How can I import 16 bits photo as 16 bit?

[Robvog]

If I export 16 bits photo's from Lightroom to Windows explorer and after that open the same photo's in Photoshop, they are 16 bits, of course.
But, when I import the same photos in Imatch and then in Photoshop, they are 8 bits. Why is that? Are they imported as 8 bits?
Is it due to some import settings within Imatch? And how (where) can I change those settings?
         

[Mario]

IMatch does not "import" your images. It just creates an index of the files on your disk.
It does not modify your images in any way, unless you write back metadata. And this does not change the pixel data or bit depth.