PHOENIX—Nearly 25 gaging company representatives gathered in the warm desert sun to discuss the current state of affairs in their industry. What they shared was a general improvement in the economy, with bright spots in specific industry segments. However, those who gathered at the American Measuring Tools Manufacturing Association's (AMTMA) Spring Meeting in Phoenix, March 6 to 8, had numerous concerns as well.
Chief among the concerns was how to approach the trend of manufacturing in China. Most of the members agreed that simply hoping the trend would disappear was not realistic. And, with labor costs at nearly one-twelfth of that in the United States, the economic savings were too good for some manufacturers to pass up. Rick Korte, president of Heidenhain Corp. (Schaumburg, IL) said that many of his customers, who build machine tools, were moving manufacturing to China and he had to be there to supply them.