Practical solutions to real-life requirements

For 2014, the biennial free-to-attend exhibition will once again be co-located with leading complementary shows Plant & Asset Management and Air-Tech, together with the Fluid Power & Systems Exhibition, and the newly launched European Offshore & Energy Exhibition, as well as MACH.

Seminar programme

Complementing the exhibitions will be a full programme of FREE technical seminars, with speakers offering expert insight and practical advice on important and topical issues. New to Drives & Controls 2014 will be the Motor Driven Systems (MDS) programme, which brings together the varied strands of legislation, standardisation, system strategies and technological developments that affect motor driven systems. Featuring representatives from the UK Government, the EU, research bodies, trade associations, manufacturers and end users, MDS focuses on practical solutions to real-life industry requirements.

Electric motor driven systems comprise a massive 40% of the world's total electricity consumption. Despite this, many businesses are unaware of the technologies available that have the potential to significantly reduce their energy costs, and in turn the global demand for electricity by 20% - 30%. MDS presents a series of live events that focus on ways to make these huge savings a reality by applying a systems engineering approach to reduce energy, improve performance and ultimately save money.

Ian Atkinson, managing director of event organiser, DFA Media, commented: "For 2014 we will build on the success of our 2012 shows by further improving the look and layout of each exhibition within our co-location of events, as well as making it as easy as possible for visitors to navigate their way around each separate event. We will also further enhance the format of our valued seminar programme for next year, which will include the Motor Driven Systems (MDS) programme for the first time, as well as many other attractive highlights. The combination of leading manufacturing events, with a highly focused seminar programme, will give visitors a unique opportunity to keep abreast of the latest industry developments by visiting a single co-located event. ”

UK Trade & Investment to have major presence

It was also recently confirmed UKTI will feature prominently in the conference and seminar programmes staged at all the co-located shows; Fluid Power & Systems, Air-Tech, Drives & Controls and Plant & Asset Management. During its seminar presentations, UKTI will highlight many of the areas it is currently working and the levels of success it is currently achieving for UK businesses.

Jim Feeney, head of UKTI’s Advanced Manufacturing Events, commented:

"The initial approach was based on UKTI’s role in the oil & gas sector; a sector where we have a significant profile – and a successful role – in supporting British business from the major oil companies like Shell and BP down through each tier of the supply chain to SMEs. However my colleagues and I saw this wide-ranging engineering event as offering an opportunity broader than just oil & gas where we already have a very strong and responsive customer base.

"We felt this event offered the opportunity to reach businesses which were not yet exporting and introduce them to UKTI and engage with existing exporters and introduce them to new markets. We plan to do both at the event. We will seek to highlight the work UKTI does locally, nationally and internationally and to introduce and explain the product range of support available through government networks and the business partners with whom we regularly operate."