Your Guide to Engineering Exhibitions in 2020

Exhibiting can be a great way to increase your network and broaden your customer portfolio, as they provide uninhibited access to key decision makers within the engineering industry. Whether you’re a subcontract engineering company, a machine tool manufacturer or an engineering software and services provider, you will benefit from the face-to-face contact that engineering exhibitions provide.

Moreover, purchasers of engineering services will also find it useful to attend engineering exhibitions throughout the year. Bringing together a multitude of suppliers under one roof, these events ensure that buyers are kept up-to-date with the latest innovations, offering an opportunity to fulfil numerous purchasing requirements within one visit.

If you would like to attend or exhibit at a UK engineering exhibition in 2020, here is your guide to some of the best shows on offer:

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics

When: 11-13th February 2020
Where: Farnborough International Exhibition Centre

• The UK’s largest regional show dedicated to engineering & manufacturing.
• Exclusive electronics zone.
• Colocated with AutoAero - a show that caters specifically for the automotive and aerospace industries.

Attracting over 9,000 visitors and 800 exhibitors each year, Southern Manufacturing & Electronics is the largest regional show dedicated to engineering & manufacturing. Established for over 30 years, this event recently found a permanent home at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre where the past two shows have been held.

Offering a dedicated electronics zone, Southern Manufacturing & Electronics also hosts a range of other subcontract engineering companies, offering everything from machining, sheet metal and fabrication through to manufacturing technology, additive manufacturing and plastic moulding. Southern Manufacturing & Electronics is colocated with AutoAero - an event that showcases suppliers to the automotive and aerospace industries.

With such a comprehensive offering, it’s no wonder that Southern Manufacturing & Electronics attracts buyers from a number of blue chip OEMs. Therefore, if you’re looking to add some well-known names to your customer portfolio then it’s worth earmarking Southern Manufacturing & Electronics as a show to exhibit at.

For more information, please visit www.industrysouth.co.uk.

Northern Ireland High-Tech Manufacturing & Precision Engineering Expo

When: 27th February 2020
Where: Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast

• Over 1000 members of senior management in attendance.
• Range of educational seminars on offer.
• More than 50 exhibitors and 30 speakers.

The Northern Ireland High-Tech Manufacturing & Precision Engineering Expo brings together over a thousand members of senior management from various engineering and manufacturing companies. With more than 50 exhibitors and 30 speakers at the one-day event, it offers an opportunity for exclusive, targeted introductions between buyers and suppliers.

A number of vertical sectors will be in attendance, including medical, electronics, aerospace and oil & gas. Furthermore, the Northern Ireland High-Tech Manufacturing & Precision Engineering Expo also offers visitors the chance to attend a range of educational seminars addressing current hot topics within the engineering sphere.

For more information, please visit www.hightechmanufacturing-northernireland.com.

East Midlands Engineering Expo

When: 15th April 2020
Where: Kettering Conference Centre

• Supports both local and regional engineering businesses.
• Networking breakfast taking place before the show.
• Affordable exhibitor packages on offer.

Supporting both local and regional engineering businesses, the East Midlands Engineering Expo is a one-day show that brings together purchasers and suppliers of all manner of engineering products and services. With a focus on business-to-business introductions, the East Midlands Engineering Expo also features a networking breakfast prior to the start of the show.

Exhibitors can enjoy a range of affordable packages depending on required stand size, while visitors are given exclusive access to informative demonstrations and seminars throughout the course of the day.

For more information, please visit www.emeexpo.co.uk.

MACH 2020

When: 20-24th April 2020
Where: NEC, Birmingham

• Extremely popular event that showcases the latest innovation within manufacturing technology.
• Five-day show attracting over 25,000 visitors and 600 exhibitors.
• Live manufacturing technology demonstrations on offer.

MACH is an extremely well-regarded event that offers unique insight into the world of manufacturing technology. Featuring a range of live machine tool demonstrations, MACH’s prestige is in part due to the fact that it’s so interactive and part due to its occurrence only once every two years.

So popular is MACH that it attracts over 25,000 visitors and features over 600 exhibitors. Spanning over five days, MACH is also colocated with a number of other industry events including Drives & Controls, Smart Industry Expo and Air-Tech Exhibition. This means that visitors are able to maximise their time away from the office by attending multiple shows and addressing a broad range of requirements.

There is so much to see at MACH that it would be difficult to leave disappointed. The scope of the manufacturing technology showcased is so extensive that even those who are not currently looking to purchase may find themselves persuaded. Manufacturing technology OEMs will find MACH second to none when it comes to accessing their target market, with excellent feedback given by those who have exhibited in preceding years.

For more information, please visit www.machexhibition.com.

Subcon

When: 9-11th June 2020
Where: NEC, Birmingham

• Over 4,000 visitors each year - 80% of which are managers, managing directors, or CEOs.
• 350 exhibitors covering a wide range of subcontract engineering services.
• Colocation with The Engineer Expo.

Subcon is now in its 44th year of existence, cementing it as a veteran show within the UK’s engineering exhibitions calendar. Incorporating suppliers of numerous subcontract engineering services, as well as other aspects of the supply chain, there is plenty to be explored by manufacturing purchasers.

Subcon also attracts an extremely high number of decision makers, which is great news for exhibitors. With 80% of total visitors being either a manager, managing director or CEO, Subcon provides a great platform for suppliers to reach the contacts that matter. What’s more, 2019’s Subcon show saw a 54% rise amongst automotive sector attendees, making it especially poignant to those who are currently working - or looking to work - within this industry.

