ITCC and TMA Target Medical and Automotive Sectors

Announce AutoMed 2005 to Help Midwest Manufacturers Compete Globally

Chicago – November 22, 2005 – The International Trade Club of Chicago (ITCC) and the Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA) announced today their second annual global manufacturing series – AutoMed 2005 – designed to help Midwestern manufacturing companies compete in the global marketplace.

This program spotlights the latest opportunities in the automotive and medical equipment markets through a series of practical, timely case studies. Eight local manufacturers will share their "success stories" in the face of global competition, while DaimlerChrysler and Cardinal Health along with their key suppliers and purchasing executives will share their approaches to finding and qualifying vendors. Manufacturers serving other sectors also will benefit from the strategies being presented.

“The U.S. boasts the largest manufacturing base in the world, but not the fastest growing. When targeting markets, growth is a key criterion,” stated TMA president Bruce Braker. “By attending AutoMed 2005, manufacturers will learn how to target domestic and global growth markets from peers and customers and become a critical link in the global supply chain.”

The idea for AutoMed grew out of discussions between the ITCC and TMA regarding recent trends in the automotive supply industry and the projected growth of the medical equipment industry. Some automotive suppliers have been able to successfully compete by dovetailing their manufacturing capabilities into the medical equipment sector. “With sixty percent of its existing business tied to the automotive industry, Swiss-owned microtechnology manufacturer Polydec has launched a U.S. expansion strategy targeting the medical sector,” stated ITCC president Sidney Salvadori.

Confirmed presenters include Cardinal Health, DaimlerChrysler, Camcraft, Dudek & Bock Spring Manufacturing, Everest Intellectual Property Law Group, Industrial Molds, Iroquois Industries, MedGyn Products International, Polydec International, and Tricon Industries.

For registrtaion and program details, visit www.automed2005.org. The series will be held December 7-8, 2005 at the TMA Conference Center located in Park Ridge. The December 7 program will be followed by an executive networking reception. 

The series is co-sponsored by the Chicago-Cook Business Center and the Illinois Office of Trade & Investment and presented in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Chicago International Trade Commissioners Association, the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) Manufacturing Programs and the IIT University Technology Park. Continuing Education Training Credits will be awarded to participants.

About ITCC

The International Trade Club of Chicago (ITCC) is a not-for-profit trade association based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1919, the ITCC is the oldest international trade association in the United States. Members represent a broad range of manufacturing, technology and service sectors, as well as educational institutions, government agencies, and the diplomatic corps. The ITCC supports its members by providing educational and global business development opportunities. For more information, visit www.itcc.org.

About TMA

The Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA), established in 1925, is a 1300-member not-for-profit association of precision manufacturing and supplier companies in the greater Chicago area, including tool & die, mold, machining, special machine, component part, related services, and industrial distributor companies. The association is widely known for its employee benefit and education programs. The TMA supports its members by providing educational opportunities, industry representation, and services to foster member company global competitiveness. For more information, visit www.tmanet.com.

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