AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show and METALFORM announce a new industry partnership that will combine the efforts of several trade associations resulting in an event with appeal to the full range of metal forming, metal fabricating and welding industry professionals.
AMT joins SME - The Society of Manufacturing Engineers, FMA - Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, PMA - Precision Metalforming Association, and AWS - American Welding Society as an industry partner to provide domestic and international support for the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show, which includes METALFORM. The industry partnership begins immediately with the combined efforts directed toward the event in Chicago in November 2009.
"For many years the forming and fabricating community has been challenged to support multiple forming and fabricating shows in one market in a short time period," states AMT President John B. Byrd III. "This is an example of true industry cooperation that is sure to have a positive impact on manufacturing. Combining the strengths of all of the exhibitions and their sponsoring associations is a win for both exhibitors and attendees who can now focus on an event that will meet all of their needs.
We at AMT welcome the opportunity to participate in the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show and assist our manufacturing audience in their sales and equipment purchasing endeavors."
Following the 2008 International Manufacturing Technology Show (September 8-13, 2008 at McCormick Place in Chicago), IMTS will no longer feature a Metal Forming & Fabricating/Lasers Pavilion. A new Non-Traditional Machining & Processes Pavilion will debut at IMTS 2010. According to Byrd, AMT will recommend that prospective exhibiting companies with forming, fabricating, laser and welding/joining technology to participate in the FABTECH International &AWS Welding Show and METALFORM event. Byrd commented that exhibitors in the Metal Forming & Fabricating/Lasers Pavilion who wish to continue to participate in IMTS will be welcome in either the new pavilion or any of the others for which they qualify.
"SME and AMT have a long history of working together on events including the IMTS conference and APEX trade shows. The formal industry partnership with AMT and the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show including METALFORM event more closely aligns the efforts of all the major industry groups to serve this market" adds Mark Tomlinson, SME executive director and general manager.