Midlands show exhibits evidence of optimism

摘要

After last week's 60-page preview on the Mach 2000 machine tool fair in Birmingham, you may feel we have given enough coverage to this sector for the time being. But having talked to people at the show, let's draw out a few generalities. First, many engineering companies are still remarkably cool about the R-word. In one sense, of course, it is far too early to expect to see the effects of the Rover demise feeding through to the subcontracting chain, and down to the machine tool suppliers. But as one of our readers' letters points out this week, Longbridge has not been a great source of business for many suppliers in recent years. The effects are likely to be patchy. The prevailing mood is one of wait-and-see.