The recent Machine Tools Africa exhibition, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, was an opportunity for the suppliers to the South African metalworking engineering industry to showcase their products, big and small, to an audience that shapes and forms metal by cutting, twisting, turning, rotating and bending the material with the help of machinery, tooling, control systems, robotics, design software and accessories to produce components and products that have an effect on our everyday lives. And I mean every day of the year you will encounter products that have started ‘life’ in a mill, foundry or engineering shop.
The dedicated exhibition to the metals industry was only the second one to be held since 1997 with the last one being held in 2017, although, one was scheduled to take place in 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Exhibitors must be congratulated in taking the time, effort and expense to portray a very professional image of their companies and the products that they market. Most of the products on display were the latest technology available and are a crucial element in the development of the South African manufacturing industry. In a number of cases, these were products that had just been unveiled internationally. Well done I say.
A much broader spectrum of pictures of exhibitors and visitors can be seen below this article
The exhibition received a positive response from exhibitors and visitors alike. Exhibitors were very enthusiastic about the quality of visitors and reported that a high number of sales leads were generated. Some major sales, made from the stands, were even reported.
A big factor for having a dedicated exhibition like Machine Tools Africa is to attract the correct type of visitor. Customers and potential new customers had the opportunity to see live demonstrations on machinery and equipment that was brought in by the 80 exhibitors exclusively for the show. The overwhelming response from exhibitors I questioned is that this objective was achieved resulting in numerous enquiries and quotations to follow up on.
However, there are always challenges when holding an exhibition of this nature. A big talking point amongst exhibitors was the cost of the floor space and the add-ons, like power to run the machines on display. As a result, the exhibition was not representative of the whole industry and this was demonstrated by the fact that less than one hall was occupied. One MD of the South African subsidiary of a large international company that has a presence in virtually every country and exhibits at all international and local exhibitions referred to the local cost as being the same as international exhibitions that attract close to 120 000 visitors from 150 countries and over 2 100 exhibitors from 47 countries that exhibited in an area exceeding 178 000m². There is no justification that he could present to get support, he explained. This company employs 52 staff locally and is a major player in the product that it supplies.
27 different brands of fibre laser on display
In future much more effort must be made to attract more exhibitors, especially from the related industries. The organisers talk about machine tools as the backbone of the manufacturing industry providing essential equipment for the fabrication processes of all major manufacturing sectors. The sheer number of metal fabrication applications boggles the mind and machining could be one used, but no matter what product is ultimately being created, the fabrication process can be summed up with three basic techniques: cutting, bending, and assembling. Sure there were 27 different brands of fibre laser machines covering the cutting side on display and there were a number of different press brakes covering the bending side on display but not enough companies marketing assembly operations. In fact I only saw one company offering welding products and when you think of the multitude of companies involved in the welding process it leaves you wondering why these companies were not exhibiting. Then there are all the suppliers and processes involved in melting and forging metal – all very related to the industry.
I also did not hear any foreign voices of visitors that attended from the rest of Africa. It is expensive for people to travel in Africa so it has to be worthwhile for them to justify their presence. Likewise visitors from the rest of the country were sparse.
As is customary I do not like to just have my observations and opinions published. I like to have independent viewpoints so that a broad spectrum of thought is portrayed. Below are the thoughts of some of the exhibitors.
Mike Lee, Chairman Machine Tool Merchants Association
“We, the MTMA Association, were excited and nervous at the same time leading up to the exhibition. It had been seven years since the previous show and there is always a feeling of nervousness on how the show will turn out.”
“On the first day, nerves disappeared and how pleased we were to see the amount of visitors attending. The week on a whole was outstanding. Just under 7 000 people came through the doors to visit the exhibition, 10% up from the previous show.”
“Walking around and talking to exhibitors, I had all positive remarks regarding the show. It was well organised, good interest, with knowledgeable people attending. This bodes well for our industry and engineering as a whole in the South African sector.”
“Visitors from the coastal cities also made an effort to attend the show, which was great to see. Sheet metal was the dominant sector of machinery at the show, laser cutting machines in abundance. 5-axis CNC mills to high end turning centers could also be seen.”
“We look forward to holding the next Machine Tool Show in the coming years.”
