ROLLS ROYCE, ROBOTICS, MOTORSPORT, PROSTHETICS AND BLOCKCHAIN SET TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT SUBCON THIS SUMMER

We are incredibly excited to announce that Rolls Royce CTO, Paul Stein will present the keynote at Subcon!  His presentation will be just one of the highlights of this year’s programme.  Elsewhere, sessions on digitalisation, robotics, prosthetics, motorsport, Blockchain, smart materials and technology transfer will be delivered by some of the UK’s leading engineers and its most innovative disruptors.

This year’s conference is a three-day, two-theatre, six-stream, 36-session programme showcasing cutting edge innovation and best practice from the worlds of engineering, manufacturing and supply chain management. The programme is free to attend for all Subcon visitors and can be viewed online at http://www.subconshow.co.uk/conference/2018-programme. 

Cross sector collaboration

A key theme of this year’s conference is cross-sector collaboration and technology transfer with Dr Caroline Hargrove, CTO of McLaren Applied Technologies, talking about how technological expertise in motorsport can be spun out into other sectors and BAE Systems’ Dr Henry White showing delegates how technology from the defence sector can be applied to the world of elite sport.

Other programme highlights include cybernetics specialist Nadine Stech, who helped to design Linx, the world’s most intelligent prosthetic limb, and the CTO of Fujitsu UK who will treat visitors to an explanation of Blockchain and how it can be applied to the engineering supply chain. Visitors will also be able to hear about the latest developments in driverless cars from Jaguar Land Rover’s head of autonomous projects Mark Cund.

To register to attend Subcon 2018 please visit www.subconshow.co.uk

Digital manufacturing excellence

On the manufacturing side, the conference programme will cover everything from the practicalities of implementing Industry 4.0 technology to the latest developments in 3D printing, composite materials, and advanced metrology technologies. Highlights here include Xaar’s Professor Neil Hopkinson one of the pioneers of 3D printing in the UK.

“Delegates at my session will learn to appreciate the immediacy of the opportunity of 3D printing for part production - it’s a field that is moving quickly – and understand where the technology does and does not make sense,” he explained. “They should also draw inspiration on where and how they can best add value to their organisations through 3D printing.”

Other key speakers include The AMRC’s head of digital Professor Rab Scott and Professor Dame Jane Jiang – who heads up the EPSRC’s Future Metrology hub at the University of Huddersfield.

In the words of conference director Jon Excell; “We’re really excited about the programme for this year’s conference - we’ve got a great mix of engineering leaders at the forefront of technological change and top academics who are plugging their research into real world, mainstream applications. Over the three days visitors will be able to gain expert insight into some of the big trends that are shaping engineering and manufacturing as well as being able to marvel at some of the UK’s most inspiring and innovative engineering projects.”

To register to attend Subcon 2018 please visit www.subconshow.co.uk

Subcon partners with Automechanika Birmingham

We're delighted to announce that Subcon, the defining event in the manufacturing supply chain calendar, and Automechanika Birmingham, the UK’s leading exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and vehicle production sector.

The partnership will enable all visitors to benefit from attending both events by registering just once for their visitor badge. The two leading events make for a comprehensive day out for all engineers and are set to take place from 5-7 June 2018 at the NEC in Birmingham.

More than 4,500 visitors from aerospace, automotive, defence, electronics, energy, materials, oil and gas and rail sectors will attend Subcon this year to do business with over 400 exhibitors. The best of British manufacturing will be on display alongside a six-stream, 36-session conference programme, all designed to help UK manufacturers increase their competitive advantage in 2018 and beyond.

Over 500 exhibitors will connect with more than 12,000 visitors at the 2018 Automechanika Birmingham trade exhibition including the likes of Robert Bosch Ltd, Magal & Arlington, TR Fastenings, Schmidt Light Metals, COBA Plastics, Pritex, Keyence, Autocraft Drivetrain Solutions, DIT, Igus, DJJ Engineering and many others. The event will bring a raft of new initiatives, including a facilitated meetings programme to match the needs of visitors with exhibitors, a Motorsport Valley Innovation® feature presented by the MIA, a MIA pavilion and the established SMMT events; Open Forum and Meet the Buyer. The event will also host expert speakers and Tomorrow’s Mobility a feature showcasing connected and autonomous technologies.

Gordon Kirk, Event Director, Subcon said: “This partnership will add tremendous value to Subcon and Automechanika Birmingham visitors alike.  Frictionless entrance to both events will enable visitors to get access to a wider range of best practice ideas, industry-leading content and powerful networking.”

Simon Albert, Event Director, Automechanika Birmingham added: “Both Subcon and Automechanika Birmingham have established reputations in industry as trusted events that deliver huge value for engineers. As organisers, we understand that by making it easier for visitors to access both events by registering only for one will only increase the return on the investment of time that visitors make.”

