A few days to go until Advanced Engineering . . .

With just a few days to go until the start of Advanced Engineering 2024, the UK’s annual engineering and manufacturing exhibition, key industry players are preparing for this year's show at the NEC, Birmingham, on 30 and 31 October. In its 15th year, the show promises to be a must-attend event for professionals across sectors including aerospace, automotive, composites and Industry 4.0, with over 400 exhibitors and around 9,000 visitors anticipated. The show will feature a cross-industry floor layout that encourages interaction among a wide range of exhibitors, with added focus on sectors such as marine, motorsport, construction, medical, rail and sport.

One of the highlights this year is the ‘Enabling Innovation competition’, which gives start ups and SMEs the chance to showcase their breakthrough technologies. The contest has been expanded due to its fast-growing popularity, and finalists will present their innovations in the dedicated Enabling Innovation Zone.

On the second day, they will compete on the Main Stage for a coveted prize — a free exhibition stand at next year’s show. Previous winners, like OxDrive and iCOMAT, have seen substantial business growth as a result of their participation. In addition, the Main Stage and the Advanced Materials & Technologies forum will be packed with keynote speakers and expert discussions. There will be over 150 speakers talking about a variety of topics including sustainability, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation, with confirmed speakers including Brian Holliday of Siemens Digital Industries, Matthew Atkinson of Jaguar Land Rover and Shaun Harris from the RAF.

Elsewhere, the Meet the Buyer scheme, in partnership with ADS, will provide an opportunity for exhibitors to connect directly with procurement representatives from leading aerospace OEMs. After the success of last year’s meetings, which facilitated important business relationships, this year’s scheme is expected to prove popular.

Live demonstrations and interactive displays
The exhibition will also feature live demonstrations and interactive displays across a wide range of sectors. Among the technology set to debut is Flux Aviation’s prototype electric aircraft. The innovative start-up is on a mission to accelerate the transition of aviation towards electric power, having recently been recognised as the ‘Most promising solution by Innovation Zero’. Other innovations on display include ZeroAvia’s hydrogen-electric powertrain, Ohmio’s autonomous shuttle, BEDEO’s electrification retrofit technology and Mark3D’s latest developments in 3-D printing and robotics.

Alison Willis, director and CEO of Easyfairs, the event’s organiser, said: “We received positive feedback from last year’s show, so we are continuing the cross-industry floor layout that encouraged collaboration and interaction,. We have refined certain elements to make this year’s event even more impactful, allowing visitors from one sector to further explore and learn from speakers from an entirely different sector.”

Advanced Engineering is supported by a number of key industry organisations, including the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), Composites UK, Make UK, UKRI, the UK Space Agency and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Additional support also comes from associations such as GAMBICA, BARA and the Department for Business and Trade. These partnerships ensure that the show remains at the forefront of the latest trends and challenges facing the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Combined with its innovative exhibits, forums and networking opportunities, Advanced Engineering provides a platform for the future of engineering and technology.

A show not to be missed, there is still time to secure a ticket to this year’s show via the website — here.