UK-Irish trade relations were central to Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2019, as visitors, exhibitors, manufacturers and business owners met at the manufacturing supply trade exhibition event at Limerick Institute of Technology’s (LIT) Moylish Campus.

The event — hosted by UK trade association GTMA (www.gtma.co.uk) — was also attended by Catherine Page (Chargée d’Affaires at the British Embassy in Dublin) and representatives of the embassy’s Department of International Trade.

Local suppliers and manufacturers also took part in some 190 one-to-one meetings with larger companies — such as Stryker Medical, Cook Medical, Ascent Aerospace, Bombardier and Aughinish Alumina — at the inaugural Meet the Manufacturer event.

GTMA CEO Julia Moore said: “Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2019 opened up new possibilities within the supply chain to customers and suppliers from both Ireland and the UK, advancing stronger trading relationships between both.

"Every year we see new ideas, new technologies, new materials and new processes on display, allowing us to share knowledge — as well as do business.

"The event certainly highlights the high levels of innovation and skills offered by our SME engineering community, with companies that need to be responsive, fast, flexible and have the ability to innovate, as well as to be competitive in a global market.”

LIT president Vincent Cunnane said: “Manufacturing Solutions gets better every year. The event is very much about sharing ideas, skills and information, as well as fostering strong relationships within the UK and Ireland.

"LIT is built on collaboration and on connectedness with industry, and with Manufacturing Solutions now in its third year, we were delighted to place a new emphasis on relationship-building, with Irish SMEs having their own zone among the 110 exhibitors.”

Chargée d’Affaires Ms Page said: “The British Embassy is delighted to be supporting Manufacturing Solutions in Limerick today. We see it as critically important to connect companies in the manufacturing sector to support engineering med-tech and aerospace companies, and we are confident that great business will follow.”