Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Name	Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Abbreviation	AEM
Formation	1900s
Headquarters	Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Region served	United States, Canada, Global
Leader title	President and CEO

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Association of Equipment Manufacturers

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers is a North American trade association representing manufacturers of construction, agricultural, mining, forestry, and utility equipment. The organization engages with policymakers in United States Congress, Government of Canada, and international bodies including United Nations agencies, while convening members such as Caterpillar Inc., John Deere, Komatsu, Volvo Group, and CNH Industrial to address regulatory, market, and technology challenges. It conducts industry research linked to Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Commerce, Statistics Canada, and collaborates with standards organizations like ISO, ASTM International, and SAE International.

History

Founded in the early 20th century amid rapid mechanization, the association emerged as manufacturers of steam and internal combustion machinery coordinated on trade matters related to the Panama Canal, Transcontinental Railroad, and industrial fairs including the World's Columbian Exposition. Through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, members such as International Harvester and Allis-Chalmers adapted to shifts prompted by the Smoot–Hawley Tariff Act, New Deal procurement, and wartime production during World War II. Postwar expansion connected the association to reconstruction efforts overseen by Marshall Plan administrators, trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, and the rise of global supply chains involving European Coal and Steel Community partners. In recent decades the organization has navigated issues tied to North American Free Trade Agreement, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and technological transitions exemplified by collaborations with Silicon Valley firms and defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin.

The association is governed by a board of directors composed of executives from major original equipment manufacturers and suppliers including Deere & Company, AGCO Corporation, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Terex Corporation, and Doosan Infracore. Its executive leadership reports to committees modeled after frameworks used by Business Roundtable, National Association of Manufacturers, and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Corporate governance practices reference standards from Deloitte, PwC, and audit committees work with regulators like the Securities and Exchange Commission for public reporting. Regional advisory councils engage stakeholders across provinces and states such as Ontario, Texas, Minnesota, Alberta, and California.

Membership spans OEMs, aftermarket suppliers, distributors, dealers, and service providers tied to sectors including construction, agriculture, mining, forestry, material handling, and utility maintenance. Notable members include Caterpillar Inc., Komatsu, Volvo Construction Equipment, CNH Industrial, Bobcat Company, Wacker Neuson, Liebherr, Kubota Corporation, and Takeuchi. Supplier members range from hydraulic specialists like Parker Hannifin to engine manufacturers such as Cummins and MTU Friedrichshafen. Dealer networks represented include RDO Equipment Co., Finning International, and Toromont Industries, while financial partners include JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and BNP Paribas.

The association runs workforce development initiatives aligned with vocational programs at institutions like University of Wisconsin–Madison, Iowa State University, Pennsylvania State University, and technical colleges such as Milwaukee Area Technical College. It sponsors apprenticeship programs tied to standards from National Institute for Metalworking Skills and collaborates with labor organizations including United Auto Workers on training pathways. Technology programs connect members with innovators from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory to advance electrification, autonomy, and telematics.

The association lobbies on trade, taxation, emissions, and procurement before bodies including the United States Congress, Parliament of Canada, European Commission, World Trade Organization, and state legislatures such as Minnesota Legislature. Policy positions reference regulatory frameworks like the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement when engaging on emissions and sustainability. It files comments with agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Transport Canada and participates in coalitions with organizations such as the National Association of Manufacturers, Equipment Dealers Association, and Association of Procuring Entities.

Standards and safety programs align with consensus bodies including ISO, SAE International, ASTM International, and regional entities such as Canadian Standards Association. Safety outreach cites data from Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Health Canada, and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health while promoting best practices used by members like Komatsu and Volvo Group. Research efforts leverage partnerships with laboratories and universities including Argonne National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Iowa State University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign to investigate electrification, autonomous systems, vibration mitigation, and lifecycle assessment methodologies endorsed by EPA programs.

The association organizes flagship events such as the annual trade exposition co-located with major shows involving CONEXPO-CON/AGG, Bauma, Farm Progress Show, and regional dealer conferences in markets like Brazil, China, and India. Its publications include market reports and economic outlooks referencing data from U.S. Department of Labor, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and proprietary indices used by executives at Deere & Company and Caterpillar Inc. for strategic planning. The association also produces technical white papers, safety bulletins, and webinar series featuring speakers from Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and industry analysts at IHS Markit.