THE recently launched Machine Tools Africa exhibition, an event owned by the Machine Tool Merchants’ Association of South Africa (MTMA) and in partnership with organisers Specialised Exhibitions, will be taking place at the Expo Centre in Nasrec, Johannesburg, from 21-24 May 2024.
Recognised as the biggest machine tools exhibition in Africa, Machine Tools Africa is a showcase of cutting-edge developments across the machine tool and related industries. The expo is designed to showcase the very latest global machine tool technology and to highlight the importance of local suppliers and their international manufacturing partners.
Metal processing is a critical sector of the South African economy and serves as an essential input to multiple industries. According to the Metals and Engineering Indaba, the industry contributes around 28% towards the country’s manufacturing GDP, and according to NUMSA employs an excess of 360,000 people. Despite its importance, this industry faces challenges that need addressing to ensure its sustainability.
Challenges such as high energy supply costs, energy interruption, increasing raw material costs as well as inadequate infrastructure are what the industry faces on a day-to-day basis.
Speaking at the launch, Joanne Canossa, MTMA Chairperson, says that “We can all agree that the past few years leading up to this much anticipated show has been nothing short of manic. Machine Tools Africa 2024 is a great step towards the recovery and upgrading of local manufacturing businesses in South Africa.”
“At the show, industry players have an opportunity to highlight technological advancements and how technological infrastructure for human-machine collaboration can streamline processes and improve high level decision making. It is this combination of technology and human creativity that defines smart factories and industry 5.0. It will be very exciting to see how our members as well as other companies utilise this platform to target and entice the manufacturing sector.”
The Machine Tools Africa exhibition is seen as a crucial platform for business to connect with potential customers. Eighty-eight percent of visitors attended the previous edition of the show in search of new products, technologies, and trends.
“We are delighted to again be in partnership with the Machine Tool Merchants Association for the next edition of Machine Tools Africa,” says Charlene Hefer, Portfolio Director at Specialised Exhibitions. “The collaboration is significant as our combined expertise and industry insights will bring immense value to our exhibitors and attendees alike.”
“Over 50% of our exhibition space has already been sold for 2024 through our pre-launch to MTMA members, and this is just the beginning. We are committed to reaching an even wider market and attracting the most influential players in the industry.”
