Gardner Business Media and AMT, the Association For Manufacturing Technology, have signed a cooperation agreement to organise, produce, and promote FITMA, Latin America’s premier manufacturing trade show connecting contract manufacturers, OEMs, and equipment technology and suppliers from around the world.

After its successful launch in 2022, the first biennial FITMA event to operate in partnership between Gardner Business Media and AMT will debut in June 2023 in Mexico City. Rick Kline Jr, president of Gardner Business Media, said: “We are very excited to have AMT joining us to build on the success of our FITMA event in Mexico City. After a successful launch in 2022, the addition of AMT's work with us going forward is going to accelerate the growth of this event and help us build a major metalworking opportunity in Mexico and for all of Latin America.”

Doug Woods, president of AMT, said: “This is really exciting for AMT. We have had a longstanding relationship with Gardner Business Media, and both organisations have increased their involvement in the Mexican market for decades. Gardner has been a partner with AMT and the work we put into IMTS, and so when we had the opportunity to collaborate at FITMA, it felt like a natural connection.”

In addition to Kline, Claude Mas, executive director of international business for Gardner Business Media, will join Carlos Mortera, AMT’s international director for Latin America, and Bill Herman, AMT’s vice president of sales and membership, in leading the new FITMA agreement.

The FITMA collaboration extends the partnership between Gardner Business Media and AMT, which in 2021 announced the formation of MT United, a joint venture that empowers North American manufacturers with data, analysis, and strategic information for accelerated growth, innovation, and global competitiveness.

“The manufacturing community in Latin America needs an event that can showcase metalworking technologies and serve as a major opportunity for networking. The capabilities that Gardner and AMT bring to the table – quality manufacturing events, content, and technology messages – are what we are working hard to accomplish with FITMA.”