UK-Irish trade relations are to the fore at this year’s Manufacturing Solutions Ireland event, which has already confirmed more than 100 exhibitors and participants from both sides of the Irish Sea.

Hosted by the GTMA and Limerick Institute of Technology (LIT), the ‘supply chain roadshow and conference’ — now in its third year — will take place on 12 June (from 8.30am) at LIT’s Moylish Campus; and for the first time, it will include a one-to-one ‘Meet the Manufacturer’ brokerage event, bringing technology suppliers and manufacturing companies together.

Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2019 will also include a designated zone for Irish SMEs; organised by the Precision Turned Parts Manufacturers Association, this will highlight members’ capabilities, products and services.

An Energy Efficiency in Industry conference will also be co-hosted at the event.

GTMA CEO Julia Moore said: “When we brought Manufacturing Solutions to LIT for the first time in 2017, we were very aware of the importance of creating strong working relationships between Irish and UK companies as we approached Brexit, but what we achieved far surpassed those hopes.

"The enthusiastic response we have received from the engineering and technology businesses based in the UK and Ireland, which constitute the exhibitors and visitors alike, highlights the value of this quickly established event in the industrial calendar.

"It has earned a strong reputation for bringing together leading technology suppliers from Ireland, the UK and Europe.

"Through this event, the GTMA and LIT are providing an ideal conduit for the transfer of technology from specialist suppliers to manufacturing industry, thereby enabling it to gain a competitive business advantage.”

LIT president Vincent Cunnane said: “LIT is delighted to once again host the GTMA conference and trade show. Limerick Institute of Technology is a higher-education institution that plays a leading role in ensuring that manufacturing in the Mid-west region of Ireland continues to have the ability to adapt, change and remain at the cutting edge when it comes to technology.”

Further information and registration details can be found at the Web site (www.manufacturingsolutions.ie)