Editor’s comment: April 2018

Not surprisingly perhaps, my comment this month will be distinctly MACH related as we all look forward to the showcase event taking place at the NEC from April 9-13.

We have a number of excellent trade shows that have established themselves in the UK. The good thing for prospective exhibitors is that there’s now an event to suit just about any company and budget. Southern and Northern Manufacturing have gone from strength to strength; Advanced Engineering has evolved into a popular event every November and then there’s Subcon, the Farnborough Airshow and TCT of course, not to mention EMO, AMB and IMTS for those looking for more global exposure.

I think MACH however is woven into the very fabric of UK manufacturing. Its longevity is unrivalled and it’s the one show on the UK calendar where the exhibitor list reads like a ‘who’s who’ of UK manufacturers – large and small. In some ways I wish I’d been doing this job in the heyday of British Manufacturing; I understand the show spanned a fortnight during those glory years and even extended into the weekends. That of course stems from a time when we manufactured what we sold. Must have been a really impressive sight.

Today though, MACH continues to evolve and the departure away from the traditional hall 4/5 layout towards a somewhat harder to remember hall 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20 format is a big deal. It’s hard to please everyone but because there were concerns expressed in the past about ‘graveyard’ areas with the old layout, the MTA listened and restructured the entire format. For the 2018 event, things will be much more linear. A level playing field quite literally.

Having visited EMO last year in Hannover and witnessed its impact there, I’m looking forward to seeing how much Industry 4.0 will influence MACH 2018. Judging by the press releases I’ve received, and the content in those articles, I think its presence will be massive. For companies unsure what Industry 4.0 is all about, I’m sure the show will provide some clarification.

I know the MTA, in conjunction with the AMRC’s Factory 2050, will be showcasing an exhibit at MACH that will focus on connected manufacturing, highlighting real-life examples and practical demonstrations on how companies can embrace the technology without breaking the bank. Interesting stuff.

PES will be out in force at the show so please do pop along to stand 104 in hall 19 and say hello. A warm welcome is guaranteed and, to inject a little humour into proceedings, we’ll have a caricature artist on the stand from the Monday until Thursday.

See you there!

Dave Tudor Editorial Director