Page 7 - Spring Summer 2026

Industry News Industry News

illustrating how digital twins and AR/VR tools are TCT 3Sixty
transforming design, testing and commissioning.
In addition to its preview of Subcon, Production
Session picks from The Skills Sprint include: Engineering Solutions also incorporates a preview of
the supporting TCT 3Sixty exhibition, the UK’s leading
• Building Confidence through Cyber Governance
event for 3D-printing and additive manufacturing.
(IASME).
• The Collaborative Factory : Redefining Human-
Robot Partnership in Industry (Phil Webb, RAEng
and Airbus Professor of Industrial Robotics and
Assembly, Cranfield University).

• The New Weak Link : Tackling Supply Chain Cyber
Risk (Make UK).
SUPPORTING • Digital Manufacturing - Should I? (Rolls-Royce, 3A
Business Excellence Limited and Sempai).
EXHIBITIONS In addition, the Subcon Showguide, which introduces
Subcon as ‘UK Manufacturing’s Next Chapter’,
provides speaker interviews which include presenter Under the heading of ‘TCT 3Sixty : From Possibility to
Faye Skelton, Head of Policy at Make UK, and co- Production’, Production Engineering Solutions (p.12)
presenter Alan Lothian, Director of 3A Business highlights the key theme of addressing the AM skills
Excellence Limited. gap, with presentations including Aligning Education
with Industry Needs, by Professor Robert Kay from
Among the questions that were asked were: ‘ What
Leeds University. The prominent role of defence is also
is the biggest disruptor you are seeing on UK factory
highlighted with presentations on collaborative AI
floors?’ To this Faye Skelton answered:
in defence and on using AM to preserve ceremonial
Subcon “ The gap between digital ambition and delivery. equipment, whilst Ben O’ Brien of Rolls-Royce
Many manufacturers are experimenting with reflected on introducing AM within a major aerospace
Three journals, namely Machinery Market (28th.
AI, automation and digital tools, but struggle to prime.
May), Production Engineering Solutions (May 2026),
move beyond pilots into scaled, embedded use
and The Engineer (May 2026) provided previews of
on the factory floor. This creates a disconnect :
Subcon, which was described as ‘the UK’s biggest Med-Tech Expo
the tech exists, but the capability, confidence and
manufacturing supply chain show’.
integration needed to deploy it at pace often does Med-Tech Expo 2026 adjoined TCT 3Sixty and is
Machinery Market, the leading news magazine for not. previewed in MEPCA Magazine (May 2026), p.84.
new and used machinery, and a media partner for Defined as ‘the UK’s dedicated event for medical
Skills shortages, particularly in digital, data and
the event, states: device design and manufacturing’ there was an
engineering roles are intensifying this challenge.
emphasis ‘concept to clinic’ with high-fidelity
‘ Recognising that for a modern manufacturing The result is that productivity gains are uneven,
anatomical models being used to accelerate
leader, time is the most valuable asset on the and smaller manufacturers risk being left behind medical device development so as to bridge the gap
factory floor, for 2026 the traditional long-form unless we close the gap between innovation and
between design, testing and clinical application.
workshops have been replaced with The Skills implementation”. The latter was demonstrated by Jacqui O’ Connor of
Sprint, a high-intensity conference stream
Another question that was asked was: ‘ We hear a lot MedScan 3D.
designed for the time-poor professional. Every
about AI and automation, but where do you believe
session in the Sprint is strictly curated to deliver
the human element remains most critical in modern
a functional blueprint in 20-25 minutes and will
manufacturing?’ Alan Lothian gave this answer:
include rapid-fire lead generation tactics for
The Production Engineering Solutions preview
SMEs, live cybersecurity audits and agentic AI “ The human element remains most critical in
highlights, amongst others, the following conference
implementation guides’. problem-solving, judgement, and leadership
themes: behaviours. Technology can process data and
Amongst its exhibitor profiles Machinery Market
• Cybersecurity and Physical Security in automate tasks, but it cannot replace ownership,
includes most notably Cambridge Electronic accountability or the ability to think systematically.
Manufacturing, addressing emerging digital
Industries Limited, which highlights fibre optics as a
threats and practical steps for securing
sustainable, energy efficient alternative to copper. The biggest gains still come from engaged
connected factories. teams who understand their processes and are
Production Engineering Solutions, under the heading Also highlighted was the future of ultrathin,
• Smarter Supply Chain : Digital Logistics, encouraged to improve them. AI can highlight sustainable Instructions for Use (IFUs), addressing
of ‘Subcon - The Manufacturing Solutions Show’,
Traceability and Transparency, revealing how real- issues, but people decide what matters and how
presents a list of Event Highlights, such as pro- both environmental impact and usability in medical
time data, blockchain and logistics analytics are to act. Sustainable improvement is fundamentally products.
motorsport simulators that provide an opportunity
enabling ethical and efficient operations. human”.
to compete in an interactive game zone; the
networking hub ‘Pubcon’; tailored visitor trails across • Human-Robot Collaboration and Cobotics, Subcon featured around 200 exhibitors, whilst
the automotive, aerospace, defence and medical exploring how cobots are reshaping shopfloor The Skills Sprint featured 17 presentations. The
sectors; and the VIP Buyers’ Programme for senior productivity and workplace engagement. Manufacturing Insights Theatre had 23 and the
manufacturers, which offered exclusive networking Innovation Zone 27.
• Digital Validation and Virtual Commissioning,
opportunities.
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