Manufacturing Technology Industry backs U.S. automakers.

Press Release Summary:



Citing reports that U.S. automakers are on verge of financial ruin amid massive 3rd quarter losses, AMT President, Bob Simpson, requested immediate legislative action to help Detroit's Big Three recover from worst sales reported in 17 years. Ford, GM, and Chrysler employ more than one half million workers. Those auto jobs and more than 4 million jobs with companies in auto industry supply chain represent about a third of all manufacturing jobs in United States.



Original Press Release:



Manufacturing Technology Industry Backs Detroit's Plea for Help



Bob Simpson, President of AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology, today called on Congress and the Administration to heed the pleas of America's automakers for help or risk a crushing blow to businesses and jobs dependent on the auto industry.

Citing reports that U.S. automakers are on the verge of financial ruin amid massive third quarter losses, Simpson requested immediate legislative action to help Detroit's Big Three recover from the worst sales reported in 17 years.

"The collapse of the Big Three has ramifications far beyond Detroit. Millions of American jobs across the country depend on our auto industry for survival. From small job shops to high-tech manufacturers, all will bear the brunt of a bankrupt auto industry," said Simpson.

The auto industry orders for manufacturing technology on the factory floor represent a third of the revenue generated by America's producers of production equipment. Manufacturing technology equipment provides significant productivity improvements in that it equalizes the playing field for America's highly skilled and highly paid workforce to compete against low-cost labor markets.

"With the economy already in a tailspin, we can ill afford to sit by and watch the demise of an industry this country created," said Simpson. "The federal government needs to act immediately or the loss of American jobs and businesses could be staggering."

Ford, GM and Chrysler employ more than one half million workers. Those auto jobs and the more than four million jobs with companies in the auto industry supply chain represent about a third of all the manufacturing jobs in the United States.

"Our government simply cannot ignore that magnitude of impact on our nation's families, economic stability and national security."

Simpson pointed to his own association, which represents more than 400 manufacturing technology companies, including most of the machine tool industry. The Big Three and the tens of thousands of suppliers that support them are a customer base for AMT's member companies; they represent more than 35 percent of all the orders placed with the membership in 2008.

"What affects Detroit directly affects them," Simpson said. "If the Democratic Party, which controls Congress, has placed helping middle-class families, creating jobs and growing manufacturing as a top priority, then helping preserve American automakers needs to be at the top of its to-do list."

AMT (founded in 1902 as the National Machine Tool Builders' Association) supports and promotes the U.S. machine tool industry. AMT members are the global leaders in innovating, producing and implementing advanced manufacturing technology solutions. The association provides them with the latest information on technical developments, trade and marketing opportunities, and economic issues. It also gathers and disseminates information about world markets, promotes its members' products in those markets, and acts as a representative on manufacturing technology matters to governments and trade organizations throughout the world.

The association also owns and sponsors the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), one of the world's largest industrial expositions, held every even-numbered year in Chicago. IMTS 2010 will be Sept. 8-13, 2010, at McCormick Place.

Contact: Paul Freedenberg

Direct: 703-827-5282

pfreedenberg@AMTonline.org

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