PHOENIX (Oct. 11, 2010)—NIBA—The Belting Association is doing exceptionally well as it heads toward 2011, according to Donald Garner, the association's incoming president.
The vice president/general manager of Nashville Rubber & Gasket Co. in Nashville, Tenn., said at the organization's annual conference that NIBA picked up 15 new members in the last year. However, consolidation in both the belt distribution and manufacturing segments of the industry have slightly impacted overall membership figures.
The association has become more global as has the attendance at NIBA conferences, which this year increased by more than 100 over last year's meeting, when about 430 attended, Garner said.
About 56 percent of the membership is made up of distributors, 40 percent are manufacturers and the remainder are affiliates, he said.