Adding value for the supply chain

These have been developed in response to discussions with senior buyers, suppliers and industry stakeholders to ensure that those attending and exhibiting can get the maximum value from their time at the show.

Now in its 40^th year, Subcon remains the only UK event that is solely dedicated to contract and subcontract manufacturing chains and outsourced engineering services and has doubled in size over the past four years.

It covers the complete spectrum of advanced manufacturing, from machining and metalforming, through to electronics, plastic moulding, casting, forging, treatments, additive manufacturing and composites.

The spread of market sectors covered by Subcon is equally broad, with senior purchasing, production and supply chain managers attending from industries that include aerospace, automotive, medical technology, transport, oil and gas, marine and general engineering.

New at Subcon 2016 are dedicated zones, making it easier to find key suppliers, including a specific area focused on composites and materials supported by industry body Composites UK. The exclusive media partner for this zone is Production Engineering Solutions’ sister publication Composites in Manufacturing.

As well as the composites and materials zone there are also specific areas focused on turned parts (in association with the British Turned Parts Manufacturers Association), castings (in association with the Cast Metals Federation) and Surface Engineering (in association with the Institute of Metal Finishing), contract electronics manufacture and software.

In the international supplier zone there will be pavilions featuring subcontractors from The Czech Republic, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Latvia, Turkey, India and China.

Popular features launched at last year’s Subcon are also back on the agenda. The Advisory Drop-In Centre gives SMEs access to expert advice on the critical areas for business success, including skills, innovation, exporting and access to finance, while the free to attend industry reception provides an ideal opportunity to network over drinks and canapes.

Complementing these customer focused activities, a specially commissioned series of Subcon conference presentations will address key technology and supply chain issues. The programme is free to attend for all registered visitors to the show and covers a broad sweep of topics, from supply chain development issues, to technological challenges, sustainability, automation and late payments.

Keynote sessions include a presentation from Mike Healy, vice president space systems and CIS procurement, Airbus Defence & Space, who will look at supply chain trends and opportunities for satellite systems.

Other keynote speakers include Dave Atkinson, UK head of manufacturing, SME commercial banking, at Lloyds Bank, who will talk on investing to drive productivity and Jon Sumner of Lambert Engineering on taking automation to the next level with Industry 4.0.

Grant Burgham, business development and portfolio director for Centaur Engineering Live Events said: “We have built Subcon 2016 around the things that visitors and exhibitors say matter most to them so that they can get the maximum value from their time at the show. This is going to be a great event for the subcontract manufacturing supply chain and we are sure that it will deliver real business benefits to all who participate.”

SUBCON 2016 www.subconshow.co.uk