MACH 2026, the UK’s national event for inspiring, innovating and connecting manufacturing, continued the strong momentum generated by the 2024 exhibition, with 26,000 attending the show once again. This generated a terrific atmosphere and energy at the show, with attendees taking advantage of the fantastic opportunity to network and explore all the great features on offer at MACH 2026.
Held at the NEC Birmingham in April, the exhibition once again brought together the very best of UK manufacturing and engineering, featuring an impressive display of new machinery and advanced manufacturing technologies under one roof. More than 500 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge solutions, live demonstrations and new product launches, creating an exciting and forward-looking environment for manufacturers and engineers seeking to invest in technologies shaping the industry’s future.
MACH is owned and organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), which also encompasses a cluster of organisations, including Engineering Supply Chain UK (ESCUK), Additive Manufacturing UK (AMUK) and MTA Training.
Recognised as the industry-leading event for UK manufacturing, MACH brought together suppliers of machine tools, cutting tools, metrology equipment, additive manufacturing (3D printing), surface engineering, robotics and automation, sheet metal, metal forming and fabrication technology, and specialist software. All of which play a key role in enabling and driving the digitalisation of manufacturing.
The show provided attendees with valuable opportunities to explore the benefits of adopting new technologies, alongside practical guidance on improving productivity, increasing efficiency and reducing operational costs. This was particularly relevant considering the difficult trading conditions faced by the UK manufacturing sector.
Seminars
Alongside the wealth of technology on display, the MACH 2026 seminar programme was designed to inform and educate manufacturers, featuring a strong line-up of expert and industry-leading speakers.
The seminars, all of which were CPD-accredited, provided attendees with practical insights into emerging technologies, evolving market trends and strategic approaches that can drive productivity, strengthen competitiveness and unlock new growth opportunities. Complementing the extensive showcase of advanced manufacturing solutions, the sessions also delivered actionable knowledge to help businesses enhance operations, improve efficiency and future-proof their organisations in an increasingly competitive global market.
A new feature at MACH 2026 was the launch of Speakers Corner, a dedicated platform designed to connect attendees directly with exhibitors and their innovations. These fast-paced presentations gave visitors immediate access to the latest products, services and technological advancements driving UK manufacturing forward. The format enabled attendees to quickly absorb new ideas, engage with experts and gain practical answers to their challenges.
The third seminar theatre was dedicated to tooling topics, which remain central to modern manufacturing, from cutting tool materials to tool paths and cutting data. MACH 2026 placed this important sector in the spotlight through a dedicated series of tooling seminars. These expert-led sessions provided attendees with an introduction to the latest innovations and practical solutions shaping the future of tooling within UK manufacturing.
The tooling seminars delivered actionable insights and knowledge to attendees on how to boost throughput, reduce costs and improve quality, whilst demonstrating how to implement new tooling technologies for maximum return on investment.
Together, the main seminar programme, Speakers Corner and tooling presentations created a vibrant centre for learning, debate and industry exchange.
James Selka, CEO of the MTA, said: “Our core focus was to ensure this year’s show was designed to guide and support manufacturers in navigating challenges such as rising operational costs, skills shortages, supply chain disruption and geopolitical uncertainty.
I believe we achieved that, and more, with 26,000 attendees seeking ways to remain competitive in the current challenging and uncertain environment in which we operate.”
MACH snap survey findings revealed
The MTA revealed the results of its latest survey at the launch of MACH 2026, highlighting strong support from manufacturers for reducing the UK’s reliance on international supply chains, particularly in light of ongoing global conflicts and economic uncertainty.
The findings showed that 74% of the 358 participants would be willing to do more to build capacity in key sectors such as defence, energy and transport. However, only a quarter said they could meet increased demand immediately, whilst others indicated it could take up to six months before they would be in a position to help, highlighting a potential supply chain bottleneck if action is not taken now.
Access to funding was identified as the biggest barrier to growth, followed by lack of space, the cost of finance and wider economic uncertainty. Manufacturers called on the Government to support the sovereign manufacturing agenda through grants, enhanced tax incentives and increased support for training.
