The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) held its Industry Summit Oct. 23–25 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. The event, themed “Spurring Connections,” brought together nearly 450 distributors and manufacturers from the power transmission and motion control industry to exchange information and discuss industry priorities.
(From left to right) Ann Arnott, PTDA EVP/CEO facilitates Channel Check: Talk From Both Sides of the Table with panelists Joe Kahn, SKF USA; Craig Pellin, Nexen Group Inc.; Brian Nowak, Kurz Industrial Solutions and Mike Pulley, Bartlett Bearing Company Inc.
Over three days, attendees engaged in sessions, collaborative discussions and peer networking designed to fuel growth and innovation across the channel.
Sessions explored AI, market data and industry challenges
From the opening keynote to the closing, education sessions reflected the fast-changing realities of business and technology:
- Winning with AI: In the opening keynote, former Amazon executive Trent Gillespie challenged leaders to see artificial intelligence (AI) not as another tool, but as a new operating system for business. He urged PT/MC companies to “invent their own future” by empowering employees to experiment, learn and use AI to transform operations, customer engagement and innovation.
- AI in Action: In a PT/MC-focused panel moderated by Brooks Hamilton, leaders from ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc., The Timken Company, Bearing Service Inc. and Apex Industrial Automation LLC shared real-world case studies showing how AI is driving measurable gains, from productivity and predictive analytics to engineering efficiency. The message: AI success depends on experimentation, data readiness and empowering people—not replacing them.
- Size of the Market: Tom Gale of MDM Analytics previewed findings from PTDA’s updated 2025 Size of the Market Report, revealing a $104 billion North American PT/MC market and underscoring the enduring strength of distribution as the channel of choice. Attendees learned how to apply the data to identify white-space opportunities and benchmark their performance.
- Channel Check: A candid panel discussion moderated by PTDA EVP/CEO Ann Arnott explored findings from Voices from the Channel: Insights to Improve Partnerships. Distributor leaders from Bartlett Bearing Company Inc. and Kurz Industrial Solutions joined manufacturer leaders from Nexen Group Inc. and SKF USA to discuss how transparency, clear roles and consistent communication build trust and drive stronger joint growth.
- Economic Outlook: Sean Metcalfe of Oxford Economics delivered a data-rich look at global and North American industrial trends, highlighting ongoing tariff impacts, regional slowdowns and how investment in AI and high-tech manufacturing may sustain growth even as the industrial sector faces near-term headwinds.
(From left to right) Delegates J.R. Hogan, Bearing Headquarters Co.; John McAleer, RBI Bearing and Jimmy Timble, Bearing Headquarters Co. enjoy the Farewell Event at the PTDA Industry Summit on October 25, 2025.
Networking opportunities for attendees
The Industry Summit also offered opportunities for attendees to build relationships. PTDA’s Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange, or MD-IDEX, provided scheduled time for current and prospective channel partners to hold one-on-one conversations. General receptions, along with events for women in the industry and first-time attendees, as well as hospitality gatherings and informal meetups throughout the resort, created additional settings for introductions and networking.
PTDA will hold the 2026 Industry Summit on Oct. 28–30 at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. Registration opens in June 2026.
For more information, visit ptda.org.
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