MFG Meeting Declared a Success
The event took place in March.

Soaring Together at the MFG Meeting
Overall, the mood at the recent Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) meeting was buoyant; worries about health care costs, the federal budget and the skills shortage are creating significant headwinds for economic recovery. Compelling advice on maintaining a winning attitude from a former jet fighter pilot ended the meeting on a lofty tone.

AMT Elects Board of Directors
Elections took place during the organization’s 2013 annual meeting.

The MFG Meeting Returns
The event takes place in March.

IMTS Sets Record, IANA Partnership Renewed
The 26.1-percent boost in registration from IMTS 2010 is the largest show-to-show increase in the history of IMTS.

Student Summit Deemed a Success
Highlights included interactive exhibits and new programs for students and educators.

Technology Roundup from IMTS 2012
Tim Shinbara, Technology Director at AMT—The Association for Manufacturing Technology, saw much that was new and different at IMTS 2012, but also noticed many advancements in traditional manufacturing that he found interesting and significant. His report is balanced and readable, a worthy summary of tech news from the show.

AMT Stresses Importance of National Mfg Strategy
The Manufacturing Mandate calls for boosting innovation, increasing global competitiveness and training the next generation of skilled workers.

IMTS: Beyond Being There
IMTS can be overwhelming. Here is a brief overview of the best resources for planning your trip, as well as a few pieces of advice from the MMS editorial staff.

IMTS Attendees to Share Reshoring Experiences
Harry Moser of the Reshoring Intiative is encouraging IMTS exhibitors and attendees alike to document and share their experiences with bringing back manufacturing of specific parts or products that had been off-shored.  The stories will be highlighted as part of the “Manufacturing Technology Drives Reshoring” program, provided by AMT-The Association of Manufacturing Technology and the Reshoring Initiative at IMTS.  To register, interested parties can complete a simple fill-in-the-blanks form at reshorenow.org/resources/cases by August 15.

Manufacturing Technology Orders Continue to Rise in 2012
February U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $444.06 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

AMT Elects Board, Officers
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology elected its 2012-2013 officers and directors at its annual meeting in Orlanda, Florida in March.

Key Industry Groups Announce Merger at MFG Meeting
AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA—The American Machine Tool Distributors Association have merged. Although benefits and advantages to members of both trade groups are cited as the reason for the merger, the entire manufacturing industry appears to be well-served by this development.

Manufacturing Technology Orders Reach 10-Year High
Manufacturing technology orders rose 66.4 percent in 2011, marking the sector’s strongest year in more than a decade, according to AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. “The increase is nearly 20 points higher than forecasters predicted, which is great news in terms of reducing the foreign trade deficit,” says Douglas K.

AMT: 2011 Marked "Renaissance” for U.S. Manufacturing
The resurgence of manufacturing following the crash of 2008 is “unprecedented,” according to AMT-The Association for Manufacturing Technology.

Understanding MTConnect Agents and Adapters
MTConnect agents and their corresponding device adapters are simply small computer programs that work together so that MTConnect can make shop equipment and networks more readily connectible. In a nutshell, adapters enable existing shopfloor devices “to speak MTConnect,” and agents enable MTConnect messages and data files to be transmitted across a network to MTConnect-compatible applications.

A Boost to Manufacturing in the United States
The combined strengths of these two trade organizations will benefit their memberships and the entire manufacturing industry that they serve.

AMT Announces Media Property Acquisitions
AMT—the Association for Manufacturing Technology has announced its intention to acquire all assets of the media properties Time Compression and Process Cleaning from Gardner Publications (Gardner also publishes Modern Machine Shop).  The organization says the acquisitions will support its strategic mission to grow its membership to include manufacturers of new and developing technologies, such as additive manufacturing.

The Need to Know Is Basic
An MTConnect-enabled monitoring system gives this shop a clear and simple picture of machine tool usage.

AMT, AMTDA Explore Product, Service Integration
AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) have formed a joint committee to explore how integrating products and services might better serve members of both associations.   Consisting of staff and board members from both organizations, the committee will also discuss strategic partnerships and a joint approach to manufacturing issues.

AMT Applauds Administration’s Manufacturing Focus
Douglas K.

Industry Organizations Commend Skills Initiative
Industry organizations reacted positively to President Obama’s announcement of a new system for standardizing manufacturing training credentials. The Manufacturing Skills Certification System was announced as an expansion to Skills For America’s Future, a workforce development initiative launched last year with the aim of improving collaboration between industry and community colleges.

Automation Event Coming to IMTS 2012
Visitors to IMTS 2012 will be exposed to a range of production automation solutions through a new event co-located with the biennial trade show in the East Building of Chicago’s McCormick Place.

IMTS Named No. 2 Trade Show
IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show is the second largest trade show in the United States in terms of net square footage, according to a recent list of rankings from Tarsus Advon, a division of the U.K.-based Tarsus group.

Second “Manufacturing for Growth” Meeting Planned
Based on the success of the inaugural “Manufacturing for Growth” Meeting, organizers have announced plans to host a second conference next year from March 8 to 11, 2012, at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.   More than 650 manufacturing executives attended the first edition of the event from March 3 through 6 in Chandler, Arizona.

