WHAT'S ON AT THE Advanced engineering eXHIBITION
Advanced Engineering is the event where engineers and manufacturers discover hands-on technology, explore specialist pavilions and connect with the right partners across every industrial sector. From sovereign capability and dual-use technologies to net zero transition and supply chain security, this is where the full breadth of UK manufacturing comes together under one roof. Explore live tech, meet peers and buyers, and find solutions you weren’t expecting to discover.
Free entry. 9000+ visitors, 6 CPD forums, live demos and networking lounges, all in one venue.
Seminars, live demos, networking and more, explore everything happening across both days.
Experience groundbreaking innovations in person. See the technology up close, hear the details from experts, and understand how they’re shaping the future of sustainable engineering.
Register to be the first to hear what else is building behind doors.
Dedicated pavilions bring together forward-thinking companies, cutting-edge technologies, and practical solutions in one focused environment. Whether sourcing new suppliers, exploring innovation, or solving complex engineering challenges, pavilions offer unparalleled access to what’s next.
This year’s pavilions:
As the ONLY UK meeting place for the composites industry, the Composites Networking Lounge will be recharged and better than ever. Powered by PRF Composites Materials.
Gain insights into state-of-the-art tooling and smart manufacturing solutions.
Expect to get up close with F1 car showcases and advanced assembly technologies, from smart tooling and software to Machine Vision Solutions that are setting new standards in optimising production, improving efficiency, and enhancing quality across the manufacturing industries.
Bridging the UK’s manufacturing skills gap
The Skills Junction is a dedicated zone designed to help bridge the skills gap in engineering and manufacturing.
By bringing together businesses, educational institutions, associations and government stakeholders, the Skills Junction raises awareness, shares best practice and fosters collaboration to develop the skilled workforce needed to drive the UK’s manufacturing and engineering sector forward.
Rockwood Aerospace has developed a novel manufacturing process for propeller blades tailored to electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. For Vertical Aerospace’s VX4 Prototype Aircraft it developed a proprietary single-shot compression moulding technique that integrates carbon fibre pre-preg, foam cores, and metallic hardware in one cure cycle. This eliminates secondary bonding, yielding blades that are lighter, stronger, and more fatigue-resistant than those from resin infusion or bonded skin-and-spar methods.
The process is supported by Rockwood’s custom tooling and hot platen presses, enabling complex geometries and precise fibre placement. Few UK firms combine this expertise with scalability, giving Rockwood a clear advantage in the fast-growing eVTOL sector.
For operators, the benefits are direct: reduced aircraft weight, meaning longer battery endurance, and enhanced safety. With global eVTOL markets projected to increase ~20-fold within a decade, Rockwood’s technology positions it for contracts with leading OEMs while also supporting their current aerospace and defence markets.
The Hypercar class is the top-tier category in the FIA World Endurance Championship which features two types of car:
These two types of car will compete against eash other in the FIA WEC LMDh is also eligible to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and, therefore, to race in both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
Supreme Coatings introduce for the first time in the UK the future of coating technology with our advanced Cerakote robotics program. The demonstration system showcases how state-of-the-art robotics ensure precise, consistent, and high-quality Cerakote application every time. Discover the key benefits of robotic application, including improved durability, efficiency, and performance across various industries.
A chance to get up close to the new composites’ closed moulding technique, which is taking the industry by storm. At this year’s Advanced Engineering show, Alan Harper Composites will feature a demo area demonstrating the ease with which reusable vacuum membranes are safely manufactured. The live event will dispel some of the myths surrounding this innovative economic method, also allowing visitors to engage in learning more about it. The technology has now made significant inroads into all sectors of composite manufacturing, ranging from the modest open-mould hand-lay parts to advanced composite aerospace applications. Complementing this success with reusable membranes, large-scale printed moulds will also be exhibited. Alan Harper Composites will demonstrate how easily the silicone reusable membrane can be installed and instantly vacuum-sealed, ready for infusion or Autoclave moulding.
