DULUTH, GA – The Woodworking Machinery Industry Association named Scm Group North America its 2012 Partner of the Year. The award was presented at the 2013 Woodworking Industry Conference held last month in Phoenix, Arizona.

Since 1994, the Partner of the Year Award has been conferred by WMIA's distributor members on the manufacturer or importer that best exemplifies the spirit of partnership in its dealings with woodworking machinery distributors. The program emphasizes the principle of steadfast cooperation and equal business stature between distributors and their suppliers.

"In today's business environment, partnership between manufacturers, importers and distributors is more important than ever," said WMIA President John Henderson when presenting the award. "Each brings something to the relationship that the other needs. Manufacturers and importers bring product and factory support. Distributors bring the customer relationships and knowledge that can make or break a project, and they do so far more economically than manufacturers or importers could do themselves."

"By working together, we are able to offer a superior buying and ownership experience to our customers," he continued. "The Partner of the Year Award recognizes this fact."Since its inception more than 60 years ago, Scm Group has considered the independent distributor at the core of its marketing success. The company currently works with more than 350 distributors worldwide. 

"I would like to thank WMIA for this recognition and especially our distribution network that has, through their loyalty and support, helped make Scm Group a leading machinery supplying company in North America," said Scm Group North America's president John Gangone when accepting the award.Gangone continued to say Scm Group North America believes strongly in distributors as conduits for its products and cultivating relationships at the local level."There is no better means of transferring information than through people who are well-known and trusted," he said. "After all, people still buy from people."As technology continues to advance rapidly, Gangone said one-wayScm Group North America keeps its edge is with the partnerships it has built through the years with its network of dedicated and exclusive distributors. 

Each year, WMIA's distributor members nominate woodworking machinery suppliers based on their performance in key support areas such as distributor relationship, sales and product, service and parts, marketing support and training. WMIA's Selection Committee reviews the nominations and selects the winner based on WMIA member ratings in the key support areas.

ABOUT Scm Group S.p.A – Founded in 1952 in Rimini, Italy, Scm Group S.p.Ais the leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of innovative and technologically advanced solutions for woodworking, glass, stone, plastic, metals and composite materials. Scm Group’s line of products range from the "Classic" entry-level manual equipment to the turnkey fully-automated "Industrial" solution, and all products use the best Italian components possessing the renowned “Made in Italy” high level of quality and control. With headquarters in Rimini, Scm Group operates through 27 production facilities located throughout Italy and 22 foreign subsidiaries with a total workforce of 3,800 employees. Using an extensive distribution network, Scm Group exports over 70% of its production, covering 120 countries through subsidiaries, distributors and agents.

The Scm Group North American presence is comprised of woodworking divisions Scm Group USA (Duluth, GA) and Scm Group Canada (Mississauga, ON), together with the company’s stone, glass, metal and advanced materials division CMS Industries (Caledonia, MI).

 Source: Scm Group