Gerald Green, MD Gühring Cutting Tools South Africa
“My reflection about the exhibition is a cautious but positive sentiment in the metalworking industry. As it was held shortly before the elections, there was a subdued expectation of positive change.”
“While the industry we operate in is still facing huge challenges, us South Africans adapt and face these challenges head on.”
“I am satisfied with the outcome of the exhibition which generated a lot of leads and contacts and most of all more business opportunities.”
Rick Ferreira, MD, Amada UK, Johannesburg
“It has been seven years since we last had the opportunity to exhibit at the Machine Tools Africa public exhibition. This exhibition gave us the opportunity to connect with our existing customer base, as well as our competitor customers and potential new comers to sheet metal cutting and processing. It also allowed us to showcase Amada’s latest machinery and processing technologies.”
“Initially I was concerned that the effect of the national elections would delay new capital equipment investment decisions. However, the exhibition was relatively well supported with many decision makers visiting our stand to finalise their requirements.”
“As this exhibition barely filled one hall at the Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec), going forward this exhibition would do well being combined with a number of other smaller and similar exhibitions, which should create a wider market exposure.”
Allan Conolly, MD of Somta Tools
“From Somta Tools’ perspective, Machine Tools Africa 2024 was a very positive exhibition, and more successful than the previous inaugural event in 2017. The show was smaller in terms of number of halls and exhibitors, but the quality of the stands was good and the attendance encouraging.”
“From our experience there were a lot of end users who visited the show and this made the quality of the visits very worthwhile, with lots of interest in our new ranges and capabilities, and many leads to follow up on.”
“Whilst it is clear that manufacturing and the steel industry have been in decline in recent times, there are significant capabilities that remain in the country as well as a genuine interest to adopt best practices and technology. We have had the opportunity for many years to exhibit at one of the world’s largest machine tool exhibitions – EMO in Germany – and whilst much larger, the technology on display at MTA is very similar.”
“In my view there was a lot of value to be gained from both exhibiting at or attending this show.”
Stewart Lane, Head of Business Development, EMEA, Renishaw UK Sales Ltd
“As it was my first time at the Machine Tools Africa exhibition and my first time in Johannesburg, I wasn’t sure what to expect from my visit. But as I sat reflecting on what I had seen while on the plane awaiting my return in the UK, the feeling I was left with was a positive one. What struck me was how much machinery was on display, the strength of the show’s attendance and the quality of visitors we spoke to. Most importantly, it seemed that business was being done and orders being taken off the stands, the demand for new machinery and appetite to invest was clearly there.”
“South Africans’ reputation for no-nonsense, can-do attitude, came across too and having the opportunity to experience this first hand was refreshing. The country clearly faces challenges, but the business owners’ pragmatism and entrepreneurial spirit was clear to see, together with a real sense of community between the show’s participants.”
“The show itself was well organised and ran smoothly and we are, as ever, grateful to Graeme, Ray and the team at WD Hearn Machine Tools for everything they did to ensure that was the case. We certainly plan to be back at the next show and already look forward to it.”
Hein Nel, Regional Sales Manager South Africa, Sandvik Coromant Sales Cluster, South Europe
“We were humbled by the amount of interest, knowledge, passion and willingness to working closely that was shown by our machine tool partners that were exhibiting at the show. We tooled up a 5-axis C22 Hermle that was on the TopTool stand and a 5-axis Kitamura that was on the WD Hearn Machine Tools stand and a few other machines.”
“What set us apart at the exhibition was our exclusive live demonstrations on advanced 5-axis machines. We were the only exhibitor to provide real-time, hands-on experiences, machining complex impellers with 5-axis machines. This allowed us to have numerous enriching conversations and engagements with visitors, further solidifying our position as a leader in the metalworking market.”
“We enjoyed partnering with the likes of WD Hearn Machine Tools utilising their 5-axis Kitamura to machine an open impeller and demonstrate our know how and expertise when it comes to advanced machining solutions. This includes utilising the right machine tools, Coromant metal cutting tools, the CAM and post-processing an output that is accurate and consistent with a stable clamping or holding solution. We have a passion for machining, creating customer solutions and a focus on overall manufacturing wellness.”