A chance to get up close to the new composites’ closed moulding technique, which is taking the industry by storm. At this year’s Advanced Engineering show, Alan Harper Composites will feature a demo area demonstrating the ease with which reusable vacuum membranes are safely manufactured. The live event will dispel some of the myths surrounding this innovative economic method, also allowing visitors to engage in learning more about it. The technology has now made significant inroads into all sectors of composite manufacturing, ranging from the modest open-mould hand-lay parts to advanced composite aerospace applications. Complementing this success with reusable membranes, large-scale printed moulds will also be exhibited. Alan Harper Composites will demonstrate how easily the silicone reusable membrane can be installed and instantly vacuum-sealed, ready for infusion or Autoclave moulding.
Tripor 227 FR is a new-to-market, lightweight, flame-resistant, two-part 48kg polyurethane foam system. Offering strength, excellent adhesion, and efficient insulation, it meets EASA CS25 / FAR 25.853 standards. Ideal for infill, mouldings, and insulation, Tripor 227 FR delivers safe, strong, and sustainable performance with an exceptionally low environmental impact.
Composites are indispensable for lightweighting, yet their complex failure modes — such as barely visible impact damage (BVID) — limit confidence and drive costly overdesign.
In use cases such as aircraft tail sections and wing leading edges, Foreign Object Debris (FOD) remain one of the most insidious and costly risks in aerospace maintenance and safety. Even small, seemingly insignificant debris—gravel, dropped tools, or inadvertent footfall—can cause BVID that evades traditional inspection methods but may initiate catastrophic failure over time.
iSurface directly addresses this challenge by embedding conductive fibre innovations into composite architectures, enabling the capture of structural data at the material level.
This data is processed through an AI-powered acquisition and predictive analytics platform, delivering continuous health monitoring, early fault detection, and robust decision support.
iSurface is a collaborative project by Munro Technology, Z Prime and Axalp Technologies AG, redefining how composite materials are monitored, maintained and trusted in aerospace.
HAPS wing (1.6m) that integrate 10 high performance Maxoen solar cells Gen8 in series. The skin is made from novel fibres (TENRON) and coated with special epoxy compatible with composite structure, it has superior durability for weather and high impact toughness.
Supreme Coatings introduce for the first time in the UK the future of coating technology with our advanced Cerakote robotics program. The demonstration system showcases how state-of-the-art robotics ensure precise, consistent, and high-quality Cerakote application every time. Discover the key benefits of robotic application, including improved durability, efficiency, and performance across various industries.
On 29th October, UK based CONSTRUCT3D will reveal its next-generation industrial 3D printer: Construct 2.
Building on a legacy of extreme performance systems, the Construct 2 is engineered for uncompromising speed, precision, and durability. Purpose-built for continuous 24/7 operation, it is a true production workhorse capable of handling even the most demanding engineering polymers.
Where previous industry standards delivered 1-2 kg throughput per day, Construct 2 surges ahead with up to 8 kg daily – maintaining consistent material integrity and dimensional accuracy. Intelligent monitoring and process control ensure reliability and repeatability, driving significant gains in efficiency and production uptime.
Please come to the AM FUTURES stand N134 – Launch 10:00am 29th of October.
The FB3 drone is designed to revolutionise logistics both onshore and offshore. With a payload capacity of up to 100 kg, it enables fast, safe, and emission-free transportation where traditional methods like helicopters or cranes are costly, slow, or impractical. Whether delivering equipment to offshore wind turbines, transporting goods in remote mountain areas, or supporting industrial operations in challenging environments, the FB3 makes aerial lifting accessible and efficient. We make aerial lifting and transportation available to all industries.
First revealed in 2019, the Lotus Evija is designed, engineered and hand-built by Lotus in Hethel, UK, in a dedicated facility historically used for Lotus Engineering projects including the Lotus Carlton and Tesla Roadster. Four electric motors combine to deliver 2,039 PS. With no mechanical connections, the system is entirely governed by Lotus’ software, developed to deliver Lotus character in an EV hypercar. Evija is the world’s lightest production EV hypercar; its carbon-fibre monocoque weighs just 120 kg. The mid-mounted battery pack centralises mass for a mid-engined feel, while double wishbone suspension and inboard damping optimise dynamics. Range is up to 314 km (WLTP Overall) from the 91-kWh battery, with 800V 350 kW DC and 400V 22 kW 3-phase AC charging capability.
