Quality Expo Detroit, the only U.S. trade event exclusively focused on quality solutions for manufacturers, brought 3,535 industry professionals together to do business June 9 to 10 at the Novi Expo Center (Novi, MI).

With seven models topping their vehicle segments and Lexus ranking highest among nameplates, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc. captures the top corporate ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).

Business news from the quality industry.

Ametek Inc. has acquired Taylor Hobson Holdings Ltd., a manufacturer of ultra-precision measurement instrumentation for a variety of markets, including optics, semiconductors, hard disk drives and nanotechnology research.

Zetec Inc., a full-solution supplier of nondestructive evaluation (NDE) solutions in the power generation industry has acquired the Power Generation Business of R/D Tech Inc. (Quebec).

March U.S. machine-tool consumption totaled $272.34 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and The Association For Manufac-turing Technology (AMT).

More than 60 manufacturing associations nationwide have joined forces to warn policymakers of a growing crisis for small manufacturers.

At $122.7 million, first quarter 2004 shipments of industrial laser equipment and systems for North America and U.S. exports were up approximately 40% from first quarter 2003.

Business news from the quality industry.

The long delayed recovery in manufacturing should maintain a robust growth trend throughout 2004.