44 n M&E WEEK PREVIEW February 2024 www.drivesncontrols.com Drives & Controls show gets smart for 2024 Following a successful event in 2023, Manufacturing & Engineering Week continues to evolve, becoming Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week in 2024. Drives & Control Expo will be taking place alongside Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech at the NEC on 5 and 6 June as part of the event, with existing staples returning alongside some new and exciting attractions. Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024 will address the key issues that concern manufacturing and engineering businesses currently, irrespective of the market sector they serve. The main topics that all elements of the wide-ranging events touch upon are innovation, the supply chain, sustainability, digital transformation, and people and skills. Visitors will nd much of interest among the new technology and educational content both in the events mentioned above and quirky attractions such as The Guitar Legends competition, where any visitor can show o their guitar skills and potentially win a 3D printed guitar. One standout attraction at the event is the Manufacturing Automation & Robotics Summit which will see operations, automation and control and manufacturing professionals coming together to discuss the latest automation and robotics opportunities to nd solutions to industry challenges. Commenting on the summit Grace Gilling, manufacturing portfolio director of Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024, says: “Manufacturers in the UK are experiencing a monumental shift in the way they operate. Automation and robotics are not just buzzwords; it’s a fundamental revolution that is reshaping how goods are produced, processed, and delivered. While the promises of increased eciency, reduced costs, and improved quality are enticing, the road to embracing these technologies is not without its hurdles. This summit is dedicated to exploring the rapidly evolving landscape of automation and robotics and more importantly, addressing the challenges of this transformative era.” Topics to be covered at the summit include Integration Complexity, Developing a Skilled Workforce, Cost and ROI Concerns and Regulatory and Safety Compliance. The industrial automation sector’s UK trade body Gambica has given its endorsement by becoming a strategic partner for Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024. Nikesh Mistry, sector head of industrial automation at the trade body, says: “Gambica is proud to be a strategic partner of Smart Manufacturing and Engineering Week as it is an opportunity to represent our sector and showcase the marvels of our industry. “Last year,” he continues, “it was great to see exhibition oors packed with people once again, and so many member companies were able to demonstrate how automation has become an essential part of manufacturing in the UK.” Commenting specically on the Drives & Controls show, he went on to say, “Drives & Controls allows manufacturers to display how automation can not only help to maximise eciency, but simultaneously improve sustainability and streamline processes.” Taking place at the National Exhibition Centre at the same time as Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week are other relevant events including the 3D printing and additive manufacturing event TCT 3Sixty (organised by the Rapid News Group) and the subcontract manufacturing supply chain show Subcon (organised by the Mark Allen Group). A single visitor registration to Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week 2024 gives entry to all of the events on at the NEC. n After appearing as a zone at Manufacturing & Engineering Week in 2023, the Drives & Controls show can be found in its own hall at the NEC in June as part of the recently renamed Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week. We look forward to what visitors can expect to see at the show. Visitors to the Smart Manufacturing & Engineering Week will have a chance to win a 3D-printed guitar SHOW FACTS Where:NEC, Birmingham When: M&E Week: 4–7 June, 2024 Exhibition: Wednesday, 5 June, 09.30-17.00 Thursday, 6 June, 0.930-16.00 Entry: Free (register at Web site) Web site: www.mandeweek.co.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/MandEWeek LinkedIn: www.mandeweek.co.uk Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/ mandeweek2023
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