The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has presented the Statistics Outstanding Merit Award to more than 50 equipment manufacturing companies to honour their 2004 performance in AEM's statistical reporting programs.

AEM operates a statistical reporting service that provides members with market trends and benchmarking data to assist with company business planning.

The awards recognise companies that exemplify the goals of reporting timeliness, accuracy, consistency and good corporate citizenship.

Bobcat, Caterpillar Inc, JCB, Gehl Company, New Holland and Vermeer were among the 59 companies that received awards.

Meanwhile, for the eighth consecutive year, Deere & Co won AEM's Dick Harris data integrity award that honours the company that best represents the reporting goals of the programs.

Initiated in 1994, the award is given annually by AEM's forestry, earthmoving and excavator statistics committee in honour of the late Dick Harris, who developed the statistics program in the 1970s and 1980s.