That's show business

mly into touch and silenced the naysayers.

Well perhaps I am being a bit melodramatic but it was an excellent show wasn’t it? For the first time ever I wore a pedometer for the three and a half days I was at the show and managed to cover a sole destroying 23 miles! Lots of people to see. Lots of places to go.

Although I’m a relative newcomer to MACH events – this was only my fourth show – this was easily the most positive since 2008 by a country mile. I remember standing at the top of the stairs to hall 4 looking down on hall 5 thinking this is really busy with bustling aisles and enthusiastic visitors. I hope this unbridled enthusiasm translates into healthy sales for all the exhibitors concerned. Hall 4 was a particular highlight for me this year – it was positively vibrant.

I think what really shone through during the show was that the optimistic mood transcended across all elements of our industry – from machine tools and sawing equipment, through to metrology products, tooling and software. Many companies are continuing to enjoy record levels of sales and are investing in new equipment and staff to keep up with demand.

Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the show (he’s becoming something of a regular now) on behalf of the Government and used the high profile platform to launch the latest round of the Government’s flagship AMSCI Programme which will see a further £100 million committed to helping UK supply chains compete globally.

He commented: “MACH provided a good opportunity to see the latest advances in manufacturing technology and meet the people behind them for myself. If the manufacturing renaissance is to endure, the Government needs to give business the confidence to invest which is what we are doing through our Industrial Strategy.”

Can’t argue with that. MACH 2016 anyone?