Subcon, the premier sub-contract supply chain show, returned to the NEC, Birmingham from 7-9 June 2022. The 45th edition of the event didn’t disappoint, from busy stands, to engaged conference sessions and even free cream teas in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the show encapsulated the manufacturing industry’s optimism and successes.

Visitor numbers saw a massive 30% increase compared with 2021 and the co-location with The Engineer Expo and Manufacturing Management Show ensured visitors had plenty to discover, with over 200 international and British exhibitors filling the hall for visitors to source solutions and discover new products. Feelings of optimism were also mirrored by the exhibiting companies with 50% already re-booking their stands for next year — and 10% of those opting to take larger ones.

A spokesperson from exhibitor Ash Technologies said: “We have generated lots of new leads from companies we haven’t seen before, or companies we have tried to get into in the past but haven’t managed to.”

Fellow exhibitor DVR said: “Subcon is always the highlight of our year because of the quality of leads we get and the team here really looks after you. I am looking forward to next year already!”

This year Subcon also ran two parallel conference streams across all three show days, sponsored by leaders in sustainability, Inenco. The Engineer Expo and the Manufacturing Management Show Theatre featured a number of key speakers including Rhys Herbert, senior economist at Lloyds Bank and Dave Swan, chief technology officer at Tharsus Group, this theatre offered visitors insight into the key issues and trends that are driving innovation and shaping the UK’s industrial landscape in 2022.

New for 2022, the Supply Chain Theatre was considered a great success, providing on-the-spot usable and workable solutions on everything from smart tech implementation and security, to workforce development and transitioning to ‘net zero’. With speakers from IBM, Alliance Procurement Solutions and Vendigital, there was something for everyone. Meanwhile VIP visitors were given exclusive access to a Buyers’ Lounge, which ‘oiled the wheels’ for dedicated networking and key discussions to take place.

Subcon was also delighted to be supported by Chatty Hatter, who ran their live podcast takeover (That Engineering Chat). Chatty Hatter will be sharing the lively and informative podcasts that were recorded live at the show over the coming weeks.

The show was supported by several of the foremost manufacturing and engineering journals, including Machinery Market, The Engineer and Manufacturing Management, to name just a few.

Jason Dante, event director, said: “Subcon 2022 has been an exceptional show and we’ve been so pleased to see visitor numbers returning to pre-pandemic levels. The diversity of companies on display brought together the full manufacturing ecosystem to do business in a buoyant environment.

We would also like to say a big thank you to our show sponsors Omnidex, Inenco and Qimtek, as well as all our exhibitors and visitors to the show. We have already started planning for next year and look forward to sharing all the exciting details.”

Subcon will be back from the 7-8 June 2023 at the NEC, Birmingham. Next year, alongside The Engineer Expo and Manufacturing Management Show, The Advanced Manufacturing Show will also be featured. The eagerly anticipated return and fourth edition of the bi-annual Advanced Manufacturing Show will showcase cutting edge machine technologies, cutting tools, workholding apparatus and manufacturing equipment needed by an audience of manufacturing production professionals. This is a dedicated event for buyers to be able to benchmark the latest manufacturing technology on the market to make their investment and purchasing decisions.

For more information on visitor and exhibitor opportunities, and to register your interest, please visit the website (www.subconshow.co.uk).