As with previous MACH exhibitions, MACH 2022 will have a strong focus on encouraging more young people into the engineering and manufacturing technologies industry. Focus of this will the Education & Development Zone, which will feature special displays and a dedicated exhibition zone showcasing the changes taking place within manufacturing and highlighting what makes it one of the most exciting industries to be involved in.
The Education & Development (E&D) Zone, sponsored by Sandvik Coromant, will feature special displays from Airbus Defence & Space, University of Wolverhampton Formula 3 Race Team, Vex Robotics, the Bowers Group Mobile Metrology Centre, F1 in Schools and the Engineering Development Trust (EDT), a nationwide educational charity which offers young people (9-21 years) active learning experiences in STEM-related careers.
- Airbus Defence & Space will be displaying its ExoMars Rover ground demonstration model, ‘Bruno’. Bruno is the Earth-based testing model of its counterpart the ‘Rosalind Franklin’ Rover, which will search for life on Mars. The ExoMars will be demonstrating how it can navigate the surface of Mars, while staff from Airbus will be showing how they communicate remotely with the rover and will be answering questions from young people keen to learn more about engineering in the Air and Space sectors.
- The University of Wolverhampton Formula 3 Race Team is an initiative to provide university students with industry experience by working as part of a professional team in a competitive Motorsport environment. They will be displaying a selection of cars from their race team, which includes a Formula 3 Dallara F308 with a Honda Mugen engine run in the F3 Cup, two Plus 4 Clubsports run in the AR Motorsport Morgan Challenge, a Formula Renault 2.0 previously run at the 2015 Monoposto 2000 Championship and their IMechE Formula Student car.
- VEX Robotics is the world’s leading educational robotics company and the only one with significant presence from Early Years, right through every Key Stage and into University, both for classroom use and extra-curricular competitions. Its VEX IQ and VEX V5 are also used in two of the world’s largest robotics competitions with 10,000s of teams competing in thousands of events every year. At MACH 2022 it will be running workshops using its VEX V5 Workcell Factory Automation solution. Attendees can learn about this 5-axis robot arm, industrial robots, throughput and end effectors and program the Workcell to pick and place.
- The Bowers Group Mobile Metrology Centre is a fully equipped metrology lab on wheels, featuring a range of measuring solutions.
- F1 in Schools is a STEM competition with a difference. Aimed at students aged nine to 19, participants are presented with the chance to work in a close-knit team, where everyone takes on a role to suit their skills. Teams are challenged to create and race their vision of the F1 car of the future, to official Technical Regulations, set out by a rule committee led by legendary F1 Engineer Gary Anderson. The multi-discipline programme encompasses research, planning, managing, designing, marketing, manufacturing and team promotion.
- The Engineering Development Trust aims to give young people the opportunity to gain knowledge and exposure that will help them make decisions about their future. experiences designed to raise awareness, and inform young people how STEM is relevant, interesting and leads to a rewarding career. Participants undertake hands-on challenges and work towards the nationally recognised Industrial Cadets accreditation, whilst interacting with STEM professionals and educators.
James Selka, CEO of the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), said: “The development of key skills to support the future of advanced manufacturing has long been a core goal of the MTA. Without a steady stream of new talent coming into the industry then there is a risk things could stagnate, setting back technological development.
“Encouraging young engineers into the manufacturing industry has sadly been a problem for some years now. Even prior to the pandemic there were concerns insufficient numbers were viewing the industry as a viable career option. With everything that has happened over the past two years, it is now more important than ever to change attitudes and emphasise the real benefits a career in manufacturing can offer.
“This is why MACH 2022 will have a strong focus on encouraging more young people into the industry, with special displays and a dedicated exhibition zone showcasing the changes that have taken place within manufacturing and highlighting what makes it one of the most exciting industries to be involved in.”
The Education & Development Zone is located in Hall 17.
