA (Hons.) in Political Science. She is committed to lifelong learning and feeds her passion for innovation in publishing, transparent science and clear communication by attending relevant conferences and seminars/workshops.
Follow Rehana Begg via the following social media handles:
X: @rehanabegg
LinkedIn: @rehanabegg and @MachineDesign