The Motion Control Association (MCA) and SMMA, The Motor & Motion Association, have completed a merger that combines the two leading trade groups serving the global motion control and motor industry.
The new organization name is the Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA).
MCMA is part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3) based in Ann Arbor, Mich. A3 is the umbrella group for MCMA, Robotic Industries Association (RIA), and AIA – the vision and imaging association. Combined, MCMA, RIA, and AIA represent more than 850 automation technology companies throughout the world.
“The A3 Board of Directors enthusiastically welcomes SMMA to the A3 family of associations,” said Jeff Burnstein, A3 president. “Our goal is to promote the use of automation technologies and the products made by SMMA members are a critical part of the automation landscape.”
SMMA was founded in 1975 and served motor and motion control manufacturers, material suppliers to those manufacturers plus consultants and academia. SMMA was successfully managed for the last 38 years by Betsy and Bill Chambers, who have recently retired. MCA began in 2006 and served motion control and motor manufacturers, distributors, system integrators, end users and affiliates. Combined, the new MCMA serves the full supply chain from material suppliers to manufacturers to distribution channels to end users.
“Separately MCA and SMMA had been very effective in promoting their industry and members’ interests. Now, combined as MCMA, the strength of the larger organization will allow us to do even more to help promote the industry, provide education and certification, launch research initiatives and track market data,” said John Payne, the chairperson of MCMA and vice president of the Motion Division at Yaskawa America.
The new Board of Directors for MCMA includes experienced leaders from both MCA and SMMA: John Payne, MCMA Chairperson, VP Motion Division, Yaskawa America, Inc.; Matthew French, MCMA Vice-Chairperson, VP/PMC Division General Manager, AMETEK; Gunnar Block, Senior Product Manager, Schunk Graphite Technology; Ray Butler, VP and GM Americas, Kollmorgen; Jeff Godley, PMD Chairperson, Automotive Key Accounts Sales Manager, VAC Sales USA; Matt Hanson, VP Strategic Technology, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.; Gary Haseley, Senior VP & GM, Minarik Automation and Control; Randy Hayes, Business Development Manager - Motors/Generators, Cogent Power Inc.; John Hegel, MCA Immediate Past Chair, President, American Control Electronics; Paul Murphy, SMMA Immediate Past Chair, VP & GM, Motion Control Products, Moog, Inc.; Jim Parejko, EMERF President, VP Continuous Improvement & Engineering, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.; Ken Sweet, General Manager, Parker Hannifin Corporation Electromechanical Automation Division; Marco Wishart, VP/GM Motion Control Business, Rockwell Automation.
The Permanent Magnet Division (PMD) of SMMA is now part of MCMA. This group specifically promotes the understanding and use of magnetic materials, assemblies and systems and is a very active part of the association.
The Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation (EMERF), a non-profit charitable foundation that was launched and managed by SMMA will now be managed by MCMA. EMERF funds education, research and technology transfer in cooperation with academic, private research and governmental organizations.
MCMA’s key activities include market data collection, analysis and reporting – members receive free quarterly reports. The annual A3 Business Forum brings together over 500 industry leaders for networking and outstanding speakers (February 3-5, 2016 in Orlando, Florida). MCMA offers education through the Motor & Motion College, the MCMA Fall Technical Conference (November 3-5, 2015 in Tampa, Florida), free monthly webinars and at Automate (April 3-6, 2017) featuring hundreds of automation exhibitors with 18,000 plus buyers of these technologies attending the show and educational conference. An online motion control education and certification program is currently in development. Motion Control Online is MCMA’s website and is a one-stop resource all motion control and motor industry and supply chain information including education, company listings, products, news, technical articles and a career center.
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