Off-Road Equipment Manufacturers Meet with Gov. Romney to Discuss Strengthening the Economy, Exports

MILWAUKEE, July 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) and leaders of four equipment manufacturing companies today joined former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney at a manufacturing plant in Pataskala, Ohio to discuss ways to strengthen U.S. manufacturing in the global marketplace.

AEM member company business leaders from Ohio and Iowa shared their perspectives with Gov. Romney about the need for new manufacturing policies that would rebuild deteriorating roads, bridges and highways and help American manufacturers and farmers export their products to new and expanded markets around the world.

Gov. Romney spoke to employees at Screen Machine Industries (SMI), an American, family-owned manufacturing business that produces heavy equipment. SMI is a member of AEM and participates in the I Make America campaign to support manufacturing jobs.

In its effort to support America's manufacturing sector, AEM launched a national grassroots campaign in 2010 called I Make America to give a voice to the men and women across the nation who work in manufacturing and agriculture. Thousands of people across the country have signed up to support this campaign, recognizing that infrastructure investment and export-friendly pies are two fundamental ways to generate economic growth and create jobs.

AEM member company leaders who participated with AEM in the discussion with Gov. Romney included:

Steve Cohen, President, Screen Machine Industries, Inc.
Pataskala, OH
www.screenmachine.com

Dave Burdakin, President & CEO, Paladin
Cedar Rapids, IA and Akron, Ohio
www.paladinbrands.com

Mike Haberman, President, Gradall Industries Inc.
New Philadelphia, OH
www.gradall.com

Ed Turner, President and CEO, Allied Construction Products LLC
Cleveland, OH
www.alliedcp.com

About the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) – www.aem.org
AEM is the North American-based international trade group providing innovative business development resources to advance the off-road equipment manufacturing industry in the global marketplace. AEM membership comprises more than 850 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture, construction, forestry, mining and utility sectors worldwide. AEM is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with offices in the capitals of Washington, D.C., Ottawa, Beijing and a European presence in Brussels.

SOURCE Association of Equipment Manufacturers