It was great to finally attend the long-awaited event, which gave visitors the ideal opportunity to learn about the latest plant and asset management innovations and services as well as the latest digitalisation technologies to help prepare and implement a strategy in this smart era as well as being able to discuss a wide range of issues from components to Predictive Maintenance 4.0, Logistics 4.0, and smart grid technologies amongst others. It was also a really happy few days to see so many familiar friends and colleagues after such a long time, coming together again in one place. The absence of live events over the last couple of years have made many crave the return of live events, including myself. The benefits of which are now more obvious than people considered prior to Covid-19.
I was also happy to have taken part in the Talking Industry Live panel discussions that fully reflected the ongoing global transformation to the smart manufacturing era and provided fascinating panel discussions and insight into the potential plants of the future, covering all aspects of the digital transformation across the manufacturing spectrum, as well as looking at how digitalisation has helped during the Coronavirus pandemic and its importance in any future outbreak. Leading experts addressed the vast array of information around 4IR, discussing the practicalities, technologies and issues surrounding transition and implementation of digitalisation in UK manufacturing.
After an absence of four years because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the overall success of the show and the quality of visitors highlighted how the manufact ring and engineering sectors wanted to make a strong display of its innovation and confidence. This positive sentiment is a strong reflection of the growing economic optimism within the UK and can only be positive for the whole industrial sectors.
The next co-location of events takes place between 16-18 April 2024.
Aaron Blutstein, Editor