More than 800 students from McHenry County high schools boarded coach buses last week to attend the International Manufacturing Technology Show at Chicago's McCormick Place.

The trips were sponsored by the McHenry County Economic Development Corp,, Scot Forge in Spring Grove, Sage Products in Cary and Wells Manufacturing in Woodstock.

MCEDC President Pam Cumpata, who accompanied the students on two of the five trips, said the show was "amazing. It far exceeded the other shows. There were more exhibits. The world of manufacturing is humming right now and when it's humming they tend to do more at the shows."