The biennial co-located events – Smart Industry Expo, Drives & Controls, Fluid Power & Systems, Plant & Asset Management, and Air-Tech Exhibitions – are once again set to return to Birmingham’s NEC (Halls 8, 9 and 10) from 10 – 12 April 2018, alongside MACH 2018.
The 2018 co-location will be at least 1,000 square metres bigger than the 2016 exhibition, thanks to the addition of the Smart Industry Expo event. The new event will give exhibitors the opportunity to communicate directly with senior management across the whole of the UK industrial spectrum.
The organiser, DFA Media, says Smart Industry Expo 2018 will be an ideal opportunity for visitors to learn how to prepare for this smart era as well as seeing first hand the variety of technology and services on offer as well as being able to discuss a wide range of issues. The event will cover all sectors of industry from industrial automation and energy to predictive maintenance, supply, power transmission and control and R&D.
Drives & Controls Exhibition will once again bring together key suppliers of state-of-the-art equipment representing the multi-tasking culture of today’s design engineer, covering critical areas such as energy efficiency, machine safety, drives, motion control, robotics and automation plus much more, all under one roof.
First-time exhibitors in the Drives & Controls Show will include Charter Controls, Wiska, ETA Enclosures, Eldon, EBM Papst, Finder, Elmo Motion, Procentec, Fischer Connectors and Infranor. Other returning exhibitors include Beckhoff, B&R, Rittal,Siemens/HMK, Weidmuller, Danfoss, WEG, Eplan, Beijer, Wago, Mitsubishi, Radwell, IGE-XAO and KEB.
Gambica and the European Transmission Distributors Association will again be hosting pavilions where members will be promoting their activities.
Following the success of the inaugural robotics demonstration zone at the 2016 show, this feature is returning with working displays of the latest in robot technologies, including collaborative devices.
Other co-located events include: Plant & Asset Management 2018, showcasing the very latest in condition monitoring, CMMS, outsourcing/contract maintenance, energy efficiency, boilers/burners/combustion, handling and storage plus much more.
Fluid Power & Systems 2018 is focused on hydraulics, pneumatics, systems and related equipment.
Air-Tech 2018 is set to highlight current key themes related to the very latest in air compressor and related technology from companies from around the globe. The event is supported by the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), and is the UK’s only dedicated event for the compressed air and generators market.
Seminar programme
Located at the heart of the 2018 co-location is The Knowledge Hub, which will feature a free comprehensive programme of seminars and panel discussions, with speakers offering expert insight and practical advice on important and topical issues.
The Hub’s theme this year is Smart Factory – Concept to Reality, the journey to a smart future. Global initiatives and the technological paradigm shift associated with the Industrial Internet of Things, shows that there is a growing opportunity for industry to take advantage of the creativity and entrepreneurial nature of UK companies.
The Knowledge Hub will reflect this and will provide a fascinating insight into the potential plants of the future, with high profile panel discussions and seminars from leading figures in the industry, including: Lynne McGregor – Innovate UK; Chris Richards – EEF; Steve Brambley – GAMBICA; Dr Susan Scurlock – Primary Engineer; Chris Buxton – BFPA; Lina Huertas and Sam Turner – HVM Catapult; Jeremy Hadall – MTC; and Mike Wilson – BARA.
For the full Knowledge Hub seminar programme, including session synopses, and to register, visit: www.smartindustry-expo.com
Maintenance Seminar Theatre
In addition to the Knowledge Hub, and complementing Plant & Asset Management 2018, will be a full programme of free technical seminars in a dedicated seminar theatre – The Maintenance Seminar Theatre – with speakers offering expert specific insight and practical advice on important and topical issues concerning today’s maintenance professionals.
The Plant & Asset Management 2018 free seminars will include a cross section of topics including; the economic benefits of condition-based maintenance; Maintenance 4.0; improving maintenance and managing plant availability & lifecycle costs; oil sampling and analysis; maintenance, repair and overhaul of rotating equipment, plus much more.
For the full Maintenance Seminar Theatre seminar programme, visit: www.maintenanceuk-expo.com
