The automation hub in Windsor Essex is looking to form an association to gain a stronger voice.
In partnership with the Auto Parts Manufacturers Association of Canada and the Canadian Association of Moldmakers the process is underway.
"The first board meeting will be in March, there's a strategy meeting in December, and what we will be looking at is how the automation companies can start developing the same type of integration that the mold companies and the auto parts companies have," says Lee McGrath, Director of Business Retention for the Windsor Essex Economic Development Corporation.
McGrath says this has been coming together for some time.
"The underlying opportunity was for them to start talking to each other which has been happening over the past two years, we met on October 30th of this year and finalized sort of the path forward"
Having a single voice will allow for stronger lobbying to government, says McGrath. "Brining everybody together to one voice, they can have separate interests but they end up with one voice, the other piece of that is we know we're going to be looking at a sister relationship between CAMM and APMA"
There will be 10 large automation firms that will lead the creation of the association, but there dozen's of other companies could become members.