With overall U.S. assembly spending (including assembly equipment, materials and components) by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) estimated to reach a robust $11 billion in 1999, U.S. spending for assembly equipment is expected to hit $2.5 billion, according to a recent U.S. Product Assembly Market Survey1 released by Reed Exhibition Companies' Assembly Group, Norwalk, Conn. The study was conducted by ASSEMBLY magazine.
Adhesives and adhesives-dispensing equipment play a major role in assembly operations, and thus our emphasis in this issue on meter/mix/dispense equipment in our features and the Application and End User Spotlight. We will also be exhibiting at ATExpo2, Booth #34024, and look forward to meeting many of you there.