The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association announce merger

The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and The American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) have announced the merger of the two associations that will integrate their products and services to better serve the members of both associations. The announcement was made at the MFG Meeting (Manufacturing for Growth) in Orlando, Fla., which is a gathering of hundreds of manufacturing leaders.

The new AMT will be headquartered in McLean, Va. All current employees of AMTDA will join AMT immediately.

“This merger is a logical evolution for the manufacturing technology industry. 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,” said AMTDA chairman Steve M. Wherry.

Eugene R. Haffely, Jr., chairman of AMT, added, “This move exponentially increases member benefits and services to both organizations. 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.”

The advantages of this new organization include: strengthened and expanded products and services; access to powerful business intelligence systems; data and information from industry economists and analysts; a focus on the priorities and needs of the industry; networking and collaboration through expanded membership; and education and “smartforce” development.

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.

As a result of the merger between AMT and AMTDA, the organization designed a new logo and, hence, a rebranding of the newly conjoined group. The logo was inspired by the Al Moore Award, which recognizes extraordinary service to the industry. The design is a mathematical Lissajous curve suggestive of a three-dimensional knot. This pyramid-style shape is evocative of a solid base with stability and strength.

“It has always been our goal to find better ways to serve the manufacturing industry,” said Douglas K. 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.”

For more information, visit www.AMTonline.org.