On 3–4 June 2026, the NEC Birmingham will host a co-located trade fair and conference event comprising eight shows dedicated to the manufacturing and engineering sector in the United Kingdom. The organisers focus on a broad view of production processes, from design and plastics technologies, through additive manufacturing and medical technologies, to subcontracting, automation, drives and controls, and smart factory solutions. A single registration will provide access to all events included in the format.
The contemporary manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom operates under conditions of intensive technological transformation and regulatory pressure. Companies are simultaneously implementing digital solutions, strengthening supply chain resilience and planning activities to reduce emissions and meet net zero targets. In this context, there is a growing demand for practical, implementable strategies for process modernisation, as well as for access to skills and solution providers covering the entire manufacturing value chain.
The 2026 event is intended to address these needs by bringing together several specialised shows within one exhibition space. Participants will be able to move between exhibition halls, visit supplier booths, listen to expert presentations and watch live demonstrations. The scale of the undertaking is reflected in the range of technologies on display, covering both traditional processing and plastics conversion processes and solutions in automation, digitalisation and additive manufacturing.
Co-located events and thematic scope
One registration will provide access to the following shows taking place at the NEC Birmingham:
- Interplas (organiser: Rapid News Group) – an event dedicated to the plastics sector, covering material technologies, processing solutions and the broad range of plastics applications in industry.
- TCT 3Sixty (Rapid News Group) – a show focused on additive technologies and additive manufacturing, aimed at users and suppliers of solutions in this area.
- Med-Tech Expo (Rapid News Group) – an event oriented towards medical technologies, including components, systems and engineering solutions for the medical device sector.
- Subcon, The Manufacturing Solutions Show (Mark Allen Group) – an event for the subcontracting sector and providers of manufacturing services, enabling the establishment of cooperation in production contracts and components.
- Smart Manufacturing Week (Nineteen Group), within which the following will take place:
- Smart Factory Expo – an event dedicated to smart factory solutions, digital production management and systems integration.
- Drives & Controls – a show focused on drives, motion control and automation systems.
- Maintec – an event addressing maintenance and reliability of production equipment.
- Design & Engineering Expo – a show for engineers and designers, covering tools, software and engineering services.
This format is intended to enable visitors to cover many links in the value chain within a single event, from concept and design, through material selection and processing technologies, to automation, maintenance and digital solutions.
Relevance for the plastics and processing sector
The presence of Interplas and other shows thematically related to additive manufacturing, automation and design is significant from the perspective of the plastics and packaging industry. Plastics processors, tooling manufacturers and material suppliers can familiarise themselves in one place with new process technologies as well as solutions supporting digital integration of production and optimisation of the supply chain.
The thematic scope, which includes additive manufacturing, medtech, subcontracting and smart factory systems, allows plastics to be viewed in the context of their role within complex production systems. For companies in the polymer processing sector and suppliers of packaging solutions, this may mean the opportunity to compare different manufacturing technologies, assess the potential for automation of particular operations and learn about trends related to digitalisation and real-time process monitoring.
Platform for knowledge exchange and relationship building
The organisers indicate that bringing the events together in one place is intended to create a meeting point for manufacturers, engineers and management representatives. The focus is on practical operational challenges such as increasing productivity, implementing new technologies and strengthening supply chain resilience. The co-located format helps participants to familiarise themselves in a short time with different approaches and solutions to the same production issues.
Taking part in the event may be an opportunity to build relationships with technology suppliers, system integrators, subcontracting companies and other industrial enterprises. The presence of numerous exhibitors and speakers supports the exchange of experience between representatives of various sectors, which is important in the context of growing interdependence between industries such as plastics, automation, medical engineering and additive manufacturing.
Organisational information
The co-located events will take place on 3–4 June 2026 at the NEC Birmingham exhibition centre. Participation requires prior registration. The organisers state that access to the shows is free of charge and detailed information on the programme and registration forms is available on the individual event websites.
For representatives of the manufacturing sector, including plastics processing and packaging, the event may become one of the key meetings in the 2026 calendar, enabling a comprehensive overview of the current market offering, technological trends and directions of development for solutions supporting modern production.
