MTA survey shows engineering-based manufacturing strengthening

Although the outlook for the UK and global economy is uncertain, there are good reasons to believe that demand for manufacturing technology equipment in the UK will continue to be strong in 2012, says the organisation, which is "the UK trade association for the manufacturing technologies industry, promoting the use and innovation of advanced technology in manufacturing". "In the current economic climate, the role of manufacturing has become more important than ever. We continue to show growth and we're aiming to pull the economy along," says Simon Pollard, MTA president and managing director at Kyal Machine Tools Ltd. Next year will see the biennial MACH show, organised by the MTA, and the organisation reports that industry's performance is also driving stand space uptake for the show, to be held at Birmingam's NEC, April 16-20 next year The MTA reports that NEC Hall 5 is almost sold out and stand bookings for Hall 4 are coming in "thick and fast". Exhibition space sales are 23% higher than they were for MACH 2010, it is underlined. Many engineering firms that hesitated to exhibit 2010 have now returned, the MTA reports. "We have decided to come back to MACH, as we feel the 2012 event is a must – the economy is improving and the manufacturing sector is making a lot of the running," said Richard Kingsbury, managing director at Geo Kingsbury Machine Tools Ltd. Barry Long, managing director, Röhm GB Ltd, supported this, saying: "After the market uncertainty in 2009/10, Röhm is pleased to be exhibiting at MACH 2012, as we see this as a good platform to build on our established business and to take benefit from an improving industrial market." For the first time MACH will have a distinctly sector-specific feel, with key products targeted directly at industries that include aerospace, automotive and power generation, in a way that will help visitors easily find what they are looking for, the organisers add.