AMT Applauds Presidential Appointment
AMT says Obama’s creation of a new post overseeing manufacturing policy is a step in the right direction.

Meeting Aims to Chart Course for U.S. Manufacturing
The inaugural Manufacturing for Growth (MFG) meeting aims to bring together hundreds of manufacturing leaders to pursue the common goal of building sustained U.S. economic growth by strengthening the country’s manufacturing sector.   Scheduled for March 3 through 6 in Chandler, Arizona, the event combines the annual meetings of four associations that represent a cross-section of the industry: AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA), the National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA).   Combined, the four associations comprise more than 4,000 small- and medium-sized manufacturers from all 50 states that provide products for the aerospace, automotive, construction, energy, medical and other industries.

MMS Online Unveils the IMTS Zone
Learn about some of the new products and technologies that will be displayed at the big show in Chicago this September.

Stuff You Won’t Want to Miss at IMTS.com
 Check out the wealth of information, planning tools and technology previews at IMTS.com.

Making the Right Connections at IMTS 2010
IMTS is a big event, to say the least, and making the most of the show requires proper planning. This article is here to help.

AMT, NAM Announce Partnership
AMT – The Association for Manufacturing Technology is joining forces with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to promote the importance of manufacturing and innovation in the U.S. economy.

IMTS Caters To Future Manufacturing Professionals
The NIMS Student Summit at this year’s IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show will combine an interactive orientation and Career Development Center (CDC) with a dynamic, self-guided tour of the technology and manufacturing exhibition.

IMTS Registration Open
Registration for the 28th iteration of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is open and available at IMTS.com.

“Re-Shoring Fair” Encourages Domestic Sourcing
Despite widespread perception that off-shoring production is cheaper, large manufacturers can be more competitive by working with domestic suppliers, according to the organizers of a new initiative designed to showcase the benefits of sourcing in the United States.Sponsored by The National Tooling and Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, the 2010 NTMA/PMA Contract Manufacturing Purchasing Fair: Re-Shoring to Bring U.S.

IMTS Debuts “Industry Inspiration Day”
Management of the International Manufacturing and Technology Show (IMTS) has dubbed September 13 as Industry Inspiration Day to mark the kickoff of a new conference program that promises a forum for discussion of new opportunities, networking with industry peers and exploring innovative ways to overcome challenges.

AMT Reflects On Obama Proposals
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology recognized the Obama administration’s “Manufacturing Framework For Revitalizing American Manufacturing” as an important step in revitalizing the country’s beleaguered manufacturing sector.In fact, the organization says the administration’s plan mirrors its own proposals to Congress last fall in many areas, including a strong commitment to research and development; expanding the advanced energy manufacturing tax credit; reforming export control policy; and adding to the ranks of the manufacturing workforce.

AMT Elects Board Of Directors, Officers
AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology (McLean, Virginia) recently elected its 2009-2010 officers and directors at its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. Dan Janka, president of machine tool builder MAG Global, was elected chairman of the board of directors.

Machine Tool Builders Applaud DPA Enactment
AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology says the recent passage of the Defense Production Act (DPA), signed into law September 30 by President Obama, could help manufacturers hit hard by the economic downturn, particularly those that continue to have problems accessing credit. The DPA was created in 1950 during the Korean War to ensure that American industry could be mobilized swiftly and effectively during wartime.

IMTS Exhibit Space Sales Holding Steady
While the 2010 edition of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is currently 7. 9 percent less than the 2008 show in terms of exhibitor space sold, the total is expected to match that of the 2004 and 2006 events, according to show owner and manager AMT—the Association For Manufacturing Technology.

MTConnect Institute Seek New Members
The MTConnect Institute, an organization that seeks to promote manufacturing system interoperability, is looking for new members to assist in developing and promoting the standards and materials required to fully implement MTConnect. MTConnect is an open, royalty-free standard designed to improve the ability to collect data across manufacturing technologies.

AMT Says Consider Long-Term Histories In Lending
The current economic difficulties of small businesses doubly affect capital equipment manufacturers, which are often small businesses dependent on small businesses. In this commentary, AMT—the Association for Manufacturing Technology—argues that the President’s plan regarding small business lending should be supported by a commitment to consider the long-term instead of the short-term financial histories of the businesses it aims to help.

MTConnect Technical Advisory Group Named
 Fourteen companies are participating in the MTConnect Technical Advisory Group (MTCTAG), working with AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology to produce an open communications standard for advanced manufacturing equipment. THe MTCTAG represents global advanced manufacturing technology providers as well

AMT Appoints New President
 Robert K. Simpson will become president of AMT - The Association for Manufacturing Technology on October 7, the organization's board of directors announced today. Mr. Simpson will join the association on June 2 to work with current President John B. Byrd III, whose retirement comes after five years with AMT. Mr. S

AMT's China Technology Center Is Open For Business
Although the official opening is not scheduled until late October 2004, the Association For Manufacturing Technology’s (AMT) Technology and Service Center is up and operating, with 26 AMT members participating. The center is located in Shanghai’s Pudong region in the Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone.