Motion Control and PTDA

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PTDA (Power Transmission Distributors Association) style distribution accounts for a large and growing segment of the Automation/Motion Control type of business. Early this summer we contributed an article to Automation.com which disclosed the research conducted by River Heights Consulting. According to our numbers PTDA did over $800 Million in Motion Control business.

This demonstrates a fact that many of us have known for a long time, the manufacturing community in North America doesn't want a half dozen seperate suppliers (electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, motors, safety, etc.). They want one company capable of providing solutions.

Here is a related announcement from PTDA:

New Motion Control Technical Conference Provides Learning Opportunity for Technical Specialists

Chicago, Ill. – July 24, 2008– The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will present the first Motion Control Tech Conference at the 2008 Industry Summit in Miami Beach, Florida on October 31, 2008. The Motion Control Technical Conference will be the premier event for technical specialists in the power transmission/ motion control (PT/MC) industry to learn about motion control trends and technologies.
Successful distributors strive to build a competitive advantage in their marketplace. They continuously seek new ways to leverage the potential of their people and process. The Motion Control Technical Conference provides an excellent opportunity to combine technical expertise with PTDA-style networking.
The conference will provide an opportunity for Technical Specialists—who support the growth of PTDA distributors on a day-to-day basis—with an overview of the latest trends in motion control. The conference will feature six unique technical speakers, each offering a glimpse into a particular segment of the motion control industry. Topics include:
· Trends in Motion and Automation, presented by GE-Fanuc.
· Communications in Automation, presented by Eaton Corporation.
· Linear Motion Components to Systems, presented by Thomson and Kollmorgen.
· The State of Linear Motion – A Tutorial, presented by Festo.
· Mechatronics – The Past and Future, presented by Yaskawa.
· How to Engage Integrators in Motion, presented by Norm O’Leary of Control Systems Integrators Association.
This unique event brings together the very people who drive a big piece of this rapidly emerging market. Part forum, part technical benchmarking, and all focused on the latest trends and information in the motion control arena. To register for the Motion Control Technical Conference, visit www.ptda.org/industrysummit.
Founded in 1960, the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) is the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel. A U.S.-based trade association, PTDA represents 205 power transmission/motion control distributor firms with over 3,500 locations throughout North America and 12 other countries as well as 194 manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry.

PTDA is dedicated to providing exceptional networking, targeted education, relevant information and leading-edge business tools to help distributors and manufacturers meet marketplace demands competitively and profitably. For more information, visit www.ptda.org.

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