Altus Group, distributor of capital equipment for electronics manufacturing in the UK and Ireland, has confirmed that EMPEL Systems will host Factory of the Future 2026, taking place from 22–24 September at the company’s manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes
Factory of the Future is Altus Group’s flagship electronics manufacturing event, bringing together leading technology suppliers, advanced production solutions and industry experts. Across the event, attendees will see the latest developments in the sector through live demonstrations, presentations and knowledge sharing covering the complete assembly process.
Now in its third year, the event is moving from the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to a live customer facility for the first time, offering a first-hand look at the equipment operating in a real production environment.
Founded in 2019, EMPEL Systems develops and manufactures cutting-edge electric propulsion technologies. EMPEL Systems is planning a significant investment in a complete in-house SMT capability, supplied by Altus in partnership with Fuji, which is due to be installed at the company’s Milton Keynes facility later in 2026. The line will support the development and manufacture of advanced technologies, including embedded die applications.
Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group, said: “Factory of the Future has always been about more than demonstrating equipment. Our objective is to give manufacturers practical insight into the technologies shaping the future of electronics production and the confidence to invest in solutions that will support long-term growth.
“By bringing together leading technology partners in a live manufacturing environment, visitors can see complete production processes in action, discuss real manufacturing challenges with industry experts and take away ideas they can apply within their own operations.“EMPEL Systems is the perfect host for this year’s event. Its investment in one of the UK’s most advanced SMT production environments reflects exactly the type of forward-thinking manufacturing that Factory of the Future is designed to showcase.” Visitors will see technologies including board handling, laser marking, screen printing, solder paste jetting, solder paste inspection (SPI), pick-and-place, vacuum reflow and 3D automated optical inspection (AOI), demonstrating how an integrated manufacturing line supports quality, efficiency and full process traceability.
Across the three days, dedicated themes covering SMT assembly, through-hole assembly, and back-end manufacturing and component management will allow visitors to focus on the technologies and processes most relevant to their business. Guided tours of the EMPEL facility will offer an additional behind-the-scenes view of the site.
Registration for Factory of the Future 2026 will open shortly. Further information will be available at www.altusgroup.co.uk
