Pryor Marking Technology modular exhibition stand case study at MACH 2026, a stripped-back design that put the brand front and centre

Pryor Marking Technology worked with Motive Exhibitions for MACH 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, replacing a busy stand with a stripped-back 9x5m modular exhibition stand with custom elements that put their brand and demonstrations at the forefront. The layout was designed around the client’s marking machinery and tools, engineering custom counter tops to bear the weight of the equipment and placing the Made in Britain and Made in Yorkshire credentials front and centre alongside the brand.

Pryor Marking Technology had exhibited at MACH before. But their previous stand had started to feel dated and busy. For MACH 2026 at the NEC, Birmingham, the brief was clear: strip it back, update the look, and let the brand and the demonstrations do the work.

MACH organised by the MTA and held biennially at the NEC, Birmingham. With over 26,000 attendees – CEOs, engineers, buyers and MDs – it’s one of the most important dates in the UK manufacturing calendar. Pryor Marking made the most of their position in the middle of the main hall with a 9mx5m exhibition stand open on three sides, to make the most of the high footfall.

Same show, different approach

The previous stand had a lot going on. The new approach was to simplify – fewer graphics, more breathing room, and a clear focus on what Pryor Marking does best: precision marking, demonstrated live. Simon Dunn, MD at Pryor Marking Technology, is passionate about UK manufacturing and about meeting existing customers, suppliers, and prospects – face to face. MACH, he says, is a good barometer of what’s happening in manufacturing engineering – a chance to see how much technology is improving and where the opportunities are.

Built for live demonstrations

Two benches at the front of the stand featured stainless steel embedded into the counter tops for live demonstrations. The marking tools were quite noisy – and they stopped people as they walked past. Two recessed areas to the left and right housed larger tools and machinery, with timber-covered lockable doors. A door in the middle gave the team somewhere to keep their personal effects and charge their phones.

We knew the dimensions and weight of the machines in advance, so we made the counter tops 1m deep with bracing built in to take the weight safely. 90% of the stand was from our extensive range of exhibition stand and furniture rental, to maximise the budget and focus on the demonstrations.

We placed the Pryor Marking logo centralised and across the top – highlighted, well lit, and right at the forefront of the stand. It was clear from a distance who they were and what they stood for. Made in Britain and Made in Yorkshire were given more prominence at the client’s request – an important signal of their UK manufacturing expertise to the visitors walking the hall.

An exhibition stand that meant business from day one

The stripped-back design drew in the right people. Personalised pens marked on the spot gave visitors something simple, memorable, and useful to take away.

“My favourite part of the stand is the interactive area at the front. You can spend hours talking about what we do, but to be able to get hold of a piece of marking equipment, put a name into it and mark it onto a piece of metal – that’s a great way to show it.”
Simon Dunn, Managing Director, Pryor Marking Technology

What we delivered:

• Exhibition stand design
• Exhibition stand manufacture
• Custom demonstration area
• Modular exhibition stand system
• Installation
• Dismantle
• Storage
• Logistics
• Project management

A shared passion for UK manufacturing

“Combining smaller demo areas at the front naturally drew people to the tools, while the larger, heavier machines sat further back. It was great to include their Made in Yorkshire and Made in Britain marks too – Simon Dunn, MD at Pryor Marking Technology, is incredibly passionate about UK manufacturing, and so are we. It’s always good when you share that with a client.”
David Hennessy, Managing Director, Motive Exhibitions

Ready to create your own showstopper?

Get in touch with us today and let’s talk about your next show. Whether you want to strip it back and let the demonstrations do the talking like Pryor Marking Technology, or create something completely different, we know how to build a stand that gets the right people stopping.