With almost 500 exhibitors and more than 5000 tonnes of
working machinery, MACH 2012 offers visitors the
opportunity to see some of the very best of British,
European and global manufacturing technology. Paul
O’Donnell, head of external affairs at the Manufacturing
Technologies Association (MTA) outlines what visitors can
expect of the show, which celebrates its centenary this year

Here at the Manufacturing
Technologies Association (MTA) we
are very excited about staging what
promises to be one of the biggest and best
MACH exhibitions in recent memory. This
enthusiasm is increasingly rubbing off on
exhibitors and visitors alike as the exhibition,
which takes place from 16-20 April 2012,
moves ever closer.

Visitors attending MACH will not only see
the latest in metalcutting, forming and
grinding that has long been at the heart of the
exhibition but will also be able to experience
emerging technologies and new processes
from a host of world class companies. From
additive manufacturing to industrial laser
applications and advanced CAD/CAM to the
latest developments in metrology, MACH has
it all.

As well as working machinery and new
technology, MACH 2012 will feature a
vibrant Education and Training zone
designed to further the MTA’s goal of
promoting engineering-based manufacturing
as a career to bright, young
engineers. The zone will
feature the AMRC’s
MANTRA 3D
manufacturing simulator as
well as Bloodhound, the
supersonic car being built
to showcase British
engineering capability –
and in the process break
the 1000mph barrier.

An insightful and
informative
seminarWprogramme
will also feature and will
offer networking
opportunities for
participants to meet the speakers and learn
how they can put into practice what they
have heard. The seminars continue the
MACH 2012 theme of providing sector
specific applications for new technologies and
processes and will be a busy part of the event.

Some of the equipment will be on show for
first time in the UK and, in some instances,
the very first time anywhere in the world.

For example, Mills CNC will be bringing
out their big guns in the form of 16 Doosan
machine tools. These include a large number
of large-capacity machines which are making
their MACH debuts.

Ward CNC has also confirmed that big is
beautiful as they will have six large-capacity
machines filling the massive 500m2 display
area. They will also be launching new
products.

Yamazaki Mazak, manufacturer of metal
cutting machine tools, will have seven
machines at MACH 2012 and all will be livecutting
throughout the show.

Sandvik Coromant, a cutting tool and
tooling systems specialist, will use MACH
2012 to showcase a number of new
innovations such as exhibiting the world’s
fastest solid carbide drill.

Also in attendance will be Hardinge
Machine Tools sponsored Jenny Tinmouth,
the only female in the 2012 MCE Insurance
British Superbike Championship. Jenny will
be on the Hardinge stand to meet visitors.

While MACH celebrates its centenary this
year, another piece of history will be present
in the form of Engine Burrell 3166 ‘Joe
Chamberlain’. The engine, built in 1909 has
been meticulously rebuilt and restored by
Bartlett Engineering using MTA member’s
technology.

In short, the entire manufacturing process
from design to manufacture will be on
display. This should ensure that whatever you
are looking for, you will find it at MACH
2012 on our world class stage at
Birmingham’s NEC.