The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) recently 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) being held in Orlando, Florida, which is a gathering of hundreds of manufacturing leaders. The new AMT will be headquartered in McLean, Virginia. All current employees of AMTDA will be joining the new AMT immediately. Steve M. Wherry, chairman of AMTDA said, "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."

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."

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 took on an intensive process to design 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."