Overall, the findings suggest that UK manufacturing is ready to respond to growing demand for greater sovereign production capability, but stronger Government support will be needed to help turn ambition into reality.
Show highlights include:
The first day of MACH saw Mission Community, in partnership with the MTA, launch a new industry guide aimed at helping armed forces leavers transition into careers within the manufacturing sector.
Attendees at the seminar theatre also heard from James Cameron of Mission Community about plans to introduce a new industry toolkit designed to help businesses develop veteran-friendly workplace best practices and provide greater support for ex-service personnel entering the industry.
On the second day of the show, headline sponsor Lloyds welcomed senior representatives and met with HMRC following their guided tour of the exhibition. The visits highlighted the scale, innovation and industry significance of the event, whilst providing an opportunity for meaningful discussions around manufacturing, investment and future collaboration.
Day three proved to be the busiest day of MACH 2026, with a significant number of attendees attending to discover the latest manufacturing technologies and solutions. Visitors were keen to explore how businesses can sustainably adopt new technologies to improve productivity, increase efficiency and minimise waste.
The seminar programme continued to attract strong audiences eager to hear from leading industry experts. Morning sessions focused on additive manufacturing (AM), including the impact of robotic LFAM on transportation and how AI is transforming the way manufacturers design for additive manufacturing.
The show was also visited by Mr Crispin, a former Rolls-Royce engineer who has built a strong following as an engineering influencer. During his visit, he engaged with exhibitors and explored the latest innovations across the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
The MTA team was honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to the show on the fourth day, when he toured the exhibition and met exhibitors. His presence further emphasised the importance of the manufacturing and engineering sectors and their vital role in driving innovation, economic growth and skills development across the UK.
On the final day of MACH, the MTA was pleased to host the Minister of State for Skills, The Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern, and the Shadow Minister for Business and Trade, Dame Harriett Baldwin, for a guided tour of the exhibition. Their visit reinforced the show’s importance in showcasing opportunities to support manufacturers in addressing key challenges, including skills shortages and rising operational costs, helping businesses remain competitive in an evolving marketplace.
Feedback from exhibitors throughout the week was overwhelmingly positive, with many reporting record numbers of enquiries and sales. Transactions worth hundreds of millions of pounds are regularly concluded at MACH, reinforcing the exhibition’s role as a major driver of investment across UK manufacturing.
One exhibitor already planning to rebook for 2028 is Yamazaki Mazak. Alan Mucklow, Director of the UK Sales and Service Division, said: “MACH 2026 has been a great show for us. The volume of visitors and, more importantly, the quality of those visitors has been exceptional throughout the week.
This year’s exhibition has taken things to the next level in terms of the industries that have visited our stand. The quality of engagement with those businesses, alongside the clear intent to invest, whether immediately or in the future, has been particularly encouraging.
Overall, MACH 2026 has been a very strong event for us. Mazak is proud to be part of MACH, and we look forward to returning in 2028 to showcase the latest machine tool and laser technologies.”
Mike Corby, Product Presenter, and Martin Jones, UK Sales Manager, XYZ, said: “The conversations we’ve had at MACH 2026 have been genuine and highly valuable, with visitors actively looking for ways to improve efficiency and manufacture parts faster and to a higher standard.
Lead numbers are up by around 20% compared to MACH 2024, which is fantastic, but what has stood out even more is the quality of those leads. We’ve had some really positive and serious discussions with businesses from a wide range of sectors, because our machines lend themselves well across all sectors, particularly within R&D.
We’ve also seen a great cross-section of visitors to the stand, from shop floor machine operators through to managing directors and senior decision-makers, which demonstrates the broad reach and value of MACH for the manufacturing industry.”
MACH 2028 will take place from 3-7th April 2028 at the NEC Birmingham. There is already significant interest in the show, with the MTA reporting a high level of stand rebookings for MACH 2028. Anyone interested in booking exhibition space can find the live floorplan here: https://machexhibition.com/why-exhibit/mach-exhibition-floorplans/
MACH 2028 will once again bring together the very best of manufacturing innovation and expertise at the NEC Birmingham. To find out more, please visit: https://www.machexhibition.com/
