Full definition
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), now known as the Association for Rubber Products Manufacturers (ARPM) after a 2020 name change, is the US-based trade association representing manufacturers of rubber products: belts, hoses, gaskets, seals, flooring, and industrial rubber goods. ARPM publishes technical standards and engineering guides that are primary references throughout the Americas: IP-20 (classic V-belts), IP-22 (narrow V-belts), IP-24 (synchronous belts), IP-26 (Poly-V belts), hose standards (for hydraulic, industrial, and material handling hoses), and engineering manuals (belt drive design procedures, with power rating tables and correction factors). ARPM also publishes the Power Transmission Belt Handbook — the definitive North American reference for belt drive engineering. ARPM standards are developed by technical committees with manufacturer and user participation and are recognized by ANSI. In Mexico and LATAM: ARPM/RMA standards are the primary reference for belt selection and drive design, alongside ISO and DIN. Belt manufacturers (Gates, Continental, Optibelt) reference ARPM standards in their North American catalogs. ARPM members include major manufacturers: Gates, Continental, Dayco, Fenner, Jason Industrial, and others. Headquarters: Indianapolis, Indiana.