Get an insight into the latest technologies, trends and transformations sweeping the UK manufacturing sector at Manufacturing Expo 2022, taking place at Birmingham’s NEC from 8-9 June.

Part of Manufacturing and Engineering Week, Manufacturing Expo will bring together manufacturing process and management professionals looking to discover the latest innovations, technologies, and best practice in the manufacturing sector, keep up to date on industry trends, and connect with suppliers who can help them to maintain a competitive edge and optimise manufacturing processes for the future.

With innovation and business improvement at its heart, this two-day event will feature seminars from industry leaders, as well as practical workshops and exhibits from some of the top manufacturing companies in the UK and from around the world.

Seminars and keynote talks

Be inspired by a line-up of industry leaders and innovators who are pushing the boundaries of manufacturing and striving for excellence. Featuring case studies from a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, motorsport, energy, and renewables, pharmaceutical, space and FMCG, the main stage will host topical seminars and panel discussions on themes relevant to manufacturing in 2022 including:

• Sustainability in the manufacturing industry
• Embracing digital transformation
• People and productivity - growing diversity, plugging the skills gap, staff wellbeing in manufacturing and engineering, the role of manufacturing and engineering companies in schools
• Manufacturing beyond Brexit
• Cyber security
• New business models to support low carbon manufacturing
• Innovation driving change in manufacturing
• Building resilience in manufacturing through digitisation
• Case Study - Reaching Net Zero by 2022

Comprehensive workshops

A range of comprehensive workshops delivered by industry experts will help you get to grips with some of the key topics affecting the manufacturing market and discover new approaches and techniques that will help shape the direction of your business and inspire growth for the future. Examples of sessions include How to navigate trade in a post-Brexit world, Lean Manufacturing Solutions, How to Navigate the Shift to Digital, and What Achieving Net-Zero means for your Manufacturing Site.

MHA will be running a drop-in clinic in a private room off the show floor covering a range of Tax, Audit and Business Advisory subjects, such as How to offset the Tax burden amidst changes in legislation, How to take advantage of the current UK M&A boom, How to comply with recent VAT and Customs changes and How to structure various R&D Reliefs and future-proof claims against changes on the horizon.

Made Smarter Innovation are also holding Focus Groups that address everyday challenges, such as ‘people led digitalisation’ ‘connected factories’ and ‘adoption of AI’.

Digital events

If Covid-19 taught us anything, it is how useful digital technology can be for business. This year, supplementing the in-person elements of the event, Manufacturing and Engineering Week 2022 will offer a selection of online session on topics impacting the industry hosted by major players in the sector including Juergen Maier CBE who is Chair of the Digital Catapult, co-Chair of Made Smarter and serves on the Industrial Strategy Council which advises the UK Government on Industrial Strategy. Delegates can register for access to these webinars and watch them on-demand at a time that is convenient to them.

Exhibitions

Visit stands from over 200 of the leading players in the manufacturing sector and discover their latest innovations and learn how they can benefit your business for the future. Exhibitors including Premier Farnell, ABB, Yokogawa, igus UK, RS Solutions, and 3M will be highlighting their latest technologies, covering a wide spectrum of products for industrial applications, and explaining how they can be used to address the latest trends affecting the manufacturing industry.

Simon Meadmore, vice-president of product and supplier management at Farnell says: “The UK is one of Farnell’s strongest markets and we understand the important role the UK plays in global manufacturing. At Farnell, we have worked alongside our customers, helping them to start their digitisation journeys and implement automation across various industries. Industry 4.0 will continue to influence every aspect of manufacturing from smart networks through to predictive maintenance.

“We have invested heavily in our product portfolio and can offer over 80,000 products from leading manufacturers such as Schneider Electric, Honeywell, Festo and Omega. In addition to our product offering, Farnell can offer support for sales, purchasing and technical enquiries to enable our customers to easily adopt new technologies for edge computing, smart energy and efficiency as well as predictive and preventative maintenance.

“For the past two years, we’ve been using virtual conferencing and communication tools to connect with our customers and suppliers, and while this has been extremely valuable, we are excited to get back to face-to-face meetings and live events such as this year’s UK Manufacturing Expo.” 

Innovation zone

With innovation at the heart of design engineering, Design Engineering Expo’s very own innovation zone is a key part of the event. See the latest solutions in action with live demonstrations of some of the most ingenious technologies and learn how they could be put into practice in your own engineering environment.  Sponsored by Arrow, a global provider of technology products, services and solutions, the Innovation Zone will showcase live demonstrations of the UK’s most cutting-edge products, helping visitors discover the latest technologies that are shaping the future of British industry. Highlights include an AI car and the world’s first VTOL biplane, displayed by Coventry University’s Formula Student and UAS Challenge Teams, in association with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, plus an Aston Martin Formula 1 racing car simulator which uses cloud ERP from software vendor IFS. Have a spin in the simulator for a chance to take part in the fastest lap competition, take your spot on the Top Gear style leader board and win prizes.

Network

With the involvement of global leaders in manufacturing and engineering, Manufacturing Expo 2022 is a great place to connect with like-minded professionals and build strategic partnerships. Key opportunities for networking will include a drinks reception on day one of the event with all delegates invited to attend.

Shaped by experts

A key ingredient in the creation of Manufacturing Expo has been the involvement of an Advisory Board of UK experts, bringing together experience from across industry, trade associations, professional bodies, government, and academia to help shape a programme of radically new events.

“There has never been a more important time for our sector to pull together and to work together, to create a shared agenda, help promote and encourage manufacturing and engineering innovation, and see our sectors grow and Manufacturing and Engineering Week will do exactly that,” states Stephen Phipson CBE, chief executive, MAKE UK and current chair of the Advisory Board. “I am delighted to be part of the M&E Week Advisory Board and that MAKE UK are a partner for this ground-breaking event.”

MAKE UK champions and celebrates British manufacturing and manufacturers. Representing 20,000 UK manufacturers, MAKE UK focuses on creating a supportive environment in which they can thrive, innovate, and compete.

As part of Nineteen Group’s support for diversity and promoting women in engineering, half of the Advisory board is made up of prominent women in their respective fields.

Manufacturing & Engineering Week is also supported by many other leading organisations, including: the Women’s Engineering Society – an organisation that promotes women’s education in engineering; the Institute of Export and International Trade – the professional body for importers and exporters; Napier - a B2B technology PR and marketing agency; the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; the Manufacturing Technology Centre – set up to bridge the gap between academia and industry; the Advanced Propulsion Centre – facilitates funding for low-carbon emission powertrains; High Value Manufacturing  Catapult – helps new concepts become commercial; Innovate UK – a public body that promotes innovation; Made Smarter UK – helps grow manufacturing through digital technologies; and the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

www.manufacturingexpo.co.uk