Outlook positive say senior engineering buyers

51% of Subcon visitors expect prospects for their business to improve over the next 12 months, 41% expect current business levels to be maintained and just 8% expect them to decline. 86% plan to increase or maintain the proportion of work they placed with UK suppliers and 86% also expect to maintain or increase the total amount of work they place with all subcontractors.

Subcon 2013 takes place at the NEC, Birmingham from 4-6 June and is the UK's only dedicated national exhibition for contract and subcontract manufacturing. It covers every aspect of outsourced manufacturing services, from design and prototyping, machining, moulding, 3D printing, fabrication, composites and electronics assembly to finishing and testing.

Research following Subcon 2012 showed that 66% came to the show to source new suppliers. 34% say that they have now placed, or are planning to place, orders with suppliers they met at the event.
According to the new research – and in tune with the growing trend to repatriate work to the UK from the Far East – 31% of companies are looking to increase the proportion of work they place with UK companies – with 55% maintaining the proportion at the current level.

This is reflected in the exhibitor make-up at Subcon 2013, where 80% of the stand space booked so far has been taken by UK suppliers, including new exhibitors such as Tenable Screw, Thomas Brown Engineering, Hallam Plastics, Weedon Electronics, Wealdpark, Qualiturn and DKW Engineering.

Subcon is actively supporting UK manufacturers by sponsoring the participation of key trade bodies with branding opportunities and complimentary stand space to promote their activities – including preferential rates for members. Organisations receiving this support so far include Institute of Cast Metals Engineers (ICME), Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM), the Engineering Industries Association (EIA) and, for the first time, the British Turned Parts Manufacturers Association (BTMA) which will have its own branded village at the show.

Speaking on behalf of the show organiser, Centaur Exhibitions, business development and portfolio director, Grant Burgham said: “With manufacturers looking positive about their own prospects and a clear and continuing trend not only to increase the amount of work subcontracted, but also the high proportion subcontracted to UK companies, we can look forward to a very successful Subcon 2013 for visitors and exhibitors alike.”

Subcon 2013 will take place alongside the new Advanced Manufacturing Show and a high level conference focused on technology and innovation in manufacturing. A specially commissioned program of seminars will also run throughout the shows in the Advanced Manufacturing and Subcon Seminar Theatre, offering independent practical insights into manufacturing and sourcing issues.

Subcon show
www.subconshow.co.uk