AEM Elects New Members; Announces Merit Award Winners

July 18, 2007 • Milwaukee, Wis.-based Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) recently elected 19 companies to membership in the international trade group, which provides business-development resources for companies that manufacture and market agriculture and construction-related equipment, products and services.

A few of the new AEM companies include the following: Guelph, Ontario-based Skyjack, manufacturer of aerial work platforms; Selma, Calif.-based MEC Aerial Work Platforms, manufacturer of aerial lifts and telescopic handlers; and Fort Mill, S.C.-based Compact Power Inc., manufacturer of compact utility loaders and trailers.

AEM also presented its Statistics Outstanding Merit Award to 39 equipment manufacturing companies in recognition of exemplary 2006 performance in AEM's statistical reporting programs, enhancing the association's ability to provide meaningful market data to members.

The association operates an extensive statistical reporting service that provides members with market trends and benchmarking data to assist with company business planning. The AEM annual awards recognize companies who exemplify the goals of reporting timeliness, accuracy, consistency and good corporate citizenship. Companies receive points in a number of categories and earn the award with a ranking of 90 percent or better.

The 2006 AEM Statistics Outstanding Merit Award winners include Carelift Equipment Ltd., Caterpillar Inc., Deere & Company, Gehl Company, JCB, JLG Industries Inc., Liebherr, Liftking Industries Inc., Master Craft Products, Mustang Manufacturing, Sellick Equipment, and TEREX Genie.

AEM also presented the association's annual Dick Harris Data Integrity Award to Deere & Company, Moline, Ill., for the 10th consecutive year. The award honors the company best representing the ideals of timeliness, accuracy, consistency and good corporate citizenship. It was initiated in 1994 and is given annually by AEM's Forestry, Earthmoving and Excavator Statistics Committee in honor of the late Dick Harris, who helped develop the AEM statistics program in the 1970s and 1980s while employed by International Harvester and Komatsu America International.

In addition to honoring companies with the Statistics Outstanding Merit Award, AEM each year spotlights companies that have shown significant improvement in reporting their company data compared to the prior year. Nine companies earned this recognition for 2006 performance, including Gradall, JLG Industries Inc., and Liftking Industries.