The merger follows the retirement of Betsy and Bill Chambers, who have managed the US-based SMMA for the past 38 years. The SMMA was founded in 1975 to serve motor and motion control manufacturers, materials suppliers to those manufacturers, as well as consultants and academia.

The MCA, also based in the US, was founded in 2006 to serve motion control and motor manufacturers, distributors, systems integrators, end-users and affiliates.

“Separately, MCA and SMMA had been very effective in promoting their industry and members’ interests,” says John Payne of Yaskawa America, who will chair the MCMA. “Now, combined as MCMA, the strength of the larger organisation will allow us to do even more to help promote the industry, provide education and certification, launch research initiatives and track market data.”

The new MCMA covers the complete supply chain from materials suppliers to manufacturers, distribution channels and end-users. It is part of the Michigan-based Association for Advancing Automation (A3), which acts as an umbrella group for the MCMA, the Robotic Industries Association (RIA), and the vision and imaging association, AIA. Together, these organisations represent more than 850 automation technology companies.

As part of the merger, the SMMA’s permanent magnet division has joined the MCMA. This group promotes the understanding and use of magnetic materials, assemblies and systems.

Also, the Electric Motor Education & Research Foundation (EMERF), a non-profit charitable foundation that was launched and managed by SMMA, will now be managed by MCMA. EMERF funds education, research and technology transfer in cooperation with academic, private research and government organisations.