MIM members report strong interest from MACH 2018

By Made in the Midlands News
schedule11th Apr 18
Made in the Midlands members have reported high levels of interest from potential customers as a result of exhibiting at this year’s MACH trade show at the NEC.

Scores of firms from across the region contributed to a healthy Midlands representation at the show, which has attracted thousands of visitors.

The majority of MIM members exhibiting at the show said interest from potential customers was much higher than in previous years, with many hopeful of converting these into new orders.

Some members also used the show as a platform to announce new investments.

One of these was Kingswinford-based Clamason Industries, which announced a £1m investment for what is, its largest ever press.

The company, which specialises in precision metal components and assemblies, plans to use the new machinery to target up to £6m of new orders.

A specialist supplier to the automotive, medical and building products sectors, Clamason will install the 300-ton ZANI Motion Master press in June. It is hoping the speed and additional bed size of the new machine will unlock opportunities for larger pressings and stampings.

The investment comes after a successful two-year period for Clamason following its management buy-out in 2016. This proved the catalyst for 10% year-on-year growth, the creation of 20 new jobs and a predicted £30m turnover across its operations in the UK and Slovakia in 2018.

Ian Davies, Sales Director at Clamason Industries, said: “A number of conversations with potential customers had identified the need for a larger and faster press than the ones we already possessed, so we decided that MACH 2018 was the perfect opportunity to place the order.”

It placed the order with Bruderer UK, another firm to exhibit at MACH.

Fellow MIM member, Star Micronics said it was also hopeful of converting strong interest in its machines into confirmed orders.

Northampton-based Igus, which is part of the world’s largest producer of injection moulded polymer bearings and reinforced plastic cable carriers, said inquiries at its stand were around two and a half times higher than last year and again, it was hopeful of converting many of these into new orders.

The halls at the exhibition centre have been thronged with visitors during the show and unlike previous years, most had a genuine interest in doing business.

The news bodes well for the MIM annual exhibition, which takes place at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on June 21.

Many of the firms exhibiting at MACH 2018 are set to follow up by taking a stand at the expo event, in what promises to be a major celebration of the capabilities of the Midlands manufacturing community.


Many are hopeful that by the time the Ricoh event takes place then the inquiries made at MACH will have been confirmed as new orders.



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