Irene von Knoblauch-Dreyer, MD Flexilube
“Machine Tools Africa 2024 provided the manufacturing industry a much-needed platform to be able to see the incredible technological advancements that have been made in machinery, products and services over the past few years. The visitors seem to really enjoy the opportunity to not only see a vast number of impressive machines in action, but also to be able to engage in conversations with the technical advisors who were on hand to assist in finding the best possible products and services for the customer’s specific manufacturing processes.”
“The feedback Flexilube received was extremely positive, and the visitors thoroughly enjoyed the interactive way in which our metalworking fluids and Coolant Doctor programme were showcased.”
Keith Opperman, Fuloos cc T/A Duncan Macdonald & Co
“I participated at the exhibition by taking up some space on one of the WD Hearn Machine Tools exhibition stands. In my opinion Machine Tools Africa 2024 was a success. The major suppliers of machinery and accessories that were part of the exhibition demonstrated machinery and accessories, to visitors who were impressed with the latest technologies and product knowledge, this gives hope to improved manufacturing output in South Africa.”
Chris Kroeger, MD Retecon Group
“For the Retecon Group the 2024 MTA Exhibition was a huge success, especially from our brand awareness, including our many agencies that we represent. The visitor turnout was really good from a number’s perspective as well as the quality of customer. The interest and questions were very encouraging.”
“I feel it was clear from our stand presentation that the Retecon Group is a major player in the South African machine tool industry. We have been supporting this industry since 1970 and we are well poised to continue supporting this industry in South Africa for at least the next 50 years and beyond.”
“The highlights from the Retecon stands were the laser and bending machines from Trumpf, still a leading brand in the sheet metal industry. We were also pleased to be able to show off new technologies with Hexagon’s latest scanning capabilities with their measuring equipment. Vicivision was also present with their shaft measuring machine.”
“Other new technologies we were showing off was the Laser Welding and Cladding from Alpha Laser, primarily for the repairing of tools and shafts, we feel this is a niche for the South African market and could support the energy generation equipment repairs as well as repairs in the mining industry. DMG MORI is another of our premium brands that was on show with a 4-axis machining center.”
Dr. Devon Hagedorn-Hansen, Multitrade 3D Systems
“Multitrade 3D Systems had a highly interactive and productive experience at Machine Tools Africa 2024. This year was our first time exhibiting at the exhibition and we were pleased with the high level of engagement and interest from both local and international delegates visiting our stand over the four days. The interactions were meaningful and promising, indicating a strong interest in our additive manufacturing offerings and the potential for future collaborations.”
“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to be one of the guest speakers at the event, educating the delegates on ‘Advancing Africa’s Manufacturing Landscape: The Power of Additive Manufacturing’.”
“For us at Multitrade 3D Systems, the exhibition was an excellent platform to strengthen our market presence, network with industry peers, and explore new opportunities. We are proud to have been part of this event and look forward to participating in future editions.”
Vaughn Hanwith-Horden, MD, Spectrum Machine Tools Africa
“We don’t believe that the cost of the expo was worth it. All in all our opinion is that the expo was poorly attended. Even though we had a few good visitors to our stand the quality of the visitors, in general, was poor and the numbers were well below expectations.”
“Marketing by the organisers was also below par. Many clients that we spoke to prior to the expo had no idea the show was happening. If we hadn’t invited them, they would not have known. Potential customers in the outlying areas like Pietersburg, Nelspruit, places in the Free state, Northern Cape, Kwa Zulu-Natal and so on had no knowledge of what was happening.”
“We had no new visitors from countries to the north of us, in spite of being called Machine Tools Africa. Supposedly the biggest show in Africa. A quick search on Google will tell you otherwise. The visitors we had from across the borders were customers we specifically invited.”
“In comparison the agriculture show in the Free State, that took place around the same time, had an attendance of nearly 100 000 people in three days. You can be sure that the exhibitors did not pay a fraction of what we did for their stands, and the marketing was phenomenal. Our organisers could take a page out of the Nampo exhibition organisers’ book.”
“At the time of writing this, I have had no contact with the organisers, no thank you, no kick in the pants, no numbers have been forwarded to us and we have not been asked to give any feedback bar a form we filled in at the show. Poor to say the least. Oh, don’t forget the very expensive attendance certificate they gave us at the expo.”
