A merger of the Assn. for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Assn. (AMTDA) will integrate the products and services of the two groups to better serve both sets of members. Going by AMT's existing name, the new organization will also be headquartered in McLean, Va., where AMT is currently located. All of AMTDA's employees will join the new AMT immediately.
"This merger is a logical evolution for the manufacturing technology industry," said Steve Wherry, AMTDA chairman. "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."
Making the announcement at the Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) Meeting this week in Orlando, association executives pointed to several member benefits, such as expanded products and services, increased networking and collaboration, and education and "smartforce" development.
"This move exponentially increases member benefits and services to both organizations," said Eugene Haffely, AMT's chairman. "We are now a stronger, more complete organization, representing the entire value chain of the manufacturing technology industry. Most important, this will give our industry a more clarified and unified voice."
Both boards of directors voted unanimously for the merger, and an unprecedented percentage of the combined membership participated in the vote to approve the move.
"It has always been our goal to find better ways to serve the manufacturing industry," said Douglas Woods, president of AMT. "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."
