Northern Regional College Staff Explore Future Manufacturing Technologies at MACH 2026

Staff from Northern Regional College's Advanced Technologies Department attended MACH 2026, the UK's premier machine tool and manufacturing technologies exhibition, held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham. The visit funded by Connected KAFA funding provided a valuable opportunity to explore the latest developments in engineering, manufacturing, automation and digital technologies, helping to ensure the College remains at the forefront of industry-relevant training and skills development.

Representing the College were Rory McCloskey, Lecturer in Advanced Technologies, and Dominic O'Hagan, Technician in Advanced Technologies, who joined thousands of industry professionals from across the UK and Ireland at the biennial event. Spanning five exhibition halls and showcasing cutting-edge machine tools, tooling solutions and manufacturing software, MACH offered direct access to leading suppliers and live demonstrations of emerging technologies.

The visit comes at an important time for the College following significant investment in its CNC machining facilities, including the addition of new three-axis vertical machining centres alongside existing five-axis milling and turning technology. This investment reflects the growing demand for advanced manufacturing skills within Northern Ireland's engineering sector and reinforces the College's commitment to preparing learners for modern industry careers.

Throughout the exhibition, staff engaged with a wide range of industry-leading companies specialising in CNC machining, laser cutting, metrology, tooling, workholding systems, automation and additive manufacturing. Discussions with suppliers provided insights into the latest manufacturing innovations and opportunities for future collaboration, training support and equipment development.

The team also met with software providers and industry partners to discuss developments in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), coordinate measuring machine (CMM) programming, automation and digital manufacturing processes.

Reflecting on the visit, the team described MACH 2026 as highly informative and valuable, providing fresh ideas for future investment and development, including opportunities linked to the College's planned Industry 4.0 Centre (I4C). The experience reinforced the fast-paced nature of the engineering sector and the importance of continually investing in facilities, equipment and training programmes to meet evolving industry needs.

By engaging directly with technology providers and manufacturing leaders, Northern Regional College continues to strengthen its links with industry, ensuring learners have access to the latest knowledge, equipment and practical skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing engineering and manufacturing landscape.