The Emira represents the latest development of Lotus’ bonded, extruded aluminium chassis architecture, pioneered on the Elise and since proven across multiple OEM programmes. Emira’s chassis, subframes, fuel tank and other key components are manufactured at Lotus Advanced Structures in Norwich, where we also offer contract manufacturing expertise for precision machined, laser cut and fabricated components. Emira’s construction allows efficient adaptation, such as wheelbase changes, with only modest re-tooling for cost-effective flexibility. Assembly takes place at the Chapman Production Centre in Hethel, UK, using a combination of advanced automation and skilled handcraft. The state-of-the-art facility was designed to accommodate variation in model type and production requirements. Emira is the fastest-selling Lotus ever; the 10,000th car left Hethel in December 2024. With in-house expertise in chassis systems, advanced controls, and production engineering, Lotus offers proven capability for low-volume, high-performance contract manufacture.
Warwick Racing is the University of Warwick’s Formula Student team. Each year, students from a range of disciplines work together to design, build, and race a single-seater car. The team operates like a motorsport organisation, giving members practical experience in engineering, business and project management. Competing in the Formula Student UK competition, Warwick Racing focuses on creating an efficient and reliable electric race car. Over the course of the year, the team works on the design, manufacturing, and testing of the car to ensure strong performance at competition. Warwick Racing has produced seven generations of combustion vehicles and four generations of electric vehicles. Now, after a successful competition last July with WRe4, our focus has shifted to designing and producing our fifth-generation EV, WRe5. More than ever, we are determined to make this season our most successful yet!
We designed and engineered the world’s fastest electric vehicle. In just 14 months we delivered the NIO EP9 that topped 310km/h (193mph), hit 0-100km/h in 2.7 seconds had enough downforce to generate 3G in 100mph corners and three tonnes of downforce at 300km/h (186mph) – which is more than an F1 car. The performance demanded an unprecedented braking system and passive cooling system to maintain optimum temperatures. The design also included an interchangeable battery system that permits quick battery changes in line with the design ethos created by NIO.
A total of 16 cars were built for the OEM and we achieved an outright EV lap record at the Nürburgring, Nordschleife in 2017 at 6:45.9, along with the autonomous lap record at COTA at 2:40.330.
Toyota is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by implementing a diverse range of powertrain technologies, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, e-fuels, hydrogen fuel cell electric and hydrogen combustion. This multi-path strategy enables customers to adopt sustainable vehicles tailored to their requirements, from everyday driving to motorsport, without compromise. Recognising hydrogen’s vital role in future clean energy systems, Toyota is at the forefront of developing both fuel cell and combustion hydrogen solutions. The innovative Toyota Hilux hydrogen fuel cell prototype, built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing UK, exemplifies the adaptability and potential of hydrogen technology for practical applications.
Autoclave-ready composite layup tool
Key features:
The ARC C600 is an advanced fixed-wing electric Vertical Take Off and Landing e-VTOL Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) designed for efficient, heavy-lift air cargo operations. Combining the vertical take-off flexibility of multirotor systems with the speed and range of fixed-wing aircraft, it eliminates the need for runways or launch equipment. With a 100 kg payload capacity and Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) capability, the C600 can cover distances of up to 400 km, offering a rapid and reliable logistics solution for manufacturing, energy, and remote-site operations. Its hybrid design enables stable flight in diverse weather conditions, reducing downtime and improving delivery efficiency. The C600’s electric VTOL technology represents a new era of sustainable aerial logistics, significantly cutting operational time and infrastructure costs. As a versatile platform capable of autonomous missions, it bridges the gap between short-range drones and manned cargo aircraft, redefining the possibilities of modern air transport.
For the first time at Advanced Engineering, GKN Aerospace will present on the show floor, showcasing the ASCEND programme’s significant advancements. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine key components and structures developed as a direct outcome of this landmark initiative.
The ASCEND programme has successfully met its technological objectives while establishing a new paradigm for cross-sector collaboration. It has created a resilient supply chain and a highly skilled workforce, underpinning future innovations in composite manufacturing.
Visit GKN Aerospace at Advanced Engineering to engage with the programme’s innovations firsthand and connect with the technical experts advancing the future of composite manufacturing.
NEC Birmingham · 4–5 November 2026 · Free entry to visit
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