5% growth in MACH visitors

The MTA, which owns and organises the MACH exhibition, says that the number of trade visitors to this year’s show was up 5% on the equivalent figure for the last edition in 2016.

Mach Exhibition 2018 NEC Birmingham Pictures by Paul Thomas Photographic Ltd Tel 07773 340 163
Email info@ptpimages.co.uk
WEB www.ptpimages.co.uk ;

Some 23,125 trade visitors came into the halls at the NEC on 9-13 April. A total of 19,445 of those visitors registered directly with MACH (a 7% increase on 2016), while an additional 3680 registered with one of the co-located exhibitions and visited MACH too. The total number of visitors – including students – who toured the exhibition was 24,654.
Around 10% more machines were lifted into position than in 2016, which helped to drive a 24% increase in the number of visitors who attended for more than one day, up to 1889. Wednesday 11 April was the peak day, with 7331 trade visitors inside the venue. This year saw the exhibition move halls to the newer Atrium side of the NEC, which enabled MACH to be presented in a single space, on one level.
For further information www.machexhibition.com

Industry 4.0-enabled barfeed

Among the latest announcements from 1st MTA at MACH was the availability of an Industry 4.0 connection for any new Iemca barfeed, allowing constant remote analysis of its condition and operation. Data is continuously transmitted via an internet link to a PC, tablet or smartphone.

An Industry 4.0-compliant Boss bar magazine with bundle loader was demonstrated at the show.
Other recent innovations include a 7” LCD touch screen as an alternative to the standard hand held control on most Iemca products; new software on the KID 80+ short magazine that allows synchronous component transfer between the main and sub-spindles at full speed to reduce cycle times; a new Elite barfeed that allows full-length, thin bars down to 0.8 mm diameter to be handled; the Master 80 HD UP, on which bars are loaded at an ergonomic height; and the rail-mounted Caddy rack and bundle system extensions to Boss barfeeds.
For further information www.1mta.com

XYZ ends MACH on a high

“From day one, our stand at MACH was extremely busy and over the week we took orders for 24 machines valued at more than £1m,” states Nigel Atherton, managing director at XYZ Machine Tools. “In addition to these firm orders we logged 640 enquiries, which will lead to more orders in the coming days, weeks and months.”

MACH 2018 saw a number of debuts from XYZ that helped to raise interest. Among these was Robo-Tend, a modular and mobile robot-based cell with vision system that is suitable for use on machining and turning centres. The HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printer was also shown by XYZ for the first time. According to XYZ, the system can improve 3D printing speeds 10-fold. From a machine tool perspective, the UMC-5X five-axis machining centre made its MACH debut, along with a number of other machining centres from XYZ’s Linear Rail and Heavy-Duty ranges.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

3D printing apprenticeships from MTC

The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) is to launch the first apprenticeships in the UK dedicated to providing the skills needed for additive manufacturing.

MTC additive manufacturing apprenticeship programmes, which are set to launch in September, will provide a pipeline of technicians skilled in one of the fastest-growing advanced manufacturing technologies in industry. The MTC’s learning design manager Martin Dury says: “The manufacturing industry is crying out for this and we will be able to make it available in a format that allows people to learn while earning, funded by the apprenticeship levy.”
For further information www.the-mtc.org

Finance firm focuses efforts in Germany

Following a successful launch into Germany, Close Brothers Asset Finance GmbH has refocused its efforts on the engineering/manufacturing and print sectors.

This follows a detailed review of both the team’s activities and customer feedback since launch in June 2017. To support the strategy, the team has been bolstered by highly regarded and experienced sector specialists who have been working to bring Close Brothers Asset Finance’s products and services to a key European market.
“We have already learned a
great deal in our short time operating in Germany,” says Steve Gee (pictured), CEO of Close Brothers Asset Finance’s Industrial Equipment division.
“It’s become clear that our historical business model of operating in specialist sectors translates very well in Germany’s SME market, commonly known as the ‘Mittelstand’, and we are gearing up for continued growth.”
For further information www.closeassetfinance.de