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8<br />
ISTMA<br />
basis. Industry problems are to be<br />
addressed in a spirit of voluntary<br />
cooperation based on good intentions<br />
and with an open-minded<br />
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solutions to be developed by mutual<br />
agreement. Paramount impor-<br />
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ISTMA Activities<br />
ISTMA World engages in a variety<br />
of activities designed to fulfill its<br />
objectives. Chief among them:<br />
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ferences and meetings to support<br />
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business figures, and ratios, as well<br />
as other economic data.<br />
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terminology directory for the special<br />
tooling industry.<br />
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for employees in ISTMA’s industry<br />
sector.<br />
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from member-country associations.<br />
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situation within member countries.<br />
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in international organizations,<br />
authorities and associations.<br />
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on technical and economic issues<br />
in the form of study trips, including<br />
industrial plant tours.<br />
ISTMA Governance<br />
The worldwide association is overseen<br />
by a board of directors consist-<br />
ing of a president and four board<br />
members, and by a general manager<br />
who coordinates all activities<br />
and the administration of association<br />
assets. Regional committees<br />
are made up of all members of<br />
each of the three regional sections.<br />
There is also a members’ assembly<br />
in which all members participate.<br />
The ISTMA board of directors<br />
comprises delegates from each<br />
of the regional committees. This<br />
board, which meets at least once<br />
a year, makes all operational decisions<br />
and takes into account the<br />
advice of the members’ assembly.<br />
ISTMA Membership<br />
The association may admit as a<br />
member any national organization<br />
that represents the interests<br />
of manufacturers of the following<br />
products:<br />
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ing and forming.<br />
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tern making.<br />
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toolmakers.<br />
The special tooling and machining<br />
industry consists primarily of<br />
independently owned companies<br />
that make the products just enumerated.<br />
Some of them specialize<br />
in just a single machining skill.<br />
They usually work with metal, but<br />
they are not limited to any par-<br />
ticular material. These companies<br />
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such as metal stamping and proprietary<br />
part production, but their<br />
chief business is either the custom<br />
manufacture of special tooling<br />
or precision machining. Some<br />
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research and development projects<br />
as well.<br />
Companies in the industry<br />
use a wide variety of equipment<br />
and processes, including machine<br />
tools that range from the simplest<br />
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machining centres, electrical discharge<br />
machines, sonic grinders<br />
and lasers. Equipment that measures<br />
in microns is commonplace.<br />
Computers are regularly employed<br />
in design, machining, and control<br />
operations. The materials worked<br />
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ic alloys, nonferrous metals, and<br />
plastics and other nonmetallic<br />
substances.<br />
Industry Customers<br />
Nearly every industrial manufacturer<br />
relies on the products and<br />
services available from companies<br />
in the special tooling and machining<br />
industry. Major customers are<br />
found in the automotive, aerospace/aircraft,<br />
energy, medical<br />
device, electronics, appliance,<br />
agricultural implement, semiconductor<br />
equipment and consumer<br />
product sectors, among others.<br />
» ISTMA Europe<br />
Marinha Grande, Portugal<br />
www.istma-europe.com<br />
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European Tool & Mould Making | Buyer‘s Guide 2011-12 | www.etmm-online.com
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