Getting down to business at Subcon 2025

Subcon 2025 is set to return to the NEC, Birmingham, on 4 and 5 June, bringing together over 170 exhibitors and thousands of manufacturing professionals. This premier UK industry event is where manufacturers and buyers from a range of industry sectors including aerospace, automotive, defence, medical, meet to redefine the supply chain with cutting-edge innovations. Visitors can expect UK and international solution providers, hands-on product demonstrations, CPD-accredited workshops, and thought-provoking keynote presentations tackling the industry’s latest trends.

Event highlights include a 10% bigger show floor compared to 2024, and a new and improved forum and workshop programme – keynote speakers will include Jaguar Land Rover, LEGO Group, and Airbus Commercial Aircraft, plus many more. There will be the opportunity to enjoy free networking drinks from 4.30pm on the first day. This will be followed on the second day by the Manufacturing Solutions Show Awards which will celebrate the best and brightest in the industry.

Other attractions include Pro motorsport simulators which will enable visitors to go head-to-head with a real racing superstar Michael O’Brien, one of the most successful drivers in the modern history of McLaren motorsport.

The visitor that clocks up the fastest lap will receive a prize of a PalmerSport Driving Experience Day. Visitors will be able to enjoy a vibrant new networking hub — PUB-CON — ideal for reconnecting with old friends and meeting new contacts — participants will be able to enjoy refreshing drinks and classic 'pub' games in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.

Subcon visitors will also have access to co-located events running at the NEC on the same dates - Automechanika Birmingham, Med-Tech Innovation Expo, Smart Manufacturing Week, and TCT 3Sixty — all under one roof. The show will also offer a VIP buyers programme – open to senior manufacturers, offering exclusive networking opportunities.

Conference programme
From human-robot collaboration and sustainable practices to clean mobility and breaking silos, this programme tackles the hottest topics shaping the industry. Explore challenges like manufacturing security, IP management, and global trading, plus game-changing insights on PLM, composites, and ‘connecting the shopfloor to the top floor’.

Matthew Atkinson, lead research engineer - Jaguar Land Rover (2-2.30pm, 4 June) will present Composite Cross Car Beam: A Case Study in Sustainable Design. He will explore the common misconception that sustainability has to come at a cost, how changing perspectives can alter the definition of sustainability, and how this is critical to the company’s future business. This presentation will outline the replacement of environmentally damaging magnesium with a right-material-right-place solution, the journey to get there, and where it will go next.

Dr Benjamin Silverstone, associate professor and head of skills policy and strategy at WMG, the University of Warwick (11.10-11.40am – 4 June) wil present We Know What We Need, Now, How Do We Get It? “A lot of focus has been placed on understanding the needs of skills for the future and, in many ways, this will always be a challenge as things will always change. However, we are now in a much better position to more accurately predict capability shifts and plan to assess what industry will need to do. We now need to better understand how to ensure that the actual interventions needed are in place. From ensuring that we have a robust skills system to effectively linking employers, individuals and the educators together to deliver there needs to be a more joined up look at how we get what we need once we understand what it is that we want. Every stakeholder has a role to play in this.”

Jesper Toubol, LEGO Group’s vice president of operations — moulding production (10.25-11am – 5 June) Unlocking the Power of Data and Al for Smarter Manufacturing - he will share his insights into how delegates can: leverage machine learning to enhance condition-based maintenance and reduce downtime; empower connected workers with accessible, real-time data through shopfloor data democratisation; as well as analyse and address process variances to drive operational excellence and sustainable improvements.

Workshop programme
Dr Muddassir Ahmed, founder and CEO of SCMDOJO (11.45am-12.40pm – 4 June) Supply Chain Talent Needs in the Age of AI — This presentation will address the changing requirements for talent in supply chain management due to increased digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) integration. Digital skills are becoming essential for supply chain professionals. This presentation will explore how AI is transforming supply chains, necessitating a shift towards more strategic roles. It will also highlight existing skills gaps and obstacles to AI implementation, as well as provide strategies for developing a workforce prepared for the future.

Paul Moss, director - Intergage (3.30-4.20pm, 4 June) Discover the Power of Precision Marketing — “Does your marketing sometimes feel like a cracked egg — spilling everywhere but never quite landing where it matters most? Perhaps you are frustrated with a lack of return on investment (ROI), struggling with stagnant sales or lost in a sea of sameness. The truth is, you are spreading yourself too thin and trying to implement short-term initiatives to a long-term business problem - stifled growth.” In this workshop delegates will learn how to target the right clients with precision and purpose. This is the essence of ‘Fried Egg Marketing’, a focused strategy designed to guide a client through a personalised journey, from first contact to becoming a loyal, profitable, long-term customer. Forget the strategies that have had you scrambling for quick fixes, delegates will learn how to implement a methodology that will help them build meaningful, long-term results for their businesses.”

