2020 Marks the 50th Anniversary of FMA

FMA is celebrating 50 years of advancing metal fabrication this year! To kick things off, 50^th-anniversary signage has been put up all around FMA’s corporate headquarters in Elgin, Illinois. This milestone anniversary has me thinking about what FMA looked like 50 years ago. And what are some of FMA’s biggest accomplishments that have helped propel the industry forward? Let’s take a look down memory lane: 

In 1970, Milo J. Pitkin was an entrepreneur who pioneered technologies in ergonomic office equipment, welding automation, and meat processing equipment. He also had a drive to serve the metal fabrication industry. He began contacting industry leaders from a makeshift office set up in his basement. Just a few months later, the first board of directors was developed and FMA was formed. 

1971 was an even bigger year for FMA, starting with launching an FMA Associate Membership. It was created to provide educational fabricating techniques to metal fabricators through seminars, conferences, and publications. To date, FMA has helped over 50,000 metal fabrication professionals advance their careers and grow the market into the $153  Billion industry¹ it is today.   

Also in 1971, FMA’s first Annual Meeting was held at the Sheraton-O’Hare Motor Hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, to provide industry professionals with networking and educational opportunities. The Annual Meeting, taking place this week in San Antonio, has become the premier leadership conference for the fabrication and metals industries. 

Last but not least, in 1971 FMA released its first issue of The FABRICATOR®. It was published on newsprint and provided the metalworking industry with technical information that had an emphasis on forming, piercing, blanking, material handling, finishing, and fastening. Today, The FABRICATOR is the market-leading publication for the metal fabrication industry. 

FABTECH® was created in 1981 and was co-hosted by FMA and SME. The goal of FABTECH was to bring industry buyers and sellers together in a convenient venue that facilitated business relationships, networking, education, and the buying process.   

Due to industry demand, FABTECH expanded to include the American Welding Society (AWS) Welding Show in 2005 and the METALFORM trade show co-sponsored by the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) in 2008. In 2009, the Chemical Coaters Association, International, (CCAI) joined to sponsor the Finishing Pavilion and Conference.  

Today, FABTECH is North America’s largest metal forming, welding, fabricating, and finishing event.  

To help solve the skilled labor problem, in 1990 FMA awarded its first scholarships to students pursuing careers in manufacturing and in 1997, the FMA Foundation was instituted. It later adopted the name Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs® (NBT). To date, NBT has awarded over $2 million in manufacturing-related scholarships and camp grants. 

Throughout 2020 FMA will recognize the association’s dedication to 50 years of helping metal manufacturers thrive and move the industry forward.  

Check back for more details and updates on FMA’s Facebook page for 50th-anniversary celebrations that will take place throughout the year. 

¹2018 U.S. Bureau of Economic Data and U.S. Census Bureau.