“A press release says we had 6 500 visitors, 10% up on the last show. At what cost, I challenge all the exhibitors, work out the hourly cost of the expo, and the cost per visitor after taking into account what the stands cost. It is frightening to say the least. I estimate the average stand cost around R80 000.00 / hour, R20.00 a second during the exhibiting hours. The cost per visitor is around R400.00 and that includes all the tyre kickers that ran away from work telling the boss they were going to the expo for the afternoon.”
“The cost of having power was also excessive. For us the cost for those four days could pay the electricity in a large household for eight years! A dealer could fly their very good clients to the manufacturers’ factories or even to the overseas expos and have a much better result for the money.”
“Most exhibitors put a lot of money and effort into their stands. Stands were brilliant and worth a walkaround, but again in reality there were many of the big players in the South African machine tool market and suppliers of allied equipment and consumables that stayed away. In my discussions with them it all related to the price of the stands. Some of the smaller dealers had no chance of even considering exhibiting. Again, due to the cost.”
“The expo was not a true reflection of the machine tool industry in South Africa. It has got to the point where only dealers with fat wallets can exhibit. The technology shown is nothing new. The type of equipment exhibited generally leaned towards sheet metal, again nothing exceptional, one or two high powered lasers, one or two sophisticated press brakes and that was it.”
“Many of the big manufacturers when approached baulked at the costs, relating them to prices in Europe and decided to opt out, leaving the dealers to carry the costs. This left large spaces in the hall which the organisers gave over to a restaurant, lounges and skills development amongst other things to fill big gaps in the hall.”
Mike Lee, sales Director, Puma Machine Tools
“At Puma Machine Tools we see the South African market looking for more economical solutions, especially from the Far East and we are very proud to represent both DN Solutions and JFY, which are both affordable premium brands.”
“Our stand was flooded with lots of interested visitors and 80% of the machines we exhibited were sold by the end of the exhibition.”
“DN solutions showed off its first 5-axis machining center as well as various 3 and 4-axis mills. Another interesting machine was a turning machine with y-axis.”
“On the sheet metal side with JFY we showed off the newly released 6kW flatbed laser as well as both a hydraulic and an electric press brake. Our saw brand Cosan was also on show which attracted a lot of interest.”
Pamela van Jaarsveld, MD, Multitrade Distributors
“As we reflect on our recent participation in Machine Tools Africa 2024, the team at Multitrade Distributors is excited to share our experiences. MTA 2024 was more than just an exhibition; it was a vibrant hub of professionalism, innovation and networking opportunities. Our presence at the exhibition was met with remarkable success, yielding a wealth of promising leads and fruitful interactions. Engaging with fellow exhibitors was both insightful and enjoyable, showcasing a diverse array of creative approaches and personalised touches. The social events added an extra layer of enjoyment and connectivity, turning casual conversations into potential partnerships.”
“This year’s more concentrated setup allowed for focused interactions, with one hall facilitating more meaningful engagements. Attendees spent quality time at our stand and with other exhibitors, and the visitors were highly relevant to our industry. We also had the chance to demonstrate our cutting tools’ capabilities, thanks to TH Machine Tools, who gave us the opportunity to utilise their machines, allowing us to effectively highlight the excellence of our cutting tool products.”
“We are also deeply appreciative of the DIAEDGE team for attending the show and partnering with us at our stand, where we displayed the latest DIAEDGE cutting tools. As the sole agents for Mitsubishi Materials in South Africa, their collaboration was instrumental in showcasing a range of advanced innovations, greatly enhancing the overall experience for visitors and significantly contributing to the success of our participation.”
“MTA 2024 offered a unique blend of fun and productivity, making it a highlight in our event calendar. We are grateful for the enriching experiences and valuable connections made and eagerly anticipate the next MTA to continue our journey of growth and collaboration.”
Aurelio Grech-Cumbo, MD RGC Engineering
“After seven years of having no Machine Tools Africa exhibition, from the attendants and quality of attendees it shows that the South African market was hungry for an exhibition that brought the latest technologies to the South African industry.”
“I must compliment the exhibitors for having pulled out all the steps to make this a worthwhile exhibition for the industry to benefit from seeing hands on the technologies available for the manufacturing industry.”
“RGC Engineering is a specialist company in the field of supplying equipment or dimensional inspection, quality control and process control systems to monitor production quality.”
