EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Inspiring, Innovating and Connecting Manufacturing

As the UK’s longest-running exhibition of its kind, MACH 2026 brings together over 500 exhibitors to showcase a broad range of manufacturing technology solutions. The show’s unique scale and scope make it an essential event for the sector, providing a platform for innovation, collaboration and industry insight. The five-day event provides attendees with a not-to-be-missed opportunity to explore the latest advances.

MACH 2026 (NEC Birmingham, 20-24 April) offers live technology demonstrations, expert-led insights, and practical, sector-specific solutions. Attendees leave equipped with actionable knowledge and inspiration to enhance their businesses and drive innovation, helping them find solutions to their manufacturing challenges and prepare for the future. The event also features an inspiring free seminar programme led by industry experts.

More information www.machexhibition.com

Milestone Reached

Over 250 manufacturing leaders have now been equipped to lead digital transformation through Made Smarter North West’s flagship skills programmes. The milestone reflects growing demand among SME manufacturers to invest in people as well as technology.At the heart of this achievement are Made Smarter’s two flagship leadership programmes, Leading Digital Transformation (LDT), a three-month course for senior leaders to develop digital strategies, and Leading Change for Digital Champions (LCDC), a shorter programme equipping operational teams to deliver change on the ground.

More information www.bit.ly/4s50e9b

€1m Global Expansion

An Exeter, UK-based large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) machinemanufacturer is targeting a €1m global expansion after it put pen to paper on a new deal with Aivox. Rapid Fusion, which is already supplying its solutions to customers in Australia, Dubai, Greece and the US, is looking to break into the Italian market by joining forces with one of the country’s leading innovation and technology experts.An exclusive partnership agreement has been signed that will see the firms unite to showcase Rapid Fusion’s range of LFAM systems to clients involved in architecture, fashion, medtech and the vast Italian naval market.

More information www.rapidfusion.co.uk

GE Aerospace to invest €110m across European sites

GE Aerospace plans to invest more than €110m across its European manufacturing sites this year as the company seeks to expand production capacity, accelerate advanced manufacturing and strengthen delivery for customers. The move includes plans to hire more than 1000 new workers across Europe in 2026.Investments will be made across five European countries, including the UK, which will receive €10m to upgrade test and manufacturing equipment, expand component manufacturing capabilities, and modernise building and infrastructure across multiple sites.

More information www.geaerospace.com

Success for ‘Breaking into Defence’ event

More than 60 ambitious manufacturers from the West Midlands gathered recently for a special event designed to accelerate SME participation in international defence markets and strengthen the UK’s sovereign defence capability. ‘Breaking into Defence: Enter Overseas Markets with the MoD’, was delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice to address key priorities championed by Make UK Defence.

These priorities include supporting smaller manufacturers to become export-ready, building resilient domestic supply chains and ensuring UK innovation is embedded within global defence programmes. Backed by business support programmes across the West Midlands (including the Investment Readiness Programme), the event provided SMEs with direct access to MoD export specialists, global primes and regional growth advisers.

More information www.oxfordinnovationadvice.co.uk