New Knowledge Hubs initiative at MACH 2024

22 February, 2024

The Automation and Robotics Knowledge Hub will showcase how easily the technology can be adopted into existing manufacturing operations, automating repeatable processes, improving accuracy and consistency, and reducing repetitive and monotonous tasks.

MTC Chief Automation Officer, Mike Wilson, commented; “Robotics and automation is key to solving the UK’s productivity puzzle. This under-pinning technology will help manufacturers achieve high productivity and net zero aspirations while solving some of the UK’s labour shortage issues. It is also a significant contributor to strengthening the UK’s supply chain and securing resilient UK manufacturing capability.”

The Sustainable Solutions Knowledge Hub, sponsored by Lloyds Bank, will guide manufacturers on how investing in energy efficient technology now, backed by government incentives, can help offset energy cost increases, improve business fitness for the future and help balance the ‘cost of doing business’.

Dave Atkinson, UK Head of Manufacturing SME & Mid Corporates, Lloyds Bank commented; “Understanding how to get to Net Zero is one of the biggest hurdles for UK manufacturers. Many are looking for help and advice with the challenge they’ve been set by their supply chain and customers to improve sustainability and reduce their carbon emissions. Lloyds Bank are delighted to be partnering with the MTC to deliver the Sustainable Solutions Knowledge Hub at MACH 2024, providing impartial guidance on how small and medium sized businesses can accelerate their journey to Net Zero.”

The Additive Manufacturing Knowledge Hub is designed to help visitors looking to learn how to develop, adopt and use additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology in their manufacturing processes. Expert advice and wayfinding will be on offer from AM-UK on how to utilise the technology for making production parts and products directly from design data – building accurate components by adding layers of material to obtain the final shape with minimal waste.

The Consumable Tooling Knowledge Hub is where visitors should head to receive impartial advice on how to optimise their machining processes and how to deal with real-life machining challenges. The Hub will offer advice on matching the most suitable cutting tool material and insert geometry with the workpiece material to be machined, through to key considerations such as tool paths and cutting data. Visitors can meet experts from the AMRC who will be on-hand to help visitors with the complexities of metal cutting.

The Data and AI Knowledge Hub will explore how SME’s can use this technology to drive growth and innovation in manufacturing by measuring the output of their current operation, looking for opportunities to improve and ensuring supply meets demand. The aim of the Knowledge Hub is to provide advice and wayfinding, addressing the manufacturing applications that can be supported by data, technology and automated processes.

The Knowledge Hub initiative was handed a major shot-in-the-arm with the recent announcement by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt of £4.5 billion of funding to support advanced manufacturing. The funding will directly benefit several of the exhibition’s key themes, especially Sustainable Solutions, where £960 million has been earmarked for clean energy manufacturing through a Green Industries Growth Accelerator.