“From our perspective, the exhibition was successful and gave us an opportunity to meet existing and new customers. The quality of visitors was of a good standard which led to fruitful discussions.”
Jenny Thobois, MD French Engineering Works (FEW)
“The exhibition was well organised and well managed, which contributed to a smooth and successful exhibition for FEW.”
“The strong attendance of visitors with the right people visiting our stand has led to new business opportunities, some of which have already translated into sales and potential leads still in the pipeline.
Overall, the MTA was highly beneficial for FEW, the opportunity to reconnect with existing customers, colleagues and friends is invaluable for maintaining relationships and fostering future collaborations.”
Thys de Villiers, Sales Engineer TRM Supplies
“Last month, our team had the privilege of exhibiting for the first time ever at the Machine Tools Africa exhibition. We were proud to showcase our latest products and solutions to a diverse audience of industry professionals and were excited to see the latest developments in the industry and to connect with key players in the field.”
“We were honoured to have our overseas principles Shanghai Hugong Electric group and Olymtech Technology Development attending this long overdue exhibition.”
“Our stand received a significant amount of foot traffic, with many visitors showing interest in our products and even more so our services and after-sale service we supply and offer. Our team was pleased to showcase our expertise and demonstrate the features and benefits of our offerings, and we received valuable feedback from potential customers, current customers and visitors.”
“Machine Tools Africa 2024 provided an excellent platform for networking with industry peers, potential customers, and partners. We made some valuable connections and look forward to exploring new opportunities.”
“We feel the exhibition did not disappoint, with a wide range of products on display, from machinery and tooling to control systems, robotics, design, and accessories. We were impressed by the cutting-edge technology showcased by local and international suppliers, highlighting the importance of innovation and advancement in the industry.”
“The exhibition offered insightful seminars and workshops, addressing current industry trends and challenges. We gained a better understanding of the latest developments and advancements in the machine tools industry.”
“Our experience was overwhelmingly positive. We achieved our objectives, generated quality leads, and expanded our network and more so getting our TRM Supplies name and equipment brand names out there. We look forward to participating in future events and continuing to contribute to the growth and development of the industry.”
“The exhibition was a testament to the importance of collaboration and partnership in the industry. The Machine Tool Merchants’ Association of South Africa (MTMA) and the organisers partnered to bring the event to life. The combined expertise and industry insights of the organisers and exhibitors added immense value to the experience.”
“It was seen as a significant step towards the recovery and upgrading of local manufacturing businesses in South Africa. With advanced technology, software, automation, and Industry 5.0 taking centre stage, it was clear that the industry is poised for growth and development.”
“I feel that the experience at Machine Tools Africa 2024 was informative, insightful, and inspiring. I am sure every visitor left with a renewed appreciation for the importance of the machine tools industry and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead. We look forward to seeing the impact of the exhibition on the industry and the economy in the coming years.”
Marc Mahl, MD Fanuc South Africa
“It’s hard to believe that it has been seven years since the last Machine Tools Africa Exhibition in 2017. So much has changed since then and the world is a different place. Technology has continued to advance and machine tools are becoming more and more sophisticated and interconnected.
Machine Tools Africa 2024 was a great opportunity for us to interact face to face with customers and show them the advances that have been made using live demonstrations.”
“Digital technologies like simulation software, predictive maintenance packages and digital twin technologies have become more common place and more affordable to the end user. These technologies can be crucial in predicting failures, avoiding collisions, pre alerting operators to potential tool breakages or scrapped workpieces saving valuable time and resources.”
“Robot systems have become much more user friendly and easy to use, which allows smaller job shops to consider robotic automation for the first time by making use of collaborative robots or cobots that can drastically reduce the initial investment required when compared to standard industrial robots. Now robots can be easily programmed using user friendly interfaces on standard tablets which drastically reduces the time required to learn how to use the robot.”
“We would highly recommend that anyone in the engineering sector visits this exhibition when it is held next.”
Nico Hugo, Operations Manager TH Machine Tools
“The build-up to an expo is always hard work with months of preparation, waiting for stock to arrive in time and last-minute arrangements. But all the hard work is worth it as everything comes together when the doors open and the buzz of the expo comes to life.”
