- Interview with AMT chief representative in China Mr. Li Xingbin

CIMT as a display of advanced equipment, the exchange of advanced technology, promote international cooperation arena, attracted many internationally renowned manufacturers and equipment suppliers. The United States by more than 50 outstanding suppliers of equipment consisting of a strong line-up of particular concern, as matchmaking - the American Association of Machinery Manufacturing Technology (AMT) has made undeniable contributions to promoting Sino-US machinery industry exchanges and cooperation played an important role. CIMT 2005 On the occasion of the upcoming occasion, we had an interview with AMT, chief representative of China Mr. Li Xingbin.

"Century-old shop," China's renewable brilliant

AMT was founded in early 1902, known as the "century-old shop," now has developed into an international machine tools and mechanical manufacturing industry an important service. AMT as a non-profit trade promotion agencies, the use of "member-driven" system, that is, according to members needs, industry needs to provide the necessary services, the main business includes standards, training and business planning. Today, AMT member companies has grown to more than 380, representing the United States machine tool industry more than 90% of GDP, which the company's business involves a variety of machine tools, tools, fixtures, software, environmental protection, design, assembly, inspection, material handling and control a wide range of products and services.

As a result of the development of China's manufacturing industry in recent years the situation was very good, the demand for equipment for processing very large, the U.S. machine tool manufacturers are very optimistic about this market. In order to adapt to this excellent situation, AMT in China in 1993 to set up representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai Liaison Office was established in 1998, in June 2004 in Shanghai Waigaoqiao Free Trade Zone to set up technology center in Shanghai, in July the same year had been set up in Guangzhou Liaison Office. These institutions be set up in China's main duties are: free of charge for users in China machine tool manufacturers in the United States up-to-date information on products and services; American machinery manufacturing industry the latest technology developments; to promote Sino-US alliance machinery manufacturer; organizations AMT Members of China exhibition, to help members access to customers; to help domestic enterprises to participate in the United States and the audience held once every two years and watching the Chicago International Manufacturing Technology Show.

These institutions for the promotion of Sino-US machinery manufacturing industry exchanges and cooperation has played a positive role. According to Mr. Li Xingbin introduced, AMT development in the Chinese market for more than 10 years to obtain a very eye-catching performance. In 1993, AMT was first established in Beijing, AMT members, only three offices in China, and currently has grown to 50 offices and more than 10 months to set up a joint venture and sole proprietorship.

Provide first-class technology and services

U.S. Manufacturing Technology is a world leader, whose outstanding feature is mainly reflected in the following areas:

     * Almost all machine tool manufacturing enterprises in this sector are not large, but almost every enterprise has its own core technology expertise and fields of expertise in the leading position in the absolute;

     * In the process, the United States is not only the machine tool manufacturers machine tool sales and, more importantly, users can go to the processing site, a real understanding of the user's processing technology to meet the needs of users in the production process and so beat the requirements to work with customers to create "simultaneous engineering";

     * In the service capabilities, the U.S. machine tool manufacturers to provide customers with a special focus on high-quality pre-sales and after-sales service, in terms of the skill level of machine tool itself, or service capabilities, and its ultimate goal is to improve customer productivity.

U.S. machine tool industry is one of the prominent features associated with the automotive industry technology and equipment are very mature, according to rough statistics, the United States more than 60% of machine tools and parts for the automotive manufacturing industry. China's automobile manufacturing equipment market is extremely competitive, according to statistics, at present, in China's imports of machine tools, the U.S. machine tool market share of about 7% ~ 9%. Clearly, this figure is not satisfactory, there are still a large potential market waiting for good U.S. machine tool manufacturers to explore.

Then, in the face of fierce competition in China's machine tool market, the United States how the machine tool suppliers in China to better serve clients? Mr. Li Xingbin that should be the focus of efforts from several aspects as follows:

     * On the technical side, to customers in China to provide the most advanced technology and equipment;

     * In the services, to provide customers with pre-class after-sales service and project advisory services;

     * Pay attention to "soft", this is a very important point, which requires manufacturers to focus on machine tool technology innovation, at the same time must have high-performance machine tools, high-speed, high accuracy, high reliability, such as environmental protection and advantages.

Mr. Li Xingbin also believe that China's automotive and component manufacturers in the selection of processing equipment, not necessarily the better the higher the technological level, the key is to choose their own businesses with flexible processing equipment, in line with the company rolling ladder development needs.

To "market demand" as the focus

AMT will continue to focus on market demand, AMT options in China and liaison offices, it focused on taking into account the Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and several other economically developed region, which is also the AMT on the long-term commitment to Chinese customers. The future, AMT would be timely to consider the machine to get R & D China, and China's universities, research institutes, working closely with business users, the only way to ensure AMT enduring in the Chinese market.

AMT technical service center in Shanghai to set up, for AMT development strategy in China is important. The technical service center with a bonded display products, components bonded as well as user training, pre-market after-sales service and other functions, there are now 30 U.S. companies to display products in the Exhibition Hall. Currently, AMT Shanghai Technical Center's exhibit area is about 2000m2, a total of 16 machines for the user to visit the trial, in April this year the figure will increase to 35 units, domestic customers can see that the United States at any time in the latest equipment and technology. AMT Shanghai Technical Service Center will be mainly localized engineering and technical personnel, not only to accelerate the speed of service and reduce costs and shorten the cycle of service.

In recent years, China's automobile industry and mold industry is no doubt the rapid development of machine tool manufacturers for the United States participate in the Chinese market will provide greater competition in space, at the same time manufacturing processes and equipment and technical operations personnel are also put forward higher requirements. Requires not only further enhance the machine tool manufacturer in pre-market after-sales service, engineering consulting, technical training capacity, but also a combination of rigid-flexible manufacturing equipment to meet the users needs of the production of varieties Francis.

At present, the world machine tool technology are high-speed, high efficiency, high precision and flexibility, the rapid development of environmentally-friendly direction, with the ultimate goal still is to improve production efficiency. Machine tools for the next few years the trend of technological development, Mr. Li Xingbin introduced in the United States in September last year the Chicago International Machine Tool Show (IMTS) on the future of display technology, the work of the United States in science and technology are the following areas:

     * Smart processing;

     * Non-contact detection technology;

     * The application of nanotechnology.