MACH 2020 and opportunities for manufacturing technology providers

Following on from the huge success of MACH 2018, which has already had upwards of £200m worth of business attributed to it, the next edition of the show is looking to build on that success, and two new zones have been announced - Automation Zone, and a new Training Zone.

James Fudge, Head of Events at the MTA said: “MACH remains the market leader in the UK for manufacturing technologies exhibitions because we continue to refine our show and create a fertile environment for our exhibitors to do business. For the 2020 show, we have added new zones to the floor plans, so you will be able to continue to see a complete picture of the UK’s manufacturing sector.”

New zones
The two new zones added to the floor plans for MACH 2020 aim to give a fuller picture to the UK market. The new Automation Zone, as well as a branded new Training Zone, which will appear alongside the already established Education & Development Zone, to enable visitors to get a flavour of what a career in advanced engineering is like.

The Training Zone will present a clear picture of how visitors can upskill their current work force. With this in mind, MACH 2020 is pleased to announce that the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Engineering, based at its £10 million Telford Innovation Campus, is the first institution signed‐up to attend.

The University has a growing reputation for excellence in aerospace engineering and motorsport, and is the only University race team to compete in the national Formula 3 Championship. Facilities at Telford Campus include a High Value Manufacturing Suite, Composite Materials Lab, Wind Tunnel and Additive Manufacturing Suite.

James Selka, CEO of the MTA, said: “We are delighted to confirm the University of Wolverhampton will be at MACH 2020. It is our mission to keep pushing boundaries within the sector, and the only way to do this is through high-quality education and application of those skills. Wolverhampton has a growing reputation as a top-class institution and shares our values for promoting, developing and harnessing the skills of UK engineers.”

Syed Hasan, Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We are really pleased to be attending MACH 2020. It is the perfect platform for us to showcase the excellent facilities and the range of engineering and manufacturing courses we offer at our Telford Innovation Campus.

“Manufacturing Technology is something we’re very focused on, and being at the UK’s market-leading exhibition will provide additional opportunities for us to engage with future talent in order to help address the skills gap in the manufacturing and engineering sectors.”

MACH 2020 will take place between 20–24^th April at the NEC in Birmingham and it is now the right time for manufacturing technologies suppliers to start formulating their plans for how they’re planning to be there.

The MTA was pleased to see that the recent Budget announcement included the expansion of the Annual Investment Allowance from £200,000 to £1,000,000. This was a specific ‘ask’ from the MTA and will make investing in new equipment at MACH 2020 more cost-effective for the vast majority of visitors.

The show provides exhibitors with a real return on their investment by delivering an engaged audience with real purchasing power. Fudge assured there is a lot more to come with MACH 2020.

Whilst at the university, the MTA expressed their happiness about its partnership with the University of Wolverhampton, and sponsoring the university Formula E team.

A spokesperson from the university came and spoke to the audience about the importance of getting students into the industry.

He said: “We need to get it out there that students need to be able to do some work in industry whilst they are studying. It is about getting the opportunities for them out there, so they are learning these key skills that are needed to succeed in the industry. We are trying to deliver industry ready graduates here, and with that we welcome people, the public and partners through the door to contribute.”

Hasan concluded the day by saying: “The challenge is helping the next-generation who will be serving this country, so for this we need to be thinking out of the box. Here at The University of Wolverhampton we are not cutting the corners, we are working hard around the clock, but we are only able to do that with support.”