INDUSTRY NEWS
MACH 2022 powers ahead
Heading into 2022 , the UK ’ s manufacturing and engineering community is looking forward to MACH 2022 , the UK ’ s national manufacturing event , and the new Engineering Supply Chain show . MACH will take place from 4-8 April 2022 at the NEC ( Birmingham , UK ) against a backdrop of 130 % capital allowance incentives for UK manufacturers making qualifying plant and machinery investments . Add in the COP26 global summit held recently in the UK , focusing attention on the importance of tackling climate change , and 2022 is set to be a momentous year .
MACH is owned by the Manufacturing Technologies Association ( MTA ), a not-forprofit organisation . It has attracted 25,000 visitors and more than 600 exhibitors in the past . The Engineering Supply Chain will launch alongside MACH , taking place from 5-7 April 2022 , and is aimed at engineering and manufacturing buyers looking to find suppliers in the UK engineering and manufacturing supply chain .
“ The 2022 events are designed to not just be a showcase for the manufacturing technologies sector , but a celebration of the manufacturing industry at its best – the development of the digital factory , new automation solutions and connected manufacturing processes , power by the hour and the cost efficiency solutions that will dramatically improve production processes and help shape the industry over the next decade ,” said the MTA .
James Fudge , head of operations at the MTA , added : “ With the COP26 global summit focusing attention on the importance of tackling climate change , the green agenda has never been more relevant to UK manufacturers . Manufacturers have a key role to play in helping to achieve the goals outlined by the Glasgow summit , which is why there will be a strong focus on the opportunities presented by decarbonisation during MACH 2022 .”
“ The exhibition will place a strong emphasis on developing sustainable energy solutions , carbon reduction technology and much more . The desire to achieve sustainable manufacturing processes is now
James Selka DL , CEO of the MTA .
In the halls at MACH . within our grasp and the latest engineering and manufacturing technologies are massively contributing to the ‘ greening up ’ of the industry . We stand at the threshold of a new era for green manufacturing with the processes required to achieve sustainability no longer a dream , but a reality . The opportunities this creates for the manufacturing technologies industry is immense ,” he explained .
“ Generous UK government support packages in the form of the Annual Investment Allowance of £ 1m , the super deduction capital allowance incentive and the extension of R & D tax credit to include cloud computing and research data costs all encourage vital investment . Never have the latest technologies been more powerful , more affordable and financeable as they are now , even factoring in modest increases in interest rates . It is up to us to grasp these opportunities and MACH 2022 will be an important guide in helping us to achieve this ,” added James Selka DL , CEO of the MTA .
Since bringing the Engineering Industries Association ( EIA ) on board as part of the
MTA family earlier this year , work has been ongoing to shine a spotlight on the UK engineering supply chain during MACH 2022 .
“ We would like to see a more sustainable approach to the UK supply chain , with more intelligent sourcing of product from within the UK . Encouragingly , many companies from within the UK are already looking at reshoring . The Engineering Supply Chain Exhibition , a show within a show , is launching for the first time at MACH 2022 and is intended to highlight some of the opportunities that can be found within the UK supply chain ,” explained Selka .
MACH 2022 will host a dedicated Education & Development Zone featuring a host of special exhibits and workshops . The zone has specifically been created to inspire youngsters , stimulate their imagination and encourage them to pursue a career in a fastmoving , technology-driven industry .
James Selka concluded : “ There are three key things businesses need to improve productivity and therefore competitiveness ; the latest technology , the finance to acquire the technology and the skills to acquire and deploy them . MACH and The Engineering Supply Chain show will provide visitors with a unique opportunity – the first for a long time – to achieve all these targets with one visit to one venue . We look forward to welcoming the UK ’ s manufacturing and engineering community to the NEC in April 2022 .” n
www . machexhibition . com
12 | sheetmetalplus . com | ISMR December 2021 / January 2022