Let's get the show on the road

This year’s Advanced Engineering Show promises to be the biggest and best on record. Easyfairs’ new industrial divisional director and show mastermind, Alison Willis takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of how preparations are shaping up.

Now in its ninth year, this year’s Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC in Birmingham between 1-2 November promises to be bigger and better than ever before. The show is the UK’s largest annual gathering of advanced engineering professionals and connects the UK’s supply chain with products and services from large and small companies through to top tier industry players in a two-day free-to-attend exhibition and high-level conference.

Last year saw over 700 supply chain partners and more than 13,000 engineers, procurement managers and senior decision makers from OEMs and higher tier companies all looking to source, specify and invest in the most up-to-date products and explore the latest industry innovations. But with four months until the show opens, how are this year’s preparations going?

“We’re very excited about this year’s show,” says Willis. “It’s coming together really well and promises to be the best yet! 446 exhibitors have already signed up. Of those, 22% are new exhibitors and approximately over 50% are from aerospace. Currently, there’s some floor space left for new exhibitors, but that is reducing by the day.”

Advanced Engineering 2017 includes five co-located zones: Aero Engineering, Composites Engineering, Automotive Engineering, Performance Metals Engineering - and new for 2017, Connected Manufacturing which focuses on Industry 4.0.

It’s good to talk

What about the show’s speakers? Last year 200 conference speakers were featured across six theatres, covering the entire spectrum of engineering.

“In March, we issued a call for case study-based papers on cutting edge innovations and technology and some great ideas have already been put forward. As you’d expect, the 10-minute presentation slots are highly sought after and we carefully select the speakers on the basis of their unbiased content and value to visitors. There is a real buzz about this year’s conference and we’re due to begin the selection process in a few weeks’ time.”

And if it’s spectacle you’re after, this year’s show also contains several feature exhibit areas which will display eye-catchingly large pieces of equipment/products demonstrating engineering in action.

So, what is it about the Advanced Engineering Show that gets both visitors and exhibitors flocking through its doors every year?

For Willis, the answer is two-fold: “Exhibitors see it as the UK’s number one event to showcase their expertise to a primed audience of motivated and ready to buy attendees interested in sourcing products and solutions. And for visitors, it’s about guaranteeing new and exciting engineering innovations every year and ensuring network opportunities exist with engineers, procurement managers and senior decision makers from OEMs and higher tier companies to small innovative SMEs.”

So, cutting to the chase, what’s the biggest challenge of putting on the show?

“I was initially attracted to this role as what could be more exciting than organising the UK’s largest and most prestigious engineering show? That said, the biggest challenge we face is the sheer amount of organisation that is involved. To get the show off the ground, we’re liaising with thousands of people, but luckily, I have an amazing team behind me who are experienced in pulling off the seemingly impossible and they’ve surpassed my expectations.”

So, what is Willis’ vision for the show’s future? “Quite simply, to surpass our exhibitors and visitors’ expectations and continue to be the UK’s biggest and best show for the latest business, technology, and innovation opportunities in advanced engineering,” she concludes.

www.advancedengineeringuk.com