Visitor registration opens for Advanced Engineering 2025

Visitor registration is now open for Advanced Engineering UK, the UK’s leading annual gathering of engineering and manufacturing professionals. Taking place on 29-30 October at the NEC, Birmingham, Advanced Engineering is the UK’s only event that connects the entire industrial ecosystem, now featuring new additions like the expanded Composites Pavilion, the SME Village, the ADS Pavilion, AM2 Forum (Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Forum) and a focused Electronics Zone. Together, these zones provide fresh opportunities for innovation, collaboration and growth.

This year’s event comes at a pivotal moment for UK industry, following the Government’s announcement of a new 10-year industrial strategy. With measures that could reduce electricity bills by up to 25% for over 7,000 manufacturing firms and billions earmarked for innovation, research and design and artificial intelligence (AI), the strategy signals a renewed focus on long-term industrial growth — a direction that will be reflected across the show floor at Advanced Engineering 2025.

The event will also champion real-world problem-solving and high-value manufacturing — from ‘net zero’ composites to energy-efficient processes. By bringing engineers and innovators together, meaningful change and the industry's most pressing challenges across all sectors can be addressed, including sustainability and skills development.

Following a record-breaking 2024 event that welcomed over 9,800 professionals, visitors can look forward to two action-packed days filled with cutting-edge technology demonstrations, expert-led forums and networking opportunities.

A highlight for 2025 is the newly expanded Composites Pavilion, now in its fourth year and fully booked well in advance. Delivered in partnership with Composites UK, the pavilion offers smaller companies and SMEs turnkey exhibition pods — complete with branded displays, video screens and shelving — making it easy and cost-effective to showcase their innovations. Strategically located next to the Composites Networking Zone, the pavilion provides high visibility and attracts key OEM visitors.

Featuring hands-on demos
Alongside the pavilion, the Composites Networking Zone will feature hands-on demonstrations from PRF Composite Materials, showcasing cutting-edge prepreg systems including rapid processing RP570 presses and innovative recycled carbon solutions. Insights from end users across aerospace, automotive, marine and renewables will highlight how composites are driving high-performance applications and ‘net zero’ ambitions across sectors.

Building on this, Composites UK has re-imagined the Composites Forum for 2025, curating two full days of expert-led sessions focused on sustainability, material circularity and new product development — all aimed at strengthening the sector’s innovation and collaboration. Here, the Composites Networking Zone will be a key feature, with PRF Composite Materials hosting interactive demonstrations and networking sessions designed to foster valuable industry connections.

Furthermore, the event will reinforce the role of SMEs and agile innovators through dedicated spaces such as the SME Village, platforming disruptive technologies across automation, embedded systems, semiconductors and more. These zones underscore the crucial role SMEs play in driving innovation and growth across the UK’s engineering and manufacturing sectors.

Industry’s biggest challenges
Simon Farnfield, event director of Advanced Engineering at Easyfairs UK and Global, said: “This is the only UK event that connects every corner of the industrial ecosystem. With zones focused on composites, electronics and SME innovation, and forums designed to address the industry’s biggest challenges, the 2025 edition is set to deliver even more value for visitors and exhibitors alike. The show will feature over 400 exhibitors, including more than 130 making their debut, meaning that a lot of the stands will offer something brand new to discover.”

What’s more, Atlas Copco is returning as the sponsor of the automotive and aerospace networking lounge for this year’s event, following great success at the 2024 Advanced Engineering show. Jessica Porter, marketing and communications manager at Atlas Copco Tools and Industrial Assembly Solutions, commented: “Atlas Copco will partner with key industry leaders to display the latest developments in Smart Factory advancement which is shaping the way manufacturers are adapting to changing demands in their production environments.

“By harnessing digitalisation with smart assembly tooling, automation, vision inspection and data-driven analysis solutions, manufacturers are transforming their processes to achieve sustainability, productivity and profitability goals.”

Over 200 expert speakers are also set to take stage across multiple forums to explore key topics including digitalisation, supply chain resilience, sustainability and Government policy. The event will also continue its #MINDTHEskillsGAP initiative — launched to help tackle the UK’s ongoing shortage of engineering and manufacturing talent.

In addition, Composites UK will co-locate its prestigious Industry Awards Dinner on the evening of 29 October at the neighbouring National Motorcycle Museum, providing a prime networking opportunity for sector leaders.

Advanced Engineering is once again co-located with Lab Innovations, with all visitors receiving a single badge granting access to both events. With free visitor registration now live, early registrants will receive exclusive updates on speakers, exhibitors and feature areas. Register today: here.