Speakers from I4Excellence Ltd and Unipart Group (11.25am-12.25pm – 5 June) Foundations for Excellence — Many organisations are already on their journey to excellence – their best-practice has informed useful ‘models’, principles, methods and tools. The manufacturing sector has led much of this development, but a lot of misunderstanding remains in many organisations. All of these 'Excellence' approaches are widely applicable in any organisation and can deliver significant long-term benefits. This workshop will provide key insights on ‘organisation excellence’ and challenge visitors to identify the next steps toward becoming an ‘excellent organisation’.

Panel discussions
Speakers from Rolls Royce SMR, NHS Supply Chain, University of Warwick, Hexagon Consultants Ltd and Digital Catapult (12.45-13.30pm – 4 June) Manufacturing Supply Chains Under Geopolitical Uncertainties - “The global manufacturing landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, trade realignments, and shifting economic policies. In an era marked by rising protectionism, supply chain disruptions, and heightened concerns over national security, businesses and policymakers must rethink traditional sourcing and production strategies. In this presentation, geopolitical dynamics that are reshaping supply chains for critical products will be explored, from semiconductors and pharmaceuticals to renewable energy technologies. By examining the risks and opportunities emerging from global trade tensions, reshoring initiatives, and technological advancements, we will provide insights into how firms can build resilience and adaptability in an increasingly volatile world.”

This panel discussion will bring together industry leaders and academics to delve deeper into the practical implications of these geopolitical shifts. We will examine scenarios of recent supply chain disruptions, discuss the role of government interventions, and assess the impact of diversification, near-shoring and friend-shoring strategies. With global supply chains at a crossroads, this discussion will offer a timely perspective on how manufacturers can navigate uncertainty while ensuring the security and sustainability of their supply networks.

Speakers from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS), IBM and the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (11.45am-12.30pm – 4 June) Adopting Technology [in Manufacturing]. The Opportunities, What’s Holding it Back and How to Move Forward - An opportunity to listen to a panel discussion around the adoption of technology in manufacturing. It will cover what opportunities technology can offer, what is holding manufacturers from adoption and how they can overcome hurdles to exploit the potential. The panel has eminent industry experts from the world of technology, innovation and manufacturing.

Speakers from Airbus Commercial Aircraft, Cranfield University, Fanuc UK and Automate UK
(2.15-3pm – 5 June) Human Robot Collaboration in Manufacturing, the Future or Just Hype? - “The use of human robot collaboration is often put forward as a key future enabler in manufacturing combining the skills and capabilities of both to provide optimal automation solutions. However, the reality is proving to be very different; lack of understanding, fear, mistrust and technical limitations among other barriers, mean that very few truly collaborative systems exist in industry. Why is this and what should we be doing to unlock this potential, game changing approach to manufacturing? This panel will seek to try and answer some of the outstanding questions and open a debate on how to progress this in the future.” The full conference agenda is available via the website here.

Exhibitors
A wide range of exhibitor innovations and solutions will be highlighted at Subcon 2025, including CNC machining, metal fabrication, electronics and components. Other solutions on show include additive manufacturing (AM) and metrology solutions, frictionless bearings and cables and controls.

New to this year’s Subcon will be the Taiwan Precision Components and Hardware Trade Mission. Organised by the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) — Taiwan’s premier trade promotion agency — this exclusive event invites visitors to book one-on-one meetings with 31 leading Taiwanese suppliers selected for their expertise, certifications and global track record. Every meeting is tailored to the UK visitor’s business needs with a wide variety of suppliers available, from fasteners, tools and equipment, mechanical components, and OEM/ODM services. Meetings can be set up on the following link: here.

Allstar has been serving businesses large and small for over 40 years. It has the UK’s largest combined fuel and electric charging network, savings on diesel and its online platform can help manufacturers reduce costs and administration.

Smiths Metal Centres is a world-class supplier of engineering material alloys and plastics into a broad range of industrial applications. It aims to offer all its customers, from the small machine shop to large multi-national corporation, a supply path that continuously provides the highest levels of service, quality and value.

EEPC India has been the Face of Indian Engineering exports for 69 years and has seen India grow from a $10 million engineering export nation in 1955 to $109.32 billion (April 2023-March 2024) and is the premier Export Promotion Council (EPC) in India by the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is sponsored by the government of India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry and caters to the Indian engineering sector. It has many firsts to its credit. The First Indian EPC to have a website, to be ISO certified and to e-catalogue product profiles.

Qimtek helps manufacturing buyers to find quality UK-based sub-contract suppliers that have immediate or long-term capacity. Customers can upload their drawings on ‘Drag, Drop, Source’ or send them by email, with production requirements and Qimtek will put them in contact with its manufacturing partners who will then quote directly.

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA), the UK’s leading trade association for companies in the manufacturing technology sector. MTA members design, manufacture and supply the advanced machinery, equipment and intellectual property that enable the creation of the products it relies on from day to day and that drive the economy.

The British Turned Parts Manufacturers Association (BTMA) is a trade association for high-quality UK-based manufacturing companies, producing precision turned parts and machined components. Members of the BTMA are proactive companies that have collectively raised the profile of the UK sub-contract industry. Membership of the association provides many benefits, including credibility by association, inclusive advertising and networking opportunities.