NETWORK FOR SUCCESS


This year’s MACH exhibition in April, and AWD’s Welding World Village, was a great success.


THE MACH 2014 EXHIBITION, the UK’s largest manufacturing technologies event, attracted over 23,000 visitors and a record 612 exhibitors from 7-11 April 2014 in Birmingham. The Welding World Village, which AWD hosted during the exhibition, was also a great success. A number of AWD members and Welding World Village supporters launched a variety of new products and technologies at the show. “The success of MACH 2014 underscores the growing


TheMACH


2014exhibition, the UK’slargest manufacturing technologies’ event,


attracted over 23,000


visitors and a record 612


exhibitors


strength of the UK’s engineering-based manufacturing sector,” commented the MTA (Manufacturing Technologies Association), organiser of the MACH exhibition. “The exhibition was opened by former world land speed record holder, Richard Noble OBE, who went on to tour the exhibition. He later gave a presentation on progress with his Bloodhound Supersonic Car project.” Richard was joined at the opening ceremony by


Mark Ridgway OBE, President, Manufacturing Technologies Association, and Stephen Pegge, Director of SME Markets, Lloyds Banking Group.


.


Supply chain networking The UK’s Business Secretary, Dr Vince Cable MP, toured the show and held a roundtable with business leaders to discuss investment, skills, Europe and the problems experienced by SMEs trying to fund growth projects. He concluded his visit by delivering a speech to exhibitors, visitors and the media in a packed seminar theatre. Dr Cable used MACH 2014 to launch the latest round of


the UK government’s flagship AMSCI programme which will see a further £100m committed to helping UK supply chains compete globally. Iain Wright MP, UK Shadow Minister for Manufacturing,


The AWD Board, with Mike Hill and Stephen McPartland MP at MACH 2014


also attended MACH to hear from manufacturers first-hand about what they want from government as well as what the sector believes it can contribute.


MTAPresident, Mark Ridgway (left), escorts Business Secretary Vince Cable around theMACH2014 exhibition


Left to right: Business Secretary Vince Cable and Mazak Group Managing Director, Europe


“He heard how vitally important it is for manufacturing’s


future to obtain long term commitment from across the political spectrum on issues like capital allowances; support for R&D; help to internationalise and, perhaps most importantly, a fit-for-purpose educational and skills system,” explained the MTA.


New zones and seminars One of the themes of MACH 2014 was encouraging young people to consider a career in engineering and, in particular, the manufacturing technologies sector. The Education & Training Zone was visited by 3,000 students during the show and more than half of them were given conducted tours of the exhibition by apprentices from exhibiting companies. The seminar programme at MACH 2014 examined the


rapidly developing field of 3D printing and additive manufacturing (AM). ChrisWilliams of Empire Cycles set the scene by describing the titanium bike. Aerospace manufacturer, Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, in


a separate seminar, explained its supply chain requirements at MACH 2014. Outlining opportunities in its supply chain, the manufacturer joined 600 other technology companies using MACH 2014 as an opportunity to meet current and future supply chain partners. The seminar was led by Pat Thomas, Head of UK Procurement, who provided an overview of the general supply chain landscape in the aerospace industry, as well as the specific requirements of Messier-Bugatti-Dowty. This year’s MACH event covered the full range of metal


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working sectors including new composite and additive manufacturing (3D printing) zones as well as a new component cleaning zone. Another new feature of MACH was the UK Manufacturing Zone. This zone attracted a number of Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to demonstrate the breadth of their requirements. There was also a new dedicated zone for Logistics and Materials Handling – the product of a new partnership for MACH with IMHX, the lead show in that sector, held in non-MACH years.


MACH OVERVIEW


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