The attendance strength of the Dayton Region Manufacturers Association’s upcoming Advanced Manufacturing Technology Show is returning to pre-recession levels, Angelia Erbaugh, DRMA executive director, said Friday.

More than a month before the show is scheduled to begin at the Dayton International Airport Expo Center, the show — also called “AMTS” — already has more than 140 exhibitors, Erbaugh said. That’s a record and above the 133 exhibitors who participated in last year’s annual trade show, she noted.

In addition, so far this year exhibitors have purchased about 25,000 square feet of floor space, she said, up from 21,500 square feet last year.

Those numbers are encouraging because in the final weeks before the event, the show often does brisk business, Erbaugh said.

“We can feel there’s a greater buzz about that, so we’re encouraged,” Erbaugh said.

This year, the AMTS will be Oct. 23 and 24 at the airport expo center, 3900 McCauley Drive, Vandalia.

DRMA has made some changes to its hallmark event. Concessions are being made more “upscale” and will be moved to the center of the show floor, Erbaugh said.

In addition, a “knowledge center” consisting of technical presentations will be moved from offices and meeting rooms at the front of the expo center to the show floor. It’s Erbaugh’s hope that the presentations will be better attended that way. As well, some of the bigger exhibits are being moved to the middle of the show floor.

Exhibitors can register until Oct. 18. For more information on the show, visit DaytonAMTS.com.

Another key event is coming up for DRMA and other manufacturing advocates. A national event known as “MFG Day,” or Manufacturing Day, is Oct. 4.

It’s a day when manufacturers open their doors to the public, hoping to inspire young people to explore manufacturing as a viable career option. In recent years, recruiting younger workers has been a persistent focus for manufacturers.