“All TH Machine Tools staff really pulled together as a team to make the show a success, from stand design, machine layout, shipping logistics, transport and lots more happening behind the scenes.”
“Not only did we have machines to show, but we also demonstrated their capabilities by manufactured parts on four different CNC machines which triggered excitement with the curious visitors. To shake someone’s hand and to have a personal conversation next to a machine making parts will always be the best way to network and build new business relationships with potential new customers and suppliers.”
“We had about nine representatives at our stand, all of us engaging with visitors. As a brand awareness campaign, the expo was very effective allowing us to showcase our leading brands. The positive response from the visitors was really rewarding.”
Dr Eric Hoffmann, MD Chemical Solutions and Innovations
“Machine Tool Africa 2024 provided a fantastic platform to showcase our company’s – Chemical Solutions and Innovations (CSI) – top quality metalworking fluids and lubricants. CSI is the official distributor for Quaker Houghton’s range of metalworking fluids. We also supply our own lubricant range, Potenza Oils.”
“During the show I gave a presentation on the ‘Technological Advancements in Metalworking Fluids’. This presentation focused primarily on REACH compliancy, which deals with the legislative requirements applicable to metalworking fluids when supplying primarily OEMs and Tier 1 customers.”
“Due to the vast and highly competitive engineering industries with its focus on continuous improvements and greater efficiency it is important for us to supply products that caters for all our customer production needs.”
“CSI is always pushing ahead to remain in the forefront of new technology products, improved services and state of the art equipment. To this extent our sister company, Water Solutions and Innovations (WSI) also presented their state of the art Evaporator technology at the show which treats industrial waste water thus supporting the sustainability of the metalworking industry.”
“The MTA show enabled us to showcase our companies and to reach a wide community of people. We engaged with people from all walks of life and were particularly pleased with the number of both current and prospective customers that we met at the show. This forum enables engagement with customers and suppliers in our industry and was an experience worth the investment.”
Morne De Goede, Larry Bashkier, Emile Joubert and Jaco Van Der Westhuizen, all from Leda Group SA
Philipp Purucker, Cladion Jorio and Corey Jamieson, all from Open Mind/hyperMill
Marco and Cobain Lourens, both of MJL Machine Tools
Nadia Stevens and Hannah van Rensburg, both of the MTMA
Judah Mothoa, Garry Wantenaar, Johny Hagedorn-Hansen, Raymond Ward, Andrew Dekiewit, Grant Bender, Jason Van Biljon and Chris Labuschagne, all of Multitrade Distributors
Yuichi Fukui of Mitutoyo, Johan van den Heever of RGC Engineering, Matthew Parker of Mitutoyo, Aurelio Grech-Cumbo of RGC Engineering and Shigeru Nishizawa of Mitutoyo
Marcus and Clare Filer, both of PTD Metalworking Professionals
Pierre Goosen and Nathan Govender, both of Taegutec South Africa
TJ Pretorius of Top Tool and Thomas Kopinitz of Hermle WWE
Warren Petersen of Warren’s Way
Gerald Green of Gühring Cutting Tools South Africa and Sinan Arisoy of Gühring AG, Germany
Anton Lachenicht of Retecon with Zaheer Bodhanya and Theon Rayner, both of SVR
Stewart Lane of Renishaw and Ray Cooper of WD Hearn Machine Tools
Roger Littleford, Franco Jacobs, Alex West, Nico Duvenhage, all from Iscar South Africa
Warrick Lowther and Allan Conolly, both of Somta Tools
Gregg Dixon, Ruan Meyer and Brian Dixon, all of Cliffsway with Mike Lee of Retecon
Christo Moolman of Hurco and Kobus Snyman of TH Machine Tools
