Attending Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 provided a fantastic insight into the current state of advanced manufacturing in the UK. The overall event, which also included the Design + Engineering EXPO, Maintec, and Drives & Controls, was held at Birmingham’s NEC and drew more than 13,000 attendees across two days, showcasing a significant level of activity and development within the sector. Our focus was primarily on the Smart Factory EXPO.
Key Themes and Discussions
As one might expect, AI and Industrial Data Integration was a prominent topic. Sessions in the Solutions Theatres focusing on Industrial Data & AI were well-attended, reflecting a clear appetite among manufacturers for understanding practical applications of these technologies. The discussions indicated a shift from considering AI adoption to exploring effective integration strategies.
Digital Transformation remained a central concern, particularly for SMEs aiming to enhance their competitiveness. The Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit facilitated discussions among senior leaders, sharing practical experiences that would be relevant to sales leaders.
The exhibition floor highlighted Connectivity and IIoT, with 456 exhibitors presenting various solutions. The focus appeared to be on systems offering immediate returns on investment, rather than purely experimental technologies.
Spotlighting Innovation
The new Smart Tank competition provided a platform for innovation from smaller organisations. Examples such as Uie’s batteryless heat sensors and Logidot’s factory GPS tracking system demonstrated practical innovations with the potential to improve operational efficiency.
Keynote presentations included Professor Henrik von Scheel on manufacturing megatrends and Guenther Steiner of Formula 1, who offered insights into high-performance manufacturing environments.
Skills and Future Workforce
The Manufacturers & Engineers of the Future programme, supported by FANUC, was a positive initiative. It brought together school students, apprentices, and industry professionals, addressing the skills gap, which is a key challenge for sales teams across a variety of sectors..
The WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics Competition showcased emerging talent, and Coventry University’s Hydrogen Power Workshop highlighted how educational institutions are responding to industry demands.
Beyond the Technical Agenda
Beyond the serious business of manufacturing innovation, the event organisers struck a nice balance with entertainment. Optimus Prime tinkling the ivories was an unexpected delight, while the sight of a delegate successfully finding Wally among the 13,000+ attendees became quite the talking point. The celebrity look-alikes – from Elton John to Dolly Parton to Lady Gaga – created countless photo opportunities and kept the atmosphere buzzing. The Guitar Legends Competition remained a crowd favourite, with the winner joining The Shadow Monkeys on stage during the evening reception – proof that engineers know how to celebrate their successes.
The event underscored several critical points for senior sales professionals:
- Digital transformation is increasingly essential for manufacturers to maintain competitiveness.
- AI implementation requires a strategic approach beyond simply adopting technology.
- Skills development needs to be proactive, with an emphasis on apprenticeships and industry collaborations.
- Innovation can originate from organisations of all sizes, as demonstrated by the Smart Tank winners.
Exhibitors generally expressed positive feedback regarding engagement and the quality of interactions. Berend Booms of Ultimo Software Solutions described the event as a significant “marketing event of the year” for the manufacturing sector.
Event Director, Grace Gilling said “It’s been incredible to feel the buzz throughout Smart Manufacturing Week 2025. We knew this year would be special, but the response has truly exceeded expectations. From the moment doors opened to the final moments, the floor was alive with innovation, collaboration and a real sense of excitement for the future of manufacturing.”
Reflecting on the wider impact of the event, Chloe Bale of Make UK said:
“Events like this remind us just how much potential our sector holds when we come together to share ideas, solutions, and ambition.”
Speaking of which… if these insights into manufacturing optics are of interest, readers should definitely consider signing up to attend the Manufacturing Revenue Growth Summit in association with the National Sales Conference. Taking place on 12th November in Birmingham, this promises to be a fantastic event for revenue leaders, sales directors, account managers, and business development executives in industrial, engineering, and technical sales,
