With nearly 100 exhibitors packing into the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, the main theme of the event, which runs across two days, will be production and production support technology, taking in machine tools, tooling, workholding, inspection, robotics and software. There's a full conference and workshop programme supporting the exhibition floor, too.
Manufacturing and engineering are at the heart of the North East's economy. Over 10,000 SME manufacturing sites operate within 100 miles of Newcastle and, with inward investment from larger manufacturers such as Nissan in Sunderland and now Hitachi Rail Europe in County Durham, the heartbeat is stronger than ever.
Further, independent market research and interviews with over 200 manufacturing and engineering decision makers from the North East confirms a demand for a new type of manufacturing and engineering event.
The timing of MENE couldn't be better; there's political momentum behind a 'Northern Powerhouse' vision as part of efforts to rebalance the country's economic activity away from the London-centric one that it has become. To deliver this vision, cities in the north must better connect and co-operate, for worldwide it is cities that are the major wealth generators – the top 600 cities in the world contain just 20% of global population but create 60% of global GDP.
Realising the potential in the north is being driven politically through four areas of action: the provision of modern transport connections; the backing of science and universities; supporting creative clusters; and allowing local power and control.
Although launching a new exhibition in the region can be achieved pretty quickly, the politics will take somewhat longer to deliver the grand vision. But, in its way, MENE represents a small step along the path, providing a local exhibition that fills the region's largest exhibition venue and acknowledges both the importance and the potential of the area.