Visitors can register at www.subconshow.co.uk

Investment in the right technologies and novel supply chain thinking are essential to the future of the UK’s aerospace industry

The UK aerospace industry is built on a proud heritage of pushing boundaries and introducing new technologies that have changed our everyday lives. Today the industry employs around 340,000 people and possesses a significant share of civil aircraft production programmes. In fact, the UK currently boasts the second-largest aerospace industry globally. But does this success hide an underlying lack of investment, which will eventually stifle growth and threaten the industry’s long-term future?

Due to the long lifecycle of civil aircraft, any loss of market position is only likely to become apparent over time as existing platforms with UK content are retired and those with less enter into service. This may seem like a dim and distant prospect as a new tranche of re-engined narrowbodies enter into service but in a market where it typically takes nearly 10 years to take an aircraft design through testing to first delivery, companies must take a long-term view. Indeed Boeing is widely reported to be reviewing the launch of a brand new narrowbody aircraft to enter service in 2025. 

"By working in collaboration, the UK aerospace sector 

is still well positioned to make vital investments in advanced

technologies and skills." 

Paul Adams

So how might the UK fare competing for a place on a major new aircraft launch? Many argue that retaining a design capability is key to securing high value packages of work. This is true to an extent, but Boeing has made a deliberate move away from sharing design responsibility on the 777-X and has even bought major systems such as wings, nacelles and pylons back in-house. Airbus has suffered high-profile supplier issues on the A350-XWB and is likely to think carefully about which systems to retain in house in the future.

This leaves the UK supply chain considering the best way to compete and investment decision making will become a critical success factor. UK firms do not have the capital to invest widely across multiple technologies in the way that government-subsidised, low-cost competitors can. Firms must therefore focus on their core capabilities and use their supply chain to support in complementary areas. This will require the rejection of 'old fashioned' ways of doing things, which are based on an 'I win, you lose' mentality, in favour of deep collaborations across technologies.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of additive manufacturing, where a true understanding of aspects such as design, machine capability, powder metallurgy and finishing processes is required to make the most of this exciting technology. Indeed, it is likely that those who collaborate successfully across their supply chains will reap significant rewards. The UK Government has a key role to play in this area, not just through funding but also by providing the support needed through organisations such as the technology catapult centres to foster collaboration.

By working in collaboration, the UK aerospace sector is still well positioned to make vital investments in advanced technologies and skills. This must be a priority, however, to avoid losing our position of industry strength and to preserve growth opportunities for the future.

Paul Adams is head of aerospace at supply chain firm, Vendigital. He is presenting ‘Additive, Brexit and Aerospace Supply Chains’ at 11:30 on Thursday 8 June at Subcon. 

Register now for your free pass to Subcon, The Engineer Design & Innovation Show and Advanced Manufacturing Show at www.subconshow.co.uk 

Meet the speakers: In conversation with... Paul Adams, head of aerospace and defence, Vendigital

Paul Adams is head of aerospace and defence at Vendigital and is presenting ‘Additive, Brexit and Aerospace Supply Chains’ at Subcon at 11:30 on Thursday 8 June at Subcon. 

Please sum up your conference session in one sentence

Advancing low-cost competition is disrupting global supply chains and investment in 3D printing and other novel manufacturing technology has become mission critical for manufacturers in the aerospace and automotive sectors, but a clear investment strategy is essential.

What practical tips will visitors pick up from your presentation?  

How to take a more strategic approach to manufacturing technology. Understanding the risks associated with additive manufacturing; learning how to equip supply chains to cope with faster production methods and how to bring on capability quickly and securely.

What’s the biggest challenge facing the industry this year?

Looking beyond the revenue streams provided by long term production programmes and facing the growing competition from low-cost territories which is disrupting global supply chains – will UK or European manufacturers lose ground?

And the biggest opportunity?

Learning how to leverage technological advances and supply chain relationships to the full in order to differentiate our offering and build on the UK’s position of manufacturing strength.

Is leaving the EU good or bad for UK manufacturing?

Brexit could mark the end of zero-tariff trading in Europe and this is cause for concern particularly for the many UK suppliers to Airbus. But there is much that can be done to ensure UK-based manufacturers stay on course and limit their exposure to financial risk.

Do you think the industry will suffer if leaving the EU restricts free movement of labour?

Access to skilled labour is vital to the survival of the UK’s high-value manufacturing sector. Employers must have assurances that they will be able to keep existing EU workers on their books and they will continue to have access to a pan-European talent pool in the future.

If you were in Government, what would you do to encourage more women and young people to work in the engineering and manufacturing industries?

Make sure there are plenty of rewarding career paths for them. Give early opportunities to lead and provide the flexibility that young people expect from a career in the 21^st century.

What are you most looking forward to about Subcon 2017?

Sharing views about the challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s manufacturing sector at a time of significant global geopolitical uncertainty.

Paul Adams is head of aerospace and defence at Vendigital and is presenting ‘Additive, Brexit and Aerospace Supply Chains’ at Subcon at 11:30 on Thursday 8 June at Subcon. Register for your free ticket now at www.subconshow.co.uk