MACH 2026 review: Industry shows its mettle

Wow. Just wow. If you weren’t there. You missed out. MACH 2026 in Birmingham had it all: the people, the atmosphere, the knowledge and of course, the tech. For our part, Machinery & Manufacturing had a wonderful show, as Publisher Laura Crawford confirmed: “I felt that MACH 26 was the best in years. To witness such positivity and innovation under one roof was both reassuring and rewarding to all involved.”

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TS Pro Systems agreed. The UK’s new sole representative for TopSolid, was drawing crowds with live machining demonstrations and its now-famous dragon tail challenge – straight off the machine without polishing. According to Technical Director Ben Miller, the response to TopSolid’s UK exhibition debut signalled “a significant appetite and a huge volume of enquires for integrated CAD/CAM innovation”.

Nearby, CloudNC’s CAM Assist continued to show why AI-assisted programming is gaining momentum. The company demonstrated its new Strategy Editor, giving programmers more visibility and control prior to toolpath generation. “It was exciting to see how many attendees had heard of CloudNC and wanted to see CAM Assist in action,” reflected Norval Scott, Global Head of PR and Content.

Vericut UK also reported a strong week, showcasing its latest CNC simulation and optimisation software, including AI-driven tools like Vericut Assistant and Vericut Intelligence. Sales & Marketing Co-ordinator Jo Cosby reported the company “even got a deal over the line during the show”.

Chips were flying

From a machine tool perspective, NCMT sold seven machines during the event, including two directly from the stand. Sales Director Ian Horton commented: “There’s a real sense of positivity about the year ahead in manufacturing.” The company’s huge Makino a800Z, the largest single-piece machine at MACH by tonnage, proved a major attraction.

XYZ Machine Tools reported a 25% rise in enquiries compared with the previous MACH, helped by strong interest in its new 400 UMC five-axis machine and 65 LTY-S turning centre. Even TV personality Guy Martin stopped by for a closer look. “The exhibition generated more than £2.5 million in orders for XYZ – and counting,” stated Managing Director Martin Burton.

Citizen Machinery, meanwhile, demonstrated its LFV chip-breaking technology with four-axis simultaneous capability for the first time at a major UK exhibition. Four-axis LFV is a major step forward as it enhances flexibility, reduces cycle times and eliminates operational bottlenecks.

Centre stage on the Comau stand was a skeleton of the company’s SmartReach machining centre for large, lightweight structural components. The machine blends the rigidity of a traditional machine with the versatility of an integral multi-axis robot arm, all supported by modular architecture. “The technologies we presented reflected our commitment to developing flexible and scalable solutions,” remarked John Coombes, Managing Director of Comau UK.

On one of the exhibition’s largest stands, orders for 41 machines were secured by Mills CNC, which described MACH 26 as the best in its history.

Beyond milling and turning

Sodick and UK distributor Sodi-Tech EDM reported that an aerospace manufacturer placed an order worth more than £1 million at the show, while Bruderer completed a £500,000 press sale, with the machine destined for high-volume AI chip-set production.

Axe & Status showcased Accurl fibre laser cutting and press brake technology, with Sales Director Steve Thomas revealing: “We had numerous strong enquiries and several orders confirmed from visitors.”

Compass Business Finance reported strong engagement throughout the week, using the exhibition to announce the addition of Industrial Equipment Finance (IEF) to the group. Sarah Lees, Head of Marketing & Communications, commented: “Having IEF’s Directors Steve and Rob with us at MACH demonstrated how this move strengthens our offer to the manufacturing sector. We had some fantastic conversations with visitors about their business aspirations and challenges.”

Automation was another huge talking point at MACH. FANUC showcased its new FS500i-A CNC control system alongside a ROBODRILL machining centre, while the company’s unmistakable yellow robots seemingly appeared everywhere across the NEC halls.

KUKA impressed visitors with its new KR TITAN ultra heavy-duty robot, capable of payloads up to 1,500 kg. Also taking centre stage were KUKA’s new iiQKA.OS2 operating system and its KRC5-2, a next-generation industrial robot controller designed for versatility, energy efficiency and seamless integration. Reflected Marketing & Strategy Director Neil Mead: “MACH never fails to disappoint in helping us capture new leads. We were very impressed with the volume and quality of visitors.”

Tooling up

The cutting tool sector also reflected the upbeat mood. ISCAR UK reinforced its focus on skills development and apprenticeships, serving as the headline sponsor of the Education and Development Zone. The event also marked an important milestone as the company launches its Level 6 Apprenticeship Programme in 2026, supported further by the opening of ISCAR UK’s new, state-of-the-art Technology Centre this year.

Nearby, Mitsubishi Materials highlighted recycling, reconditioning and circular economy initiatives. The company is fast evolving into a full-service provider, offering a full range of solutions, from exclusive manufacturing and sales through to custom made tools and comprehensive aftersales support.

MAPAL also reported a highly successful week. The team welcomed a significant number of enquiries, ranging from productivity enhancements to advanced, sector‑specific tooling requirements, all reflecting market confidence in MAPAL’s capabilities and expertise.

Measured for success

Metrology exhibits proved particularly popular, exemplified by the crowds surrounding demonstrations of Hexagon’s new ultra-fast MAESTRO CMM and PC-DMIS FUSION software offering real-time quality data and rapid reporting. Global Public Relations Manager Sarah Walton remarked: “Manufacturers are looking for practical ways to improve productivity, quality and confidence without adding unnecessary complexity.”

Mitutoyo showcased its Crysta V-PLUS CMM for shop-floor environments, which is engineered to sustain micron-level accuracy within a 15-30°C range, while MSL demonstrated automated inspection systems combining a shop-floor CMM with robotic machine tending.

Optimax attracted constant attention around the Kitov autonomous AI inspection and measurement system, a potential global first. Its USP is the inspection and measurement of defects using a second sensor as part of the same system. “We saw a significant surge of interest in metrology automation and, with people clearly feeling confident about investing, the stand was buzzing with quality enquiries,” reflected Managing Director Pete Clements.

Vision Engineering launched its new Edge Series of compact vision measurement systems for bridging the gap between manual inspection and full-scale CNC automation, while Tim Wood, Head of the Industrial Metrology Business Unit at Accretech Europe, was busy demonstrating popular solutions like the SURFCOM NEX and RONDCOM NEX for high-precision roundness and cylindrical form measurement.

Metrology advances were evident everywhere, with Renishaw presenting its new Equator-X™ dual method gauging system. Offering dual measurement functionality, ‘Absolute’ and ‘Compare’, users can select the optimum inspection mode for their process challenge. Giuseppe Lai, Marketing Manager – EMEA reported: “Early review suggests our leads are high quality, with valuable conversations held with key prospects and customers.”

Ably summing up the MACH experience was Jamie Greatrix, General Manager & Commercial Director at recently launched Sensofar Metrology, a specialist in highly advanced, high-specification optical metrology systems: “MACH 2026 was a strong reflection of where UK manufacturing is heading. High levels of engagement, a real focus on productivity and, from our perspective, a growing interest in how inspection and metrology support better decision-making.”