This month sees the resurrection of the stand-alone machine tool and related industry exhibition – Machine Tools Africa 2017 – taking place at Expo Centre, Nasrec in Johannesburg from 9-12 May 2017.
The MTMA (Machine Tool Merchants Association of Southern Africa) has endorsed the exhibition that will take place on a three-year cycle. The MTMA last held an exhibition for its members and other companies associated with the industry in 1997. The previous exhibition ceased purely for economical reasons.
Machine Tools Africa 2017 has been designed to showcase the very latest technology developments, machinery, products, services and solutions in this innovative sector.
Machine tools touch every aspect of our lives from cell phones to cars, heart monitors to food processing equipment, computers to coffee machines – almost everything that’s used on a daily basis at work and at home. Quality tools and machinery are the backbone of the South African manufacturing industry. This important sector will take centre stage at Machine Tools Africa 2017 with all the latest innovations, products, services, technologies, trends and developments.
The exhibition will bring machinery alive through daily demonstrations and interactive displays. Manufacturers and suppliers will showcase a broad range of machinery, equipment, products and services involved in the machine tools cycle. This will include sheet metal and plate processing machinery, metal tube and pipe processing machinery, metal forming and metal cutting machine tools, machines for welding and for thermal and surface treatments, special purpose machinery for electrical and hydraulic, and mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic driven devices. In addition, foundry and forging technology and equipment as well as bearing, gear generating, mould processing, manufacturing technology and equipment will be on display. Also in the spotlight will be robotics, mechatronics, automation hardware and software, additive manufacturing technologies, assembling, tools, parts and components, cutting tools and accessories, metrology, quality control, and systems for safety and environmental protection, all an integral part of the successful engineering shop.
Close to 100 companies will be exhibiting at Machine Tools Africa 2017. These companies will mainly be the local machine tool suppliers together with their international principals. Whether you are operating a job shop, service centre, production business or just a general engineering business there will be machines, software, tooling and accessories on display that could enhance your business.
The synergies that exist between all of these companies heightens the fact that we cannot operate in isolation and as a result the exhibition will attract a broader audience that will be mutually beneficial to all.
On the sheet metal side I know of at least eight fiber laser cutting machines that will be on display. When you consider the cost and commitment to have these machines on display, all cutting metal, you will realise the effort that the local suppliers have taken to show you the latest equipment available. Some of the machines were only launched at the recent EuroBlech 2016 held last October.
The CNC metal removal machines on display are equally impressive. There are too many to count but be rest assured they will include the latest innovations in this field.
Entrance to the exhibition is free so there is no excuse not to attend. The knowledge that you will glean from visiting this exhibition is immeasurable. I look forward to seeing you there.
