Page 35 - MetalForming July 2012

METALFORM—Evolution of a Tradeshow
AMSA launched its first METALFORM tradeshow for the metalforming industry in 1981 as a tabletop exhibition in Cleveland, OH. In 1983 METALFORM became a full-fledged exhibition held every two years in Rosemont, IL. The idea to make the exposition annual and also move it out of the Midwest exclusively took root in 1992, when PMA made METAL- FORM an every-year event. Rosemont hosted METALFORM during odd years, and the show landed in Nashville, TN in even years.
In 2001, PMA and the American Welding
Society (AWS) launched a joint tradeshow
called MAX International, held in Cleveland. In 2002, METALFORM reverted back to a standalone exposition as PMA decided to hold the show in Rosemont during odd years and to produce a downsized regional METALFORM during even years. In 2008 METALFORM merged with the FABTECH and AWS Welding Show, rebranded as FABTECH in 2010.
In addition to FABTECH, PMA also participates in an annual tradeshow in Mexico, where it co- locates its METALFORM Mexico show (launched in 2004) with AWS Weldmex and FABTECH Mexico.
“Jon Jenson really professionalized AMSA,” Gaskin adds.
Among the early moves made under Jenson’s direction was the creation, in 1977, of the AMSA political-action committee. Also in 1977, AMSA created a new committee (joining its Technical Research Committee and Govern- ment Affairs Committee) to compile and deliver industry statistics to member companies. Among the early statisti- cal reports created are the Business Conditions Report and Orders and Shipments Report—both still offered to mem- bers today.
Along with its committees, PMA also operates several industry-specific divisions, related to metal spinning (PMA’s first division, formed in 1975); Washer Manufacturing; Slideforming (formed in the mid-1980s); Small-Lot Stamp- ing and Fabrication; Custom Rollforming (initially its own association founded as the Cus- tom Roll Forming Institute in 1972, and becoming a PMA division in 1992); Tool and Die (established in 1999); Next Gen- eration (PMA’s newest division,
formed in 2006); and—of course—Metal Stamping, the largest of PMA’s divisions. The stamping division formed shortly after AMSA became the Precision Metalforming Asso- ciation, in 1987, to better reflect the industry it served. PMA announced the name change at the association’s tradeshow, METALFORM, held in March in Chicago. As explained in an article in the March 1987 issue of Metal Stamping:
“It was necessary to redefine the industry to be served by the association—to recognize and adapt to the obvious tech- nical and business trends sweeping the industry...as com-
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