diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/api/interfaces/IMEConnectable.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/api/interfaces/IMEConnectable.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0e6e130b4ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/api/interfaces/IMEConnectable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package gregtech.api.interfaces;
+
+/**
+ * A hatch that has a connection to an ME cable.
+ * Used by the matter manipulator to copy this setting.
+ */
+public interface IMEConnectable {
+
+    /** If this hatch can accept connects on the side, or just the front. */
+    boolean connectsToAllSides();
+
+    void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects);
+}
diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchCraftingInputME.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchCraftingInputME.java
index 841739ffca7..5806559d4d0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchCraftingInputME.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchCraftingInputME.java
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@
 import gregtech.api.enums.ItemList;
 import gregtech.api.gui.modularui.GTUITextures;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.IConfigurationCircuitSupport;
+import gregtech.api.interfaces.IMEConnectable;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.ITexture;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddGregtechLogo;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddUIWidgets;
@@ -104,7 +105,7 @@
 
 public class MTEHatchCraftingInputME extends MTEHatchInputBus
     implements IConfigurationCircuitSupport, IAddGregtechLogo, IAddUIWidgets, IPowerChannelState, ICraftingProvider,
-    IGridProxyable, IDualInputHatch, ICustomNameObject, IInterfaceViewable {
+    IGridProxyable, IDualInputHatch, ICustomNameObject, IInterfaceViewable, IMEConnectable {
 
     // Each pattern slot in the crafting input hatch has its own internal inventory
     public static class PatternSlot implements IDualInputInventory {
@@ -477,6 +478,17 @@ public boolean onWireCutterRightClick(ForgeDirection side, ForgeDirection wrench
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public boolean connectsToAllSides() {
+        return additionalConnection;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects) {
+        additionalConnection = connects;
+        updateValidGridProxySides();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AENetworkProxy getProxy() {
         if (gridProxy == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputBusME.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputBusME.java
index fcffcd41af5..f0ce6a800f7 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputBusME.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputBusME.java
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@
 import gregtech.api.gui.modularui.GTUITextures;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.IConfigurationCircuitSupport;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.IDataCopyable;
+import gregtech.api.interfaces.IMEConnectable;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.ITexture;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddGregtechLogo;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddUIWidgets;
@@ -79,8 +80,9 @@
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaConfigHandler;
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaDataAccessor;
 
-public class MTEHatchInputBusME extends MTEHatchInputBus implements IConfigurationCircuitSupport,
-    IRecipeProcessingAwareHatch, IAddGregtechLogo, IAddUIWidgets, IPowerChannelState, ISmartInputHatch, IDataCopyable {
+public class MTEHatchInputBusME extends MTEHatchInputBus
+    implements IConfigurationCircuitSupport, IRecipeProcessingAwareHatch, IAddGregtechLogo, IAddUIWidgets,
+    IPowerChannelState, ISmartInputHatch, IDataCopyable, IMEConnectable {
 
     protected static final int SLOT_COUNT = 16;
     public static final String COPIED_DATA_IDENTIFIER = "stockingBus";
@@ -179,6 +181,17 @@ public boolean onWireCutterRightClick(ForgeDirection side, ForgeDirection wrench
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public boolean connectsToAllSides() {
+        return additionalConnection;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects) {
+        additionalConnection = connects;
+        updateValidGridProxySides();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AENetworkProxy getProxy() {
         if (gridProxy == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputME.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputME.java
index 5e7fd23d95e..c9921c3e18d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputME.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchInputME.java
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 import gregtech.api.enums.ItemList;
 import gregtech.api.gui.modularui.GTUITextures;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.IDataCopyable;
+import gregtech.api.interfaces.IMEConnectable;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.ITexture;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddGregtechLogo;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.modularui.IAddUIWidgets;
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaDataAccessor;
 
 public class MTEHatchInputME extends MTEHatchInput implements IPowerChannelState, IAddGregtechLogo, IAddUIWidgets,
-    IRecipeProcessingAwareHatch, ISmartInputHatch, IDataCopyable {
+    IRecipeProcessingAwareHatch, ISmartInputHatch, IDataCopyable, IMEConnectable {
 
     private static final int SLOT_COUNT = 16;
     public static final String COPIED_DATA_IDENTIFIER = "stockingHatch";
@@ -333,6 +334,17 @@ public boolean onWireCutterRightClick(ForgeDirection side, ForgeDirection wrench
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public boolean connectsToAllSides() {
+        return additionalConnection;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects) {
+        additionalConnection = connects;
+        updateValidGridProxySides();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AENetworkProxy getProxy() {
         if (gridProxy == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputBusME.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputBusME.java
index 5a250eae001..e07ed5ec271 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputBusME.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputBusME.java
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 import gregtech.GTMod;
 import gregtech.api.enums.ItemList;
 import gregtech.api.gui.modularui.GTUIInfos;
+import gregtech.api.interfaces.IMEConnectable;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.ITexture;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.tileentity.IGregTechTileEntity;
 import gregtech.api.metatileentity.MetaTileEntity;
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaConfigHandler;
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaDataAccessor;
 
-public class MTEHatchOutputBusME extends MTEHatchOutputBus implements IPowerChannelState {
+public class MTEHatchOutputBusME extends MTEHatchOutputBus implements IPowerChannelState, IMEConnectable {
 
     protected static final long DEFAULT_CAPACITY = 1_600;
     protected long baseCapacity = DEFAULT_CAPACITY;
@@ -203,6 +204,17 @@ public boolean onWireCutterRightClick(ForgeDirection side, ForgeDirection wrench
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public boolean connectsToAllSides() {
+        return additionalConnection;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects) {
+        additionalConnection = connects;
+        updateValidGridProxySides();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AENetworkProxy getProxy() {
         if (gridProxy == null) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputME.java b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputME.java
index a9208d0e63a..5c98c28063f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputME.java
+++ b/src/main/java/gregtech/common/tileentities/machines/MTEHatchOutputME.java
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 import gregtech.api.enums.GTValues;
 import gregtech.api.enums.ItemList;
 import gregtech.api.gui.modularui.GTUIInfos;
+import gregtech.api.interfaces.IMEConnectable;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.ITexture;
 import gregtech.api.interfaces.tileentity.IGregTechTileEntity;
 import gregtech.api.metatileentity.MetaTileEntity;
@@ -65,7 +66,7 @@
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaConfigHandler;
 import mcp.mobius.waila.api.IWailaDataAccessor;
 
-public class MTEHatchOutputME extends MTEHatchOutput implements IPowerChannelState {
+public class MTEHatchOutputME extends MTEHatchOutput implements IPowerChannelState, IMEConnectable {
 
     private static final long DEFAULT_CAPACITY = 128_000;
     private long baseCapacity = DEFAULT_CAPACITY;
@@ -236,6 +237,17 @@ public boolean onWireCutterRightClick(ForgeDirection side, ForgeDirection wrench
         return true;
     }
 
+    @Override
+    public boolean connectsToAllSides() {
+        return additionalConnection;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public void setConnectsToAllSides(boolean connects) {
+        additionalConnection = connects;
+        updateValidGridProxySides();
+    }
+
     @Override
     public AENetworkProxy getProxy() {
         if (gridProxy == null) {