Industry representative bodies from China, Japan, the US and Europe have agreed to enhance co-operation on issues of mutual interest.

Industry members worldwide signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at the CeMAT on Tuesday to form the World Materials Handling Alliance to enhance the collaboration among regional bodies for the benefit of the industry.

Signatories to the initiative consisted of Chinese technological enterprise BMHRI; the Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society (CMES); the European Materials Handling Federation (FEM); the Japan Institute of Material Handling (JIMH); and MHI, formerly known as Material Handling Industry of America.

FEM president Jan van der Velden, who hosted the meeting, says: "FEM is proud to be among the founding members of this Alliance. Our respective manufacturers can only gain from exchanging and getting to know each other better. BMHRI, CMES, FEM, JIMH and MHI are committed to making this initiative a success."

The trade representatives first signed informal contracts to collaborate at CeMAT in Hannover in 2011.

With the MoU, the partners from China, Japan, the US and Europe commit to enhance co-operation on issues of mutual interest. They will share information on markets (publicly available data on production and trade of materials handling equipment), on regulatory requirements and standards for placing equipment on the market.

They will also exchange information on trends that influence the application of materials handling solutions worldwide.

Founded in October 1958, BMHRI represents China's materials handling machinery industry bodies, including China Hoisting and Conveying Equipment Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, China Passenger Aerial Ropeway Safety Supervision and Inspection Center, China Hoisting Machinery Standardisation Technical Committee, China Continuous Handling Machinery Standardisation Technical Committee, China Industrial Truck Standardisation Technical Committee, China Logistics And Warehousing Equipment Standardisation Technical Committee, Logistics Engineering Institution, CMES andLogistics and Warehousing Equipment Institution of China Heavy Machinery Industry Association.

Founded in 1936, CMES is one of the largest Chinese engineering societies. Under CMES, there are 33 technical institutions; 180,000 members, including more than 3,000 senior members; over 500 members from overseas and Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan; and over 4,000 corporate members. Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society has joined 11 international organisations on behalf of China and has signed bilateral co-operation agreements with 42 leading academic institutions and professional organisations in 25 countries.

Created in 1953, FEM represents, defends and promotes European manufacturers of materials handling, lifting and storage equipment. FEM speaks for 15 members representing some 1,000 companies (mostly SMEs) employing 160,000 people directly.

Established in 2008, the Japan Institute of Material Handling represents, defends and promotes Japanese manufacturers of materials handling, conveyor and storage equipment, specialised in highly integrated FA/DC systems. JIMH speaks for 72 companies employing 20,000 people directly.

MHI, based in the US, is an international trade association that has represented the materials handling and logistics industry since 1945. Its members include materials handling, logistics and supply chain equipment and systems manufacturers, integrators, consultants, publishers and third-party logistics providers. MHI offers education, networking and solution sourcing for members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming and events. The association sponsors trade events such as ProMat and MODEX to showcase the products and services of its member companies.