MACH 2014: New business for many

The figure has emerged from an analysis of exhibitors’ feedback following Britain’s biggest manufacturing technologies event.

James Selka, chief executive officer of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (owner and organiser of MACH) says: "This increase in the value of business attributed to the MACH 2014 Exhibition is tremendous news and supports the very positive comments we have received from exhibitors since the show. I congratulate all the businesses that exhibited at MACH this year and wish them further success in building on the marketing opportunities that the Exhibition generated. 

"The MTA has already started on work to make MACH 2016 an even greater success and I look forward to unveiling our plans in the near future.”

The very positive figure for business attributed to MACH 2014 builds on strong visitor numbers, which at over 23,000 were 10% up on the last show. A record 612 exhibitors took space in Halls 4 and 5 of the NEC Birmingham for the five day event. Immediately afterwards exhibitors reported that the quality of enquiries and value of orders placed had both been very encouraging. The success of MACH 2014 underlines the growing strength of the UK’s engineering-based manufacturing sector.

A highlight of MACH 2014 was the visit by Business Secretary Dr Vince Cable MP who toured the show and held a round table with business leaders to discuss investment, skills, Europe and the problems experienced by SMEs trying to fund growth projects. Dr Cable’s visit concluded with a speech to exhibitors, visitors and the media emphasising the importance to the UK economy of the engineering based manufacturing sector.