EMO World Tour touches down in London

Dr Wilfried Schäfer, executive director of the VDW

EMO Hannover, the world’s leading trade fair for production technology, held a promotional press conference last month in London attended by Machinery Market. Dr Wilfried Schäfer, executive director of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’s Association), the organiser of the exhibition, opened the proceedings. He explained why the VDW is convinced that the leading international trade fair can make a key contribution to the manufacturing industry’s progress in the UK.

Mr Schäfer discussed how the UK plans to invest heavily during the current year in motor vehicles and parts, aerospace, fabricated metal products, and mechanical engineering. In addition, he said that the Government has set itself the central objective of boosting sustained economic expansion with its Growth Plan 2022. This includes the rapid implementation of 138 major British projects — the focus is on developing road and rail infrastructures, the energy sector, and Broadband expansion.

Meanwhile, the British Net Zero Strategy envisages a ban on the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2030 as well as stricter energy efficiency criteria for the construction of new buildings. The aim is also to achieve a decarbonisation of the energy sector by 2035. In the years ahead the country will experience a growing offshore energy sector. At the same time, the foundations will be laid for a hydrogen economy that is envisaged not only as being ‘green’, but also ‘blue’ based on powerful growth in the chemicals sector.

Mr Schäfer said: “At EMO Hannover, delegates from British industry, the UK Government and investment institutions can all learn about the production technologies specifically suited for their planned projects.”

The last EMO Hannover in 2019 — it has had a four-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic — attracted around 116,700 visitors from 149 countries. Of the 51% that travelled there from outside of Germany, 1,300 were from the UK.

Cutting-edge technologies
Guest speaker was Hugh Welch, the European managing director at Berkshire-based Kyocera SGS Precision Tools Europe Ltd, a leading manufacturer of solid round carbide cutting tools and provider of machining solutions and services for a variety of metalworking industries. He said exhibiting at EMO Hannover is something the company has consistently done since 1985 and has been integral to its ongoing business strategy. He added: “We recognise the importance of relationships with our European customers and our participation at EMO has enabled us to deepen our connections with key industry players. EMO has provided us with a platform to showcase our latest cutting-edge technologies and demonstrate our expertise in precision tool manufacturing.

“Our advanced solid carbide tools have helped high-profile OEMs and Tier Ones, aerospace and medical companies, to improve their processes. They trust us to supply them with the latest innovations in cutting tool technologies to help them achieve their goals, reduce waste and enhance their bottom lines.”

He concluded: “Furthermore, EMO Hannover provides a unique opportunity for us to stay up to date with the latest trends and developments in the industry. It has allowed us to keep pace with the latest innovations in machine tool technology, cutting tools and related technologies and enabled us to stay ahead of the curve providing customers with the latest most advanced solutions to their manufacturing needs.”

For more details on EMO Hannover 2023, which is taking place 18-23 September 2023, visit the website here).