The Motion Control Association (MCA) and SMMA (the Motor & Motion Association) have completed a merger that combines the two 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, Michigan, USA. 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 managed for 38 years by Betsy and Bill Chambers, 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 effective in promoting industry and members’ interests. Now, combined as MCMA, the strength of the larger organization will let us 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 Inc.

New Board of Directors for MCMA

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 Corp. Electromechanical Automation Div.

Marco Wishart, VP/GM Motion Control Business, Rockwell Automation

Continuing MCMA initiatives and programs

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 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.

Summary of MCMA mission and relationship to A3

The Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA) is a not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting the global innovation and growth of motion control and motor technologies through the entire supply chain. Its members include suppliers of raw and finished materials, manufacturers of motors and motion control components and systems, system integrators, distributors, end users, consulting firms, academic institutions and research groups directly involved with motion control around the world. MCMA is part of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3).

The Association for Advancing Automation is the global advocate for the benefits of automating. A3 is the umbrella group for the Motion Control & Motor Association (MCMA), Robotic Industries Association (RIA), and AIA – the vision and imaging association. MCMA, RIA, and AIA combined represent 850 automation stakeholders from throughout the world. For more information, email Dana Whalls.