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FABTECH, METALFORM to partner with AMT

The FABTECH® International & AWS Welding Show including METALFORM will partner with The Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT), McLean, Va., combining the efforts of several trade associations to produce an annual event that covers the full range of metal forming and fabricating technologies.

AMT joins the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl. (FMA), Rockford, Ill.; Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), Dearborn, Mich.; Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), Independence, Ohio; the American Welding Society (AWS), Miami; and industry partner the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Washington, D.C. The first official combined exhibition will take place in November 2009 in Chicago.

Terms of the agreement include the elimination of the fabricating and laser pavilions at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) after the 2008 event. AMT will debut a new, nontraditional Machining & Processes Pavilion at IMTS 2010. In addition, the groups agreed to explore service offerings and work cooperatively on numerous international markets.

"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," said AMT President John Byrd III. "We at AMT welcome the opportunity to participate in the FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show including METALFORM and assist our manufacturing audience in their sales and equipment purchasing endeavors."

"This is a great development for the companies in the metal fabricating industry—whether they are show attendees or exhibitors—to have all the affiliated associations working together with common purpose," said Gerald Shankel, FMA president and CEO.

The 2008 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show including METALFORM is scheduled for Oct. 6-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The event is expected to bring in an estimated 20,000 attendees and more than 900 exhibitors. The show also will feature a METALFORM Pavilion that will display stamping technology. The pavilion was added as a result of the strategic alliance with PMA, the producer of METALFORM.