EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

London press launch for MACH 2026

Located next to Somerset House on the banks of the River Thames, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) provided the backdrop for the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) to launch MACH 2026. The next edition of the UK’s largest exhibition for machine tools and manufacturing technologies will take place on 20-24 April 2026 at the Birmingham NEC, where 30,000+ attendees are expected.

More than 65% of the show’s floorplan is already taken, 16 months ahead of the event. The key theme for the 2026 edition will be unprecedented support from key industry associations such as Make UK, the MMMA, GTMA, BTMA, PTMA, Automate UK, Composites UK, BPF, BFPA, HVMC, and the Catapult Centres. Among key speakers at the press launch was Professor Rab Scott (pictured) of the IET’s Digital Futures Policy Centre.

More information www.machexhibition.com

AMRC Cymru celebrates five years

AMRC Cymru says it has become a ‘national asset’ since opening five years ago with a mission to supercharge Welsh manufacturing through advanced technologies and world-leading research. Based in a £20m applied research centre in Broughton, funded by the Welsh Government, AMRC Cymru is managed by the University of Sheffield and is part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult.

Since opening on 28 November 2019, the research centre has made a significant impact on industry, having worked with more than 100 businesses to help make things faster, cheaper and greener. Notably, it has delivered in excess of 20 programmes teaching companies how to measure their energy use digitally.

More information www.amrc.co.uk/cymru

NADCAP Gold Merit

The Wallwork Group’s aerospace heat treatment site in Bury has been accredited with NADCAP Gold Merit Status. The site, one of four, comprises 8361 m² of processing space. The company is the largest independent aerospace heat treater in the UK, offering 117 thermal processes. To achieve Gold Merit, Wallwork had to achieve two consecutive accreditations of 18 months each without any major non-conformance reports and with less than seven days of cumulative delinquency. Achieving a merit level is only the start. Constant vigilance is required to maintain the systems that support it.

More information www.wallworkht.co.uk

TextureJet partnership

Nottingham, UK-based TextureJet is commencing a partnership with Dynatec SMV, an industrial equipment supplier based in Norway. TextureJet has installed its Stat and JetWrite machines to help Dynatec with its surface processing in a demanding application. TextureJet utilises a highly localised variant of electrochemical machining, known as electrochemical jet machining, to change the surface texture of components. Dynatec is currently optimising the nozzle design to accelerate and improve the material removal process in combination with TextureJet’s engineering team.

More information www.texturejet.com

EMO hub for technology start-ups

EMO organiser, the VDW, in conjunction with VDMA Startup-Machine Services, is once again sending out invitations to start-ups all over the world to exhibit at EMO, Europe’s largest trade fair for production technology. Taking place in Hanover from 22 to 26 September 2025, young companies will have an opportunity to network with established suppliers from industry and showcase their innovations. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) is supporting the ‘Start-up Area’ at EMO by providing funding for the ‘Young Innovators’ programme.

More information www.emo-hannover.com/startup-area