Pieter Claassens, Nico Hugo and Lehan van den Merwe, all of TH Machine Tools
Johan and Benjamin Nel, both of Cylemetric
Neil de Beer, Quinton Janse Van Rensburg, Melvin Howard and Hannes Pretorius, all of Bystronic South Africa
Manny da Silva of Tekenso, Gareth Jackson of Jewll Industries, Andrew Poole of Tekenso and Andre Jansen Van Vuuren of Bystronic
Sietse and Ketti Walma van der Molen, both of Budget Sheet Metal with Rick Ferreira of Amada UK, Johannesburg
Takeo Horie and Kenichiro Hirano, both of DIAEDGE with Pam van Jaarsveld of Multitrade Distributors
Chris & Peter Killian, both of HiTech Machine Tools with Hiroyuki Yamazaki of Yamazaki Mazak
Marco Requardt of Albrecht
Chris Crozier of CDC Machine Tools with Barry Page of Amada UK Johannesburg
Vincent Wills of V Tech CNC with Luis Torres of CML Machine Tools
Mayank Tiwari, Wu Sun (Charlie), Rui Liu (Yuri), ZhenGuo Wang (Varys), Le Liu (Ron) and Kenneth Edgar, all of Bodor Laser with Vaughn Hanwith Horden of Spectrum Machine Tools
Paul and Alroy Savides, both of PBS Machine Tools
Stig Rasmussen and Hannes van Wyk, both of Davox with Graham Rome of Retecon
Keith Oppermann of Duncan Macdonald
Marius Conradie of WD Hearn Machine Tools with Freddie Visser of SPP
John Whitehead and Graeme Cooper, both of WD Hearn Machine Tools
Myles Crothwaite of WD Hearn Machine Tools with Brian Percival
Herman Deysel, Colin Dallas, Shane Cosmo and Steven Moody, all of Tysica Steel & Laser
Roelof Strydom and Conrad Young, both of Pferd South Africa
Atef Ahmed and Mahmoud, both of DMG MORI with Hans-Peter Neth of Retecon
Chris Kroeger of Retecon with Juri Krenzler of Alphalaser
Ian de Vries of Balancell, Willem van der Merwe of Fanuc South Africa and Andrew Poole of Tekenso
Willie Pieters of Metnor Manufacturing, Bennet Kinnear of Amada UK Johannesburg with Taariq Patel, also of Metnor
Clement Vicq, Hein Nel and Howard Musuphi, all of Sandvik Coromant
Wynand and Andro Le Grange, both of Wysa Engineering
France Gueit of Kennametal and Neels van Wyk of Umqondo
Ray Clague of Trewfit Controls with Marc Mahl of Fanuc South Africa
Nico Myburgh and Theunis Hartman, both of Lucchini SA
The Flexilube team
Jukka Hakala of CoastOne with Malcolm Moriarty of Metal Chip Machinery
Robert Silver of New Way, Gabor Veress of Retecon, Rui Jiang of JFY International and Craig Silver of New Way
Dr Eric Hoffmann, Toinette Hoffmann and Stephan du Toit, all of Chemical Solutions and Innovations, Andrew Laurens of Quaker Houghton, Duncan Evert of Chemical Solutions and Innovations, Olivier Monglon of Quaker Houghton and Danel Swart and Peter McErlean, both of Chemical Solutions and Innovations
Francois Beetge, Gauteng Regional Manager of PTSA and Ludrick Barnard of Caldaez
Karl Vorwerk of Scientific Engineering, Guenter Schmitz of TRM Supplies, Bernard Parschau and Andrew Lewis from Scientific Engineering, Thys de Villiers from TRM Supplies
Ashleigh Hogg, Dave Cameron, Jenny Thobais, Devin Dean and Jessica Fletcher, all from FEW
Dr Devon Hagedorn-Hansen, Jacques Strauss and Joshua Weeks, all from Multitrade 3D Systems
David Bullock and Jashan Balrajh, both from Akhani 3D
Devon and Craig Beard of Magnum Tools
Andrew Johns, Reshma Pitamber, Stephen Allport and Len Jacobs, all from BMG
Wayne Green, Desiree Govender, Jonathan Green and Robert Webb, all from Gühring Cutting Tools South Africa
Ricky Lazenby, Hendri van Niekerk, Dale Lazenby and Gavin Eaton, all from MJH Machine Tools
Dominique Ullmann from Filtermist and Jonathan Vermaak of WTS
The Adams Metalworking team
Graham Ellett of Reef Engineering
Dave Cresswell and Jacques Henning, both of CGR Agencies
David van Reizig and Chris Conradie, both of Polyoak Packaging with Gerald Green of Gühring Cutting Tools South Africa in the middle
Andre Jansen Van Vuuren and Sharné Bodenstein, both of Bystronic