From a visitor’s perspective there are over 350 exhibitors to meet, covering an array of subcontract engineering processes. In addition, Subcon is colocated with The Engineer Expo, offering access to two great shows in one visit.

For more information, please visit www.subconshow.co.uk.

The Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition

When: 1st July 2020
Where: Arena MK, Milton Keynes

• Host of conferences addressing key issues within the sector.
• Key decision makers from verticals such as aerospace, defence, construction and automotive in attendance.
• Colocated with a number of other events including The IOT & Industry 4.0 Expo, Future Factory Live and The Sustainable Manufacturing Summit.

For those who like to keep their ear to the ground when it comes to engineering and manufacturing, The Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition offers a host of conferences addressing key issues within the sector. It aims to encompass the whole of British manufacturing, attracting key decision makers from verticals such as aerospace, defence, construction, automotive, pharmaceutical and energy.

In addition, The Manufacturing Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is colocated with a number of other events that cover an array of interesting subjects. Visitors can also benefit from attending these shows, which include The IOT & Industry 4.0 Expo, Future Factory Live and The Sustainable Manufacturing Summit.

For more information, please visit www.manufacturingevent.co.uk.

TCT 3Sixty

When: 29th September - 2nd October 2020
Where: NEC, Birmingham

• Caters specifically for the additive manufacturing industry.
• Wide range of live 3D printing demonstrations and 3D printed components on display.
• New branding means that 2020’s show is not to be missed.

Additive manufacturing has changed the face of manufacturing over the past few years, leading to extensive innovation over traditional production methods. TCT 3Sixty - formerly known as the TCT Show - showcases all that additive manufacturing has to offer, with a plethora of live 3D printing demonstrations and 3D printed parts on show.

From equipment through to subcontract additive manufacturing services, TCT 3Sixty covers the full spectrum. Visitors will be blown away by what is made possible by additive manufacturing, whilst the displayed components will give tangibility to its advancements. TCT 3Sixty will also play host to some renowned speakers who will explain how additive manufacturing and 3D printing has made waves in their specific industries.

Companies who are already involved in the manufacture of 3D printed parts will find a home at TCT 3Sixty, due to its direct alignment with additive manufacturing and the networking opportunities it facilitates. The new branding indicates that this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, making it one that is not to be missed.

For more information, please visit www.tct3sixty.com.

Northern Manufacturing

When: 7-8th October 2020
Where: EventCity, Manchester

• Smaller than Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, but enjoys a high footfall.
• Wide range of exhibitors covering the entire spectrum of subcontract engineering.
• Offers a range of seminars & conferences.

Northern Manufacturing & Electronics is a scaled-down version of its southern counterpart; however, it still packs a punch when it comes to bringing together the engineering industry on a regional level. With exhibitors spanning the entire spectrum of subcontract engineering and associated services, Northern Manufacturing & Electronics is an invaluable purchasing resource.

Exhibitors will enjoy targeted access to northern buyers from a range of industries, who use the show to fulfil multiple sourcing requirements. In addition, Northern Manufacturing & Electronics offers a range of conferences & seminars, given to both visitors and exhibitors by some reputable industry leaders.

If you’re looking for a smaller show with a high footfall, then Northern Manufacturing & Electronics will not disappoint.

For more information, please visit www.industrynorth.co.uk.

Engineering Design Show

When: 14-15th October
Where: Ricoh Arena, Coventry

• The UK’s premier event for engineering, electronics and embedded design.
• 78% of visitors in attendance to source new suppliers, products, or services.
• Over 220 exhibitors with a focus on engineering design.

The Engineering Design Show is a must for anyone who is involved in engineering, electronic and embedded design - in fact, it is the only UK show that dedicates itself to this niche. With over 220 exhibitors, buyers can be sure to find a myriad of sourcing solutions, whilst also enjoying a range of practical workshops and conferences that are bookable in advance.

For exhibitors, the Engineering Design Show offers a unique platform to a high footfall of design purchasers, with over 78% of visitors in attendance to source new suppliers, products, or services. In addition, over 56% of visitors have sole or joint purchasing authority, creating plenty of potential for budding business relationships.

For more information, please visit www.engineeringdesignshows.co.uk.

Advanced Engineering

When: 4-5th November 2020
Where: NEC, Birmingham

• Offers dedicated zones that address a range of industry niches including composites, aerospace, automotive and connected manufacturing.
• One of the UK’s largest engineering shows with visitor numbers to match.
• Huge range of conferences with a focus on each specific visitor zone.

Advanced Engineering is one of the largest engineering exhibitions that the UK has to offer. Comprised of dedicated zones that cater for a number of different industry niches, this show is widely regarded as being one of the best within the UK calendar. Needless to say, it attracts an extremely high footfall, with a number of prestigious names reflected in previous visitor samples, including Dyson, Rolls Royce, Jaguar Landrover and GE Aviation.

With every engineering and manufacturing-related service catered for, visitors can be sure to find whatever they’re looking for over the course of the two-day event. Not only does Advanced Engineering play host to subcontract engineering suppliers, but also materials, machine tools, software, technology and much more.

Each zone features its own stage, with back-to-back conferences taking place throughout the show. No other event offers such a wide range of seminars, with each stage tackling a number of subject matters that are specific to the zone’s niche, including composites, aerospace, automotive and connected manufacturing.

Advanced Engineering is a great way to round off the year, with enough networking opportunities to ensure that buyers and suppliers have all of their business needs met.

For more information, please visit www.easyfairs.com.