Multiple sectors within the UK’s advanced engineering and high value manufacturing community converged in record numbers last week at the Advanced Engineering UK 2013 group of events, taking place at the NEC Birmingham.

These included Aero Engineering Show 2013, Composites Engineering Show 2013, Automotive Engineering Show 2013, Auto Electronics 2013 and Printable Electronics for Industry.

Boasting a record total attendance of some 12,000, this year’s Advanced Engineering UK group of events recorded a massive 30% attendance increase.

Must attend

An important annual advanced engineering sector showcases for technology innovation, processes and industry supply chain capability, the Advanced Engineering UK 2013 group of events brought together five interlinked shows representing  priority UK high value engineering and technology sectors. This  created an integrated UK technology transfer and business development opportunity.

Ian Stone, Managing Director of show organisers UK Tech Events, commented: “With UK industry more upbeat than ever about growth opportunities in these high value industries, supported by the continuing prioritisation from industry, government and academia, the co-locating events have rapidly become a ‘must attend’ annual calendar fixture given their unique concentration of multiple high value, high skilled and high intensity engineering sectors under one common roof.”

“These key sectors are the vanguard for delivering UK ambitions to rebalance the economy and represent already outstanding examples of where the UK is striving to take an international lead, reflecting its unique and comprehensive value chain capability and competitiveness.”

Technology and process innovations

The show hosted a record of 650 specialist exhibitors. From advanced materials, digital engineering solutions, design, testing , manufacturing  supply chain partners, specialist sub-contractors and much more,  the show featured the diversity of technology and engineering services on display this year, backed by its open conference programme.

Hosted across five parallel show-floor based auditoria, this year’s open conference programme was a success. Over 200 experts gave the insight into latest research, discussed industry case studies, as well as latest technology and process innovations.

Strategic landscaping

Dr Neil Calder, Conference Director for the parallel speaker programmes summarised this year’s approach as “a carefully and deliberately constructed programme, with the assistance of key infrastructure organisations, providing a combination of strategic landscaping and tactical information, in the format of a series of rapid fire briefings with easy and open access to all attendee groups.”

This  year’s Open Conference  programmes were supported with a record level of contributions from leading industry associations, technical and industry bodies, as well as centres of excellence, including High Value Manufacturing Catapult, ADS, AMRC , NetComposites, EEF, Composites UK,  National Composites Centre,  North West Aerospace Alliance, UK Aerodynamics Centre, Composites Skills Alliance and more.

www.advancedengineeringuk.com