A 12-year quest to unite the three leading metal finishing industry trade associations may finally be coming to an end. Officials from the American Electroplaters and Surface Finishers (AESF), Metal Finishing Suppliers' Association (MFSA) and National Association of Metal Finishers (NAMF) recently agreed to proceed with plans to dissolve their respective boards of directors and recreate a single board that represents the best interests of the organizations. The move is considered a major step in merging the three entities under the Surface Finishing Industry Council (SFIC) umbrella organization, which organizes industry events such as the SUR/FIN trade show and Washington Forum. MFSA and SFIC President William Saas made the announcement during the June 14 MFSA-NAMF luncheon at SUR/FIN in St. Louis. "No association wants to say, 'Why did we give up our proud heritage,'" Saas told attendees at the event. "We have to do it because the world is changing and associations are changing."
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