US Trade Associations Send Open Letter to Manufacturers Addressing Coronavirus

The open letter addresses manufacturing CEOs, suggesting that they turn to member companies in the case of supply chain disruptions from the coronavirus.

In an open letter to CEOs, the American Mold Builders Association (AMBA), the National Tooling & Machining Association (NTMA), the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) and the Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA) address manufacturers feeling the impact of efforts worldwide to respond to the coronavirus. The letter states that the associations’ member companies “stand ready to assist those industries who are facing global supply chain disruptions to help the economy continue its record growth.” The trade associations represent more than 3,500 companies in industries that employ more than 475,000 Americans.

Below is the full text of the letter.

An Open Letter to CEOs

American Manufacturers are Ready to Help Companies Cope with Supply Chain Disruptions

We, the undersigned trade associations, collectively represent over 475,000 American employees working at 3,500 manufacturing plants across the United States. Our member companies stand ready to assist those industries who are facing global supply chain disruptions to help the economy continue its record growth. Companies need to look no further for suppliers than right here in the U.S. We have the capacity and the expertise to get the work done at our facilities across the country.

The threats posed by uncertainty and disruption to global supply chains are real and not limited to the current headlines. The spread of COVID-19 (“coronavirus”) is already impacting the U.S. manufacturing sector. Recent reports from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) show that many industry sectors from electronics to chemicals are feeling the impacts of the virus. Additionally, reports from around the world show slowing in factories in China, Japan and South Korea, among others and expected transportation and logistical delays.

This is not just about the current virus and temporary disruptions; it is about reliable supply chains in any circumstance.

American companies who source inputs and equipment from across the globe can minimize disruption to their businesses by looking to domestic suppliers. Near sourcing and reshoring business to the U.S. will not only help minimize current impacts, but will also mitigate future exposure to global challenges all while tapping into America’s vast and innovative industrial base and supporting American workers.

The American companies who make up our trade associations indicate a capacity utilization rate of 60-70% — meaning our manufacturers can meet current and future demand, helping companies grow and thrive.

Our members are business leaders. They know that companies must constantly weigh the costs of manufacturing in America against importing from overseas. But today, the short-term lower pricing that tempted some companies to source their parts from overseas is outmatched by growing supply chain complications. There simply is no substitute for the high-quality and reliable delivery that our member companies can offer. You cannot manufacture a part or finished product if you cannot source your inputs and equipment on time.

To find appropriate U.S. sourcing options, links to each of our associations’ websites are appended to this letter. With this comes our full commitment to support any company seeking to connect with a U.S.-based manufacturer.

Throughout history, American manufacturers have answered the call to find solutions, support progress and step up in times of crisis. Our U.S. manufacturers and workers are ready to minimize operational disruptions and help produce a quality, reliable products ready to ship to any location, foreign or domestic.

Sincerely,

MACH Exhibition Reschedules to 2021 Due to Coronavirus Concerns

MACH is the UK’s largest manufacturing trade show.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), which owns and runs the UK’s MACH exhibition, has taken the decision to reschedule the trade show from April 2020 to January 25-28, 2021. The decision to push back the date of the show is an effort to minimize the risks to visitors and exhibitors in light of the spread of the coronavirus. The event—the largest manufacturing trade show in the UK—will still be held in the same venue.

“We believe that this decision, which has not been taken lightly, is in the best interests of the industry and those who work in it,” says James Selka, MTA CEO. “Our first priority is, of course, the health and safety of the 30,000-plus people who will visit and work at MACH. In addition, we believe that by moving MACH to January 2021 we are going to be able to offer a better experience for our visitors, and better value for our exhibitors, than by holding it in April under the conditions likely to be in place at that time. We are grateful to the NEC for working with us to identify an option which we believe will work for the vast majority of our exhibitors and will give our visitors a great chance to see the best of advanced manufacturing technology under one roof.”

All exhibitors that had booked for MACH in April will be offered the same stand space at the event held on the new dates. The MTA team is contacting all 550 exhibitors directly to discuss their participation.

Coordinate Metrology Society Conference Opens Registration

The 36th annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC) is scheduled to be held July 20-24, in New Orleans.

The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS) has opened registration for its 36th annual Coordinate Metrology Society Conference (CMSC), to be held July 20-24, in New Orleans. The CMSC is said to attract attendees from the entire value chain surrounding the metrology sector. The conference enables novice and expert users of portable and stationary measurement technologies to learn about breakthroughs in metrology applications and discuss the impacts on manufacturing, science and data-driven technology platforms. Attendees choose from an offering of workshops, white paper presentations, training sessions, live events, competitions, Education and Measurement Zone programming, and an exhibition hall.

The CMSC Weekly Pass includes entry to a comprehensive program of technical presentations, multiple workshops and training sessions, industry and standards updates, the CMSC exhibition hall, the Measurement and Education Zones, as well as post-conference access to all technical papers and presentation materials. Attendees can also participate in metrology challenges, networking events and a local tour in addition to the popular CMS Quiz Show and Ask the Experts forum events.

Comau, Exechon Collaborate on Machining Center Design

The machining center will be designed particularly for manufacturing lightweight framing and structural components for the automotive and aerospace sectors.

Comau, a manufacturer of advanced industrial automation products, is partnering with Exechon, a developer of technology for parallel kinematic machine solutions, to design and produce a new Comau machining center. The machine would be able to handle lightweight framing and structural components for multiple sectors, with a particular focus on automotive, aerospace and electrification. Comau says that the move is in response to the expanding use of lightweight components that reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions; the growing importance of electrification for automotive manufactures; and the increasing degree of production complexity within the aerospace sector.

“The importance of this project extends through to Comau’s ability to offer a 360-degree service connected to electrification, with new lightweight machining centers as a central link,” says Luca Ferrero, COO of Comau Machining. “Coupling a lightweight approach in machining with our body assembly competencies and battery assembly knowhow, we can now complete the value chain and deliver advanced solutions for battery case machining and more.”

“It has been an amazing year, as Comau and Exechon have jointly engaged in the extremely fast transition from conventional cars and planes to electrical and light weight design,” says, Karl Erik Neumann, CEO of Exechon. “We’ve shown how combining our XMini machine with the automation skills of Comau and its people can change a manufacturing paradigm.”