MecWash managing director, John Pattison, shares his thoughts on manufacturing, component cleaning and MACH in 2026:

The new year always brings fresh impetus to the manufacturing industry, and with MACH on the horizon, there is added enthusiasm for the year ahead. We saw a positive 2025 at MecWash, with robust demand for our industrial component cleaning systems. In recent years, automotive has had a difficult time and an upturn in the sector would be welcomed. Both defence and aerospace are in a strong position due to a high demand and the expertise of UK manufacturers in these sectors.

Medical is a consistently important sector for MecWash and I expect this to continue. Medical regulations are notoriously stringent which serves us well as our parts washing systems have a reputation for satisfying the toughest of demands.  We have also seen a rise in interest from customers in additive manufacturing. This is beginning to become an option in more mainstream manufacturing processes.

Our approach has always been to design a bespoke process, chemistry and system for each application put forward to us. This detailed analysis of the requirements for each customer gives our team the ability to meet the varying contamination challenges set.

With high energy prices set to continue, I expect our customers will focus on optimising their industrial parts washing to even an even greater extent. The pressures of the market will force manufacturers to prioritise their investments and generate efficiencies wherever possible.

John Pattison, right, with Paul Jarratt and the MWX400.

Speaking with our customers, there is a theme of reducing downtime as productivity is essential with high operating costs. MecWash component cleaning systems have always been built with durability and reliability at the core of their operation. Customers increasingly expect machines to be accessed remotely to diagnose problems swiftly – something we have offered for years.

With our programme of regular preventative maintenance, MecWash customers can expect a continued commitment to provide the highest standard of service throughout the lifecycle of the system. Also our fully refurbished machines have proved popular in recent years and have sold quickly once added to the market.

Even as market-leaders, we are always searching for ways of improving our systems and our service. We will continue to innovate and lead the research of the latest cleaning advancements. The experience of our team is unparalleled, and I am confident that we will continue to deliver the results for our customers from across industry.

The team understands the balance between the power of washing and drying with the delicacy of the components for each individual application. This knowledge gives us the ability to work alongside our customers to deliver efficient systems that will consistently perform. The growing number of systems that we build for longstanding customers is a testament to the quality of our approach.

With a bright outlook and renewed commitment to our customers, we are anticipating a busy year with MACH 2026 as the highlight in April. We consider MACH to be the marquee event in the British engineering calendar and look forward to sharing and discussing the very latest that UK and global manufacturing has to offer.