New event showcases Scottish manufacturing expertise

Manufacturing Technology Scotland- A must for all industry professionalsa a new event aimed at Scotland’s engineering professionals opens at the SECC on November 11th and 12th. Manufacturing Technology Scotland is the latest show in the European Trade & Exhibition Services (ETES) portfolio of regional engineering exhibitions, and the only event in Scotland dedicated to showing the latest in manufacturing, assembly and industrial sub-contracting.

Conveniently located at the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre (SECC), Glasgow, the show provides the ideal showcase for the wide range of industrial and manufacturing expertise to be found north of the border. On November 11th and 12th, around 150 of Scotland’s leading manufacturing enterprises will be exhibiting a broad range of products, technologies and services geared to the needs of today’s Scottish manufacturing industry.

Once known mainly for its shipbuilding, Scotland is today also home to an extraordinarily diverse range of industrial activities. 10% of the UK’s aviation industry – the second largest in the world after the USA – is based in Scotland, and the region is home to a large number of high-tech manufacturers and sub-contractors dealing with defence, oil & gas and pharma-bio. Electronics assembly accounts for nearly half of all Scotland’s manufacturing output, with nearly a third of the EU’s computers and notebooks made there every year.

Yet despite all this activity, there has, up until now, been no specific showcase for Scottish manufacturing. "Finding time to attend national trade shows is difficult for many Scottish professionals," comments show director Phil Valentine, "And that’s particularly true when the venue is as far away as the NEC or London. The idea of our manufacturing technology exhibitions is to create an easily accessible and highly relevant showcase for local businesses." ETES runs several such events annually in various regions of the UK and Ireland. Each event follows a similar, tried-and-tested format but is tailored to meet the needs of the local business community.

"If you are involved in design, production, plant or procurement in Scotland, Manufacturing Technology Scotland 2009 is your event," says Valentine. "By visiting, you can see over 150 companies displaying the finest engineering products and services the region has to offer, all under one roof, and all in a single convenient visit." Alongside major machinery and tool suppliers such as Haas Automation, Sanfan and Jemma Tools Group, will be sub-contractors and fabricators, suppliers of electronics sub-assembly and components, rapid prototyping services and many more.

Technology Trails guide the visitor to the companies active within their sphere of interest; the show’s website at www.industryscotland.co.uk provides a full database of exhibitors listed by activity to allow visitors to plan their visits effectively. There is even a dedicated group for the show on the popular business networking site Linked-In (www.linkedin.com) that allows visitors to meet and interact with exhibitors before the show opens.

Visitors will also be able to benefit from a full two-day programme of free technical seminars covering a wide range of useful topics. Highlights include how to identify, protect and make money from your IP, how Lean can help your organisation to survive and prosper, the future of Six Sigma, new materials and processes, and how to engineer your way into the Aerospace, Defence & Marine Sectors. All the sessions are hosted by acknowledged experts in their fields and are aimed at providing practical guidance for businesses.

Manufacturing Technology Scotland opens on November 11th from 9.00am until 5pm, and on November 12th from 9.00am until 4.30pm. Entry to the exhibition and the seminars is free. The SECC is located close to junction 19 of the M8. After leaving the motorway, follow the Clydeside Expressway to the SECC West Slip, where the show entrance will be clearly signposted. There is plentiful onsite parking available. For visitors using public transport, frequent rail services run from Glasgow Central station direct to the SECC. For more information, and to book your tickets and free seminar places, visit www.industryscotland.co.uk or call +44 (0)1784 880890.