MACH 2018 set to form gateway to the UK market

The show will take place on the atrium side of the NEC, in Halls 17, 18, 19, 20, 6 and 7. This is the first move of the show since relocating to the NEC when it opened in 1976 and reflects the changing technologies the show covers.

The new halls mean the show will take place in a single uninterrupted space on one level, making the show easier to navigate for visitors and providing a unique opportunity to showcase the full range of manufacturing technologies in the UK under one roof.

James Selka, CEO of Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), which organises MACH 2018 on behalf of the industry, said: “The shift in technology towards a more digitised, automated model of manufacturing is an exciting evolution of the sector, and MACH is at the forefront. As such, we as owners and organisers have decided to refresh the show and enhance the exhibitor and visitor experience by moving to this new location in 2018.”

The 2016 edition of the exhibition was hugely successful, boasting sold-out exhibitor space, a 10% increase in visitors on 2014 and over £150 million worth of business attributed to the show.

The overriding theme running through the show is interconnected technology and the future of manufacturing. MACH showcases live working machinery and brings together the industry’s finest manufacturers across a range of technologies including: milling, turning, metrology, additive manufacturing, tooling and Industry 4.0 technologies.

As well as all the technology on show, there is a vibrant seminar programme, which includes leading speakers from academia, as well as industry, marrying together the theoretical and practical aspects of 21st century manufacturing. With live demonstrations and a packed seminar programme, MACH 2018 is the place to get business done.

So far, 90% of exhibitor space has been allocated for the show, a positive reflection of the health of the UK manufacturing market.

James Fudge, head of events at the MTA, said: “MACH is a great barometer for judging the health of the UK’s manufacturing sector, and with 90% of exhibition space already sold, eight months before the show opens, we can gauge that our exhibitors are buoyant. Exhibitions are a fantastic way to do business, and we feel we have created the perfect environment for that to happen at MACH 2018.”

International visitors are encouraged to take advantage of MACH 2018’s prime location at the NEC, adjacent to Birmingham International Airport which operates regular flights from Europe, Asia and America.

There are numerous hotels on the NEC site and the exhibition is a mere 10 minutes away by foot and monorail from the arrivals gate at Birmingham International Airport. Also, on the same site is Birmingham International railway station with regular connections to both the north and south of the UK. Central London can be reached in just over one hour and the centre of the England’s second City, Birmingham, is a just ten minutes away.

Large contingents of international visitors, including many from all over Europe, attended MACH 2016, as well as substantial trade delegations from China, Russia and Turkey.

Mr Selka concluded: “MACH 2018 is in the perfect location for international visitors, with great transport links connecting Birmingham to the world. The UK has an exciting and vibrant advanced manufacturing sector and a reputation for innovation - MACH is the perfect entry point into the UK market, so come and see that the UK is open for business.”

MACH www.machexhibition.com

MTA www.mta.org.uk