AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology has announced that it is joining forces with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to promote the importance of manufacturing and innovation in the U. S. economy. This historic partnership will bring the organizations together in support of the premier manufacturing technology show in the Americas, IMTS 2010, sponsored by AMT. “AMT and NAM are two of the most important voices in the world of manufacturing today,” said Douglas K. Woods, President ofAMT. “Collectively, our members represent every stage of the production process, from the mind of the design engineer to the shop and factory floor to the global marketplace.Together,wewant to underscore the importance of a strongmanufacturing sector to long-term economic growth and national security. IMTS 2010, the most important manufacturing event in America, is an ideal launching pad for our industry partnership.” NAM’s President and CEO John Engler will give a keynote address in the Emerging Technology Center on day two of IMTS, September 14, 2010.Engler will highlight how investment in innovation, technology and technical skills are critical to a strong U.S. manufacturing sector. The former Governor ofMichigan will also provide insights on how the U.S. can create an economic climate that encourages innovation. “We are pleased to partnerwithAMT on IMTS 2010, where companieswill see the latest breakthroughs inmanufacturing technology. Innovation alongwith research and development has long helped manufacturing in the United Statesmaintain its global leadership,” said John Engler, President and CEO of NAM. “But whilewe continue to stand strong as the number onemanufacturing economy in the world, we face strong competition from other countries.We’ve recently released ‘AManufacturing Strategy for Jobs and aMore CompetitiveAmerica,’which provides a vision and clear plan for what policies lawmakers can adopt and advocate in order to keep manufacturing successful and competitive in an ever growing global marketplace.” This, coupled with AMT’s Manufacturing Mandate calling for a federal policy of collaboration between government, industry and academia to Place incentives on innovation and R&D in new products and manufacturing technologies; assure the availability of capital; increase global competitiveness; minimize structural cost burdens and enhance and build a better educated and trained “smartforce,” make a strong statement calling for action to support manufacturing. IMTS 2010 is the place more than 92,000 industrial decision-makers come to get ideas and find answers to their manufacturing problems and challenges.From themore than 1,100 exhibits focusing on manufacturing technology to the IMTS Industry & Technology Conference and the NIMS Student Summit, IMTS is all about educating manufacturing professionals from all over the world. “IMTS attendees repeatedly tell us that they come to the show to learn, to network and to find new resources and innovative manufacturing technology resources,” said Woods. “We are committing significant energy and resources to make the show, the conference and the Student Summit premier educational offerings available to the manufacturing industry.” For more information contact: IMTS - Exhibitions & Communications Department 7901 Westpark Drive McLean, VA22102 800-828-7469 www.IMTS.com AMT 7901 Westpark Drive McLean, VA22102-4206 703-827-5282 / 800-524-0475 amt@AMTonline.org www.AMTonline.org NAM 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Suite 600 Washington, DC 20004-1790 800-814-8468 / 202-637-3000 manufacturing@nam.org www.nam.org