For Bushey-based Citizen Machinery UK Ltd (www.citizenmachinery.co.uk), MACH 2014 reflected the most positive and confident mood of visitors it had ever experienced at a UK exhibition; with customers reporting new contracts won and the need to improve productivity and competitiveness, the company took orders for 11 machines worth over £1.5 million — on the stand. Managing director Geoff Bryant said: “During our five days at the NEC, we experienced a continuous stream of existing customers that know us, as well as new people keen to see what advantages they could achieve with the latest machine tool technologies being demonstrated.

“Firms were taking the opportunity of seeing and comparing the different suppliers, checking out specifications, openly discussing applications, and looking for solutions and improvements to production. Moreover, visitors were not only booking sales visits but also placing firm orders. These were across the range, including Citizen sliding-head and Miyano fixed-head machines.”

There were six new machines among the 10 machines on show. Three were new Citizens — the L12-VII, L20-XII and the fully automatic three-spindle MC20. This new-concept production cell won both the ‘Grand Prix’ and ‘Best Specialised Machinery/Manufacturing Equipment’ awards presented by the technical publication MWP Advanced Manufacturing. From the latest Miyano fixed-head product line-up, the BNA-42GTY, BNF-51MSY and fully automated GN-4200 high-speed machining cell were demonstrated.

Commenting on the students and apprentices attending MACH 2014, Mr Bryant said: “It was so refreshing to hear the levels of inquisitiveness and especially their awareness of the opportunities available to them in manufacturing. Altogether, some 3,500 students and apprentices came to the show; and with these young people receiving proper training, they represent our future in manufacturing.”