ProMat 2027: Dates, Keynotes and What to See
ProMat 2027 runs April 19-21 at McCormick Place, Chicago, with 1,200+ exhibits and free registration. Keynotes, dates, and how forklift buyers should plan.
ProMat 2027 runs April 19-21, 2027 at McCormick Place in Chicago, with more than 1,200 exhibits, 200 educational sessions, and free registration. It is the largest US show for material handling and supply chain equipment, which makes it the most efficient place for a forklift buyer to compare trucks, batteries, automation, and safety systems side by side.
ProMat 2027 at a Glance
| Detail | ProMat 2027 |
|---|---|
| Dates | April 19-21, 2027 (three days) |
| Venue | McCormick Place, Chicago |
| Exhibits | 1,200+ |
| Educational sessions | 200 |
| Registration | Free |
| Organizer | MHI |
| MHI Industry Night | Tuesday, April 20, 4:30-7:00 PM |
Sources: ProMat official site. Modern Materials Handling.
MHI shortened the show from four days to three for 2027, so plan your floor time more tightly than in past years. With 1,200+ exhibits and only three days, nobody sees everything. Decide before you land which equipment types matter and which booths you will skip.
Keynote Schedule
| Day | Speaker | Time and room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 19 | MHI 2027 Annual Industry Report keynote panel | 8:30 AM, Grand Ballroom S100 |
| Tuesday, April 20 | Jon McNeill, CEO and co-founder, DVx Ventures | 8:30 AM, Grand Ballroom S100 |
| Wednesday, April 21 | Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke men’s basketball head coach | 8:30 AM, Grand Ballroom S100 |
The Monday panel presents MHI’s annual industry report, the most useful session for anyone budgeting equipment for 2027 and 2028. The Tuesday and Wednesday keynotes are general-interest talks, so treat them as optional if you have booths to visit.
What Is MHI Industry Night?
MHI Industry Night is on Tuesday, April 20, 2027, from 4:30 to 7:00 PM, with comedian Charlie Berens. It is an evening networking event, not a product session. If you plan to attend, schedule your last booth visits for mid-afternoon so you are not choosing between a demo and the event.
What Forklift Buyers Should Look at on the Floor
Use the show to answer questions that take weeks through separate dealer visits:
- Electric and lithium trucks. Compare run time, charge time, and battery warranty terms across brands. Read our lithium vs lead-acid guide first so you know which numbers to ask for.
- Narrow-aisle equipment. If you are densifying a building, compare reach trucks and order pickers on lift height and aisle width. Our reach truck guide covers the basics.
- Automation. Autonomous trucks and retrofit kits are a large part of the show floor. Ask exhibitors for payback data from operations your size, not their biggest customer.
- Safety systems. Pedestrian detection, speed zoning, and operator presence systems are easier to compare in person. Pair what you see with our forklift safety checklist.
How Should You Split the Three Days?
The fixed points are the 8:30 AM keynotes and Tuesday’s Industry Night. Build the rest around them. One workable split:
| Day | Morning | Rest of the day |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, April 19 | 8:30 AM industry report panel | Walk the floor once to map booths, then visit your top three priorities |
| Tuesday, April 20 | Optional keynote | Deep-dive demos and educational sessions, then Industry Night from 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday, April 21 | Optional keynote | Return to your shortlist, ask for written quotes, and close open questions |
The reason to walk first is simple. Booth locations and crowds are easier to judge on day one, and you can book repeat demos for later in the week. Pick educational sessions from the show site’s schedule in advance, since 200 sessions will overlap.
What Should You Bring to ProMat?
A one-page spec sheet saves more time than any brochure. Bring:
- Heaviest load and load center. Exhibitors can only quote capacity if they know both.
- Maximum lift height and mast constraints. Include door heights and any low ceilings.
- Narrowest aisle width. This decides between counterbalance, reach, and narrow-aisle trucks.
- Floor type and condition. Rough or sloped floors change tire and truck choices.
- Indoor or outdoor use. Indoor propane brings ventilation questions, covered in our propane forklifts indoors guide.
- Shifts per day and charging windows. These drive the lithium versus lead-acid decision.
- Your current fleet and its age. Write down what you run today and what it costs to keep.
- A target budget. Use the forklift total cost guide to set one that includes batteries, chargers, and maintenance.
What Should You Ask Exhibitors?
The same question gets different answers by equipment type. Start with these.
Electric and lithium trucks
- What is the battery warranty in years and in hours or cycles, and what voids it?
- How long is a full charge, and can the truck opportunity-charge during breaks?
- What does a replacement pack cost, and who services it locally?
Narrow-aisle and reach trucks
- What is the minimum aisle width at your pallet size?
- What lift height and residual capacity at that height?
- How are operators trained, and what does the dealer provide?
Automation
- Can you see payback data from a site your size, not the vendor’s largest customer?
- What happens to the system when a pallet is damaged or a pick fails?
- Which parts of the install do you or the vendor own?
Safety systems
- Does pedestrian detection work in your floor layout, and what is the false alarm rate?
- Can speed zones be set by area, and who changes them?
- What data does the system record, and who can read it?
For every vendor, ask for a written quote with service terms, and ask who the local dealer is. A booth deal means little if no one nearby can repair the truck.
How to Prepare
Bring your requirements in writing: heaviest load and load center, maximum lift height, narrowest aisle, floor type, indoor or outdoor use, and shifts per day. Our how to choose a forklift guide turns those into a spec, and the forklift prices guide gives you price ranges to sanity-check booth quotes. Exhibitors can give real numbers when you show up with real constraints.
What to Do After the Show
Within a week, score each shortlisted truck on the same sheet: purchase price, battery terms, service coverage, and delivery time. Compare buying with other routes in our buy vs rent vs lease guide, and run your top option through the forklift ROI calculator before you sign anything.
Sources
- ProMat official site, MHI (https://www.promatshow.com/)
- Modern Materials Handling, “Dates set for ProMat 2027” (https://www.mmh.com/article/dates_set_for_promat_2027)
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is ProMat 2027?
ProMat 2027 runs April 19-21, 2027 at McCormick Place in Chicago. MHI, the show's organizer, cut the event from four days to three for 2027.
Is ProMat 2027 free to attend?
Yes. Registration for ProMat 2027 is free on the official show site, which lists more than 1,200 exhibits and 200 educational sessions over the three days.
Who are the ProMat 2027 keynote speakers?
Monday opens with the MHI 2027 Annual Industry Report keynote panel. Tuesday's keynote is Jon McNeill, CEO and co-founder of DVx Ventures, and Wednesday's is Mike Krzyzewski, former Duke men's basketball head coach. All three keynotes start at 8:30 AM in Grand Ballroom S100.
Is ProMat worth it for a small forklift buyer?
Yes, if you go with a plan. You can compare several brands' trucks, batteries, and safety systems in one day instead of booking separate dealer visits. Bring your load weights, lift heights, aisle widths, and shift pattern so exhibitors can give real answers instead of brochure pitches.