The decision to invest in the largest MACH exhibition stand in the group’s history proved to be a correct one, as record numbers of visitors visited the Ceratizit WNT (www.wnt.com) stand over the five days of the show.

The stand design focused on industry sectors and how Ceratizit WNT cutting tools and work-holding solutions can maximise productivity.

Glenn Stanton, UK and Ireland sales manager, said: “Over the five days, we registered 1,550 leads — with 436 of those taken on Thursday — making it our best-ever MACH exhibition.

"What was also encouraging was the diversity of those visiting the stand, with visitors coming from a variety of engineering manufacturing sectors across the whole of the UK — along with a significant number from Ireland.”

Prominent on the stand was a fan disc from a Rolls-Royce Trent engine, as used on the Airbus A380 aircraft; this was on loan from the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), of which the Ceratizit Group is a Tier One member.

Managing director Tony Pennington said: “The fan disc drew lots of attention and is typical of how we are providing smart and industry-focused solutions to manufacturing companies.

“The components in the disc and other elements of the engine are machined using Ceratizit Group tools.

“MACH is also a good opportunity to assess manufacturing trends; and from our perspective as a supplier of cutting tools, it is encouraging to see that the high level of capital spending on machine tools is continuing.

“We had some very positive conversations with people from small, medium and large businesses.

“We were also encouraged by conversations we had with those working in the oil and gas sector, where the feeling was that this is gaining strength, with customers reporting themselves to be very busy again.”