The discussions on the day at the BTMA MTC Networking Event, demonstrated clear opportunities for stronger engagement between BTMA members and the MTC, particularly around innovation support, automation, digital transformation, sustainability, and future skills development.
Instead of presentations, we focused the roundtable discussion on four questions:
- What keeps you awake at night about the future of the textile machinery industry?
- What opportunity or threat is our industry not moving fast enough to capture — or protect against?
- What engineering or manufacturing problem is becoming too difficult — or too expensive — to solve alone?
- What capability, skill, or technology would most transform your organisation’s ability to innovate if you could access it tomorrow?
The conversation was frank, thoughtful and highly revealing.
What clearly emerged is that many of the challenges facing our industry today — from advanced manufacturing capability to new materials, automation supply chain resilience and skills — are too complex for individual organisations to solve alone.
If the UK textile machinery sector is to remain globally competitive, collaborative innovation will be essential.
That means stronger partnerships between industry, organisations like the MTC, academia, and the wider advanced manufacturing ecosystem.
“The discussion was a reminder that the answers often don’t sit within one company — they emerge when the industry thinks together.”
Thanks to the MTC team for their first-class hosting and facilitation of our event, and to everyone who contributed so openly to the discussion.
Click here to read through the summary document produced following the roundtable discussions, together with the MTC engagement and collaboration pathways presented on the day.
The roundtable sessions generated several common themes and industry challenges, including:
- Innovation funding and the cost of technology adoption
- Skills shortages and workforce development
- Automation and digitalisation
- Sustainability pressures and energy costs
- Global competition and supply chain resilience
- Opportunities for collaboration, prototyping, and technology transfer
We would particularly encourage members to review slide 20 of the summary document outlining the newly launched MTC Productivity Accelerator programme. This initiative may be especially relevant for SME manufacturers looking to improve productivity, support growth, and better prepare for technology adoption and operational scaling.
Should any members wish to discuss potential engagement opportunities further or would like an introduction to the relevant MTC teams, please contact Janette directly at .
