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How did coronavirus affect your business?
Advanced Engineering UK couldn’t take place in 2020, but it returned in November 2021 stronger than ever. Exhibitors and visitors commented on how great it was to meet again in person. There was such a buzz across the entire show floor, which left us feeling so positive about this year’s event.
What have you learned over the past few years?
Our whole industry has learned the value of in-person interaction, both personally and professionally. At last year’s event, we found that more visitors and exhibitors were attending with a purpose – whether that was to connect with a new supplier or purchase a particular piece of equipment. AE Connect, our digital platform that helps exhibitors and visitors connect and arrange meetings in advance of the show, really helped facilitate this.
Do in-person events still have a role to play in the engineering industry?
Absolutely. Our industry is always innovating and releasing new technologies that are even more impressive when you see them in person. Take Advanced Engineering’s Enabling Innovation competition as an example – in-person events give start-ups like those involved in this the chance to showcase their ground-breaking products to the rest of the engineering community.
As we return to in-person events, what steps are you taking to ensure safety and make them as Covid secure as possible?
When visiting a stand, attendees scan a personalised badge to receive digital literature. As well as reducing the amount of paper being used, the smart badge technology also helps decrease the spread of Covid-19.
The show is held at the NEC, Birmingham and the venue currently requires everyone entering to show their Covid-19 pass. Last year, we also increased the widths of the walkways between stands to enable social distancing and worked with SGS to ensure visitor safety.
With the rise of digital webinars and the climate crisis, many are questioning the sustainability of in-person events. What steps are you taking to mitigate this?
We are taking several steps to reduce the amount of paper used in relation to the event and to ensure we use recyclable products wherever possible. The NEC is also taking some serious steps to reduce the carbon footprint of all events that take place within the venue.
What does the future of conferences and events look like?
Our industry wants to make the most of every event that they attend in-person, so I see more exhibitions incorporating conferences and forums. This year, Advanced Engineering’s aero and space, automotive, composites and connected manufacturing forums will allow visitors to access hours of content, while also seeing first-hand some of the latest innovations in manufacturing and engineering.
What can we expect to find at Advanced Engineering this year?
This year, Advanced Engineering UK will be co-located with Lab Innovations, giving visitors and exhibitors more opportunities to collaborate across sectors. The Space and Satellite zone introduced in 2021 will be returning, with the Satellite Applications Catapult hosting a pavilion at the show, and further pavilions will be hosted by key associations including the Cast Metals Federation. We’re also introducing a new product testing and quality control zone and offering more networking opportunities with a new composites networking area and drinks reception, which will be sponsored by PRF Composites.
To find out more about Advanced Engineering 2022 visit the website at www.advancedengineeringuk.com.
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Content published by Professional Engineering does not necessarily represent the views of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.