PMA History

The Association was born in 1913 in Cleveland when a handful of stampers formed The Pressed Metal Association. Inactive following World War I, the organization reemerged briefly in 1928 and 1929 as The Pressed Metal Institute (PMI). In 1942, 42 charter members re-established PMI. In 1961, PMI renamed itself American Metal Stamping Association. In 1987, the Association changed its name to Precision Metalforming Association to better reflect the industry it serves.

Though the names changed as time passed, the Association's strengths did not. These strengths include forward-thinking member companies, outstanding volunteer leadership, an abundance of valuable services for members and the industry, and a dedicated staff.

Industry Served

PMA is the full-service trade association representing the $91-billion metalforming industry of North America-the industry that creates precision metal products using stamping, fabricating, spinning, slide forming and roll forming technologies, and other value-added processes. Its nearly 1,100 member companies also include suppliers of equipment, materials and services to the industry. PMA leads innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability through advocacy, networking, statistics, the PMA Educational Foundation, METALFORM tradeshows and MetalForming magazine.

PMA Mission

"To represent the metalforming industry and to lead innovative member companies toward superior competitiveness and profitability."