Manufacturers from Coventry and Warwickshire have travelled across the pond to learn what future technology holds for them and to try and win new business.

A group has been taken to the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago by the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber.

The companies are all members of The Chamber Engineering and Manufacturing Action Group, (CEMAG), which was launched last year to help boost the region's engineering and manufacturing sector.

IMTS is held once every two years and the 1998 exhibition attracted more than 130,000 visitors, including the machine tool associations of 23 different countries, and achieved orders worth more than a billion dollars.

The local delegation is aiming to make new contacts and do business with potential customers from all over the world in the 2000 show's 10 exhibition halls.

Accompanying the nine-strong group are Peter Shearing, Coventry area director at The Chamber, and Graham Allcock, who manages the CEMAG programme for The Chamber.

Mr Shearing said:

"This event offers manufactures a major opportunity to gain an insight into the latest developments in the industry and to make new contacts.

"We are also hoping our members will use the visit to judge the potential of exporting to North America."

The companies in the delegation are: Hey Machine Tools; Marrill Engineering; PBK Micron; KC Machine Tools; Special EFX; KWI Grindings; Midland Metrology; Earldson Technology; and Centreline Machine Tool Co.

Bookings for the next IMTS to be held in 2002 are now being taken by The Chamber. For further information, contact Chamber export adviser Alan Jones on 024 76 654321.