Some of the world`s leading motion control companies — including Baldor, Danaher, Omron, Rockwell, Siemens and Yaskawa — have formed a global trade organisation to promote a better understanding of the sector and its technologies. The US-based Motion Control Association (MCA) aims to raise awareness about the $44bn-plus global industry which it says is "virtually hidden, except to those customers, manufacturers and suppliers that are an intimate part of it".

The MCA`s 18 founder members include Baumuller, Panasonic, Parker Hannifin, Pilz, and THK. It is hoping to attract further members drawn from suppliers, systems integrators, users, researchers, and consulting firms working in the fields of motors, drives, controls and associated motion control products.

The non-profit organisation plans to co-ordinate activities such as gathering industry statistics, developing standards, hosting conferences, and offering education and training programmes, in the fields of electronic and mechanical motion control.

According to John Mazurkiewicz, the association`s president and Baldor`s product marketing manager, the MCA`s members want the new body to promote "the use and understanding of motion control technology by becoming a leading resource — and by providing a strong co-ordinated voice in the motion technology field".

The MCA has launched a Web site (above), Motion Control Online (www.motioncontrolonline.org) which will provide motion control users with: an "ask-the-experts" forum; news; user tips; technical papers; application stories; new product information; a career centre; a bookstore; and an online buyer`s guide.

MCA is part of the Automation Technologies Council, a global umbrella group representing more than 500 companies working in robotics, machine vision and related technologies. Other trade bodies under the ATC umbrella include the Robotic Industries Association and the Automated Imaging Association.

"There`s excellent synergy between robots, machine vision and motion control technologies and it`s a natural move to launch this new group under the ATC umbrella," says ATC executive vice-president, Don Vincent. "Integration of technologies is critical to improving productivity and we look for MCA to play a key role in creating new business opportunities for suppliers and delivering manufacturing solutions for the user community."