The two trade associations representing respectively North America’s machined products producers and the organizations supplying them with production equipment and supplies have merged. AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA-The American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association announced their consolidation as “the beginning of a more powerful voice for the industry and an unparalleled scope of benefits for AMT’s members.”
The new AMT will be headquartered in McLean, Va., and all current employees of AMTDA will be joining the new AMT immediately. Directors of both organizations unanimously endorsed the merger, along with “an unprecedented percentage” of the memberships that voted on the move.
“It has always been our goal to find better ways to serve the manufacturing industry,” stated AMT president Douglas K. Woods. “This process, upon which we embarked two years ago, is a natural partnership that will help both organizations as we seek to advance manufacturing in the United States.”
AMT said combining the two groups would establish “a more powerful voice” for the manufacturing technology industry, and offer numerous advantages to members, including: more and improved member products and services; access to business intelligence systems; data and information from industry economists and analysts; and other social and workforce development opportunities.
“This merger is a logical evolution for the manufacturing technology industry,” offered AMTDA chairman Steve M. Wherry. “We are uniting the entire manufacturing technology supply chain from engineering and building machines, to integrating automation and support, to distribution services, which will well serve the users of manufacturing technology for their future.”