44 n SMW PREVIEW June 2025 www.drivesncontrols.com Smart Manufacturing Week returns to the NEC Birmingham on 4-5 June, promising two days packed with groundbreaking technology, handson experiences and real-world solutions. The event brings together Drives & Controls, Smart Factory Expo, Maintec, Design & Engineering Expo and the Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech zones, all under one roof. Organised by Nineteen Group, the event is infused with the company’s signature “festival” flair, ensuring a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. This year’s event promises to deliver even greater value for attendees, with a strong emphasis on showcasing practical tools and technologies that are actively transforming operations across factories, plants, and workshops. In addition, an extensive educational agenda will address the key challenges facing today’s manufacturers and engineers. Visitors can expect live demonstrations, actionable takeaways, and realworld case studies that are designed to tackle the most pressing manufacturing challenges. One of the new attractions for 2025 is a VIP demo experience featuring JoinXR by Fracture Reality. In a 20-minute session, attendees will discover how extended reality is revolutionising engineering workflows by accelerating design processes and decisionmaking, aligning cross-functional teams with greater clarity, scaling technical training and onboarding and reducing costly misunderstandings in complex builds. From subsea engineering to food processing, JoinXR demonstrates how immersive technology is enabling smarter decisionmaking. All demo participants will be entered into a competition to win two Meta Quest 3 headsets and three months of free access to the JoinXR platform. Spaces are limited, and attendees must be registered for Smart Manufacturing Week and apply separately for this demo to secure a spot. Also making its mark on the show floor is a new initiative from Accu.co.uk, which is inviting visitors to step into the arena and take control of its “AccuBots” – miniature 150g fighting robots. Visitors will get hands-on with precision components, CAD design and 3D printing while battling it out in the ring. It’s a bite-sized taste of the larger AccuBots competition, designed to champion engineering creativity and showcase the role of miniature mechanics in modern manufacturing. Attendees should head to stand 5/H60 to experience the action firsthand and watch live professional showdowns unfold throughout the day. SMW blends a dynamic mix of innovation and a lively atmosphere, creating an engaging experience that goes beyond business and technology. Live music will set the tone from the moment visitors arrive, with performances throughout the event, including a baby grand piano busking spot. The popular Guitar Legends competition invites attendees to showcase their musical talent, with a custom 3D-printed guitar being awarded to the winner. To add to the festival atmosphere, The Shadow Monkeys will deliver their high-energy hits at the first evening’s visitor party, ensuring a memorable experience for industry professionals and music lovers alike. Also new for 2025 is Smart Tank, based on a well-known TV format where exhibitors from the event’s Innovation Alley will present their innovations to a panel of industry experts. It’s a rare opportunity to witness innovation, discover the breakthrough technologies of tomorrow and have some fun. With all of this and more packed into two high-energy days, the new Smart Manufacturing Week event app will be an essential tool. Offering an interactive schedule, an exhibitor directory, and other helpful functions, it ensures a seamless event experience. It’s a must-download for anyone wanting to make the most of the event. To access the app, you must be registered to attend Smart Manufacturing Week. Other exhibitions relevant for the manufacturing and engineering sector are taking place at the NEC at the same time as SMW. These include Automechanika, MedTech Innovation Expo, TCT 3Sixty and Subcon. One visitor badge provides access to all of them. n The UK’s biggest industrial event, Smart Manufacturing Week, returns this month with new tech, live demos and captivating content. New attractions include an extended reality demo experience, and an opportunity for visitors to take control of miniature fighting robots. SHOW FACTS SMART MANUFACTURING WEEK 2025 Where:NEC, Birmingham When: Wednesday, 4 June, 09.30-17.00, Thursday, 6 June, 09.30-16.00 Entry: Free. Register at https://bit.ly/4iy8LxT Web site: www.smartmanufacturingweek.com X: https://twitter.com/SmartMWeek LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/smart-manufacturing-engineering-week Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smartmanufacturingweek Smart Manufacturing Week is nigh
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