UK Metals Expo is the leading event that brings together the entire metals supply chain with the manufacturing and engineering community on 11th and 12th September 2024 at the NEC Birmingham (UK).
This free to attend exhibition and conference will showcase a wide range of innovative products, services, and interactive sessions led by experts from companies like United Autosports, Celtic Freeport, ADS Group, Frog Bikes, Volvo Cars, William Hare, GS1 UK, Tata Steel, Marcegaglia, Make UK, Outokumpu, Norsk Hydro, CELSA Steel UK, LIBERTY Steel Group, EMR Group, and the MTC.
The show is the premier marketplace for both domestic and international exhibitors in the industry with over three hundred leading companies participating, providing immersive live demonstrations, product launches and interactive displays.
From primary metal manufacturing to supply chain management, design, metal processing, metalworking, fabrication, machinery, surface finishing, and recycling, the expo covers the entire spectrum of the industry.
The cast metals industry will be well represented, with John Winter & Co Ltd, Bilgesin Döküm Makina, Wallwork Cast Alloys, the Cast Metals Federation (CMF), and Foundry Trade Journal showcasing their contributions to the field.
The conference programme includes fifty sessions and over one hundred leading practitioners across four stages, offering valuable insights into the current state of the metals industry and emerging technologies and strategies.
“It is the most important event yet and completely free to attend,” emphasised Lord Rupert Redesdale, chair of UK Metals Expo. “As we convene at UK Metals Expo, we find ourselves at a pivotal moment for our country and the steel industry. With a new government comes new hopes, new directions, and new opportunities. The recent announcement by Tata Steel and British Steel regarding the UK’s shift from blast to electric arc furnaces is integral to this transformation.
“Accelerating our efforts towards decarbonisation and achieving net zero emissions is not merely a goal but an imperative. This transition highlights the urgent need for a robust industrial strategy that will shape the future of the UK metals supply chain and profoundly impact the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Together, we are engaging in dialogues that will define this future.”
KEYNOTES AND SESSIONS
Day one of the expo, on 11th September, will begin with a keynote by Tata Steel UK’s CEO, who will share the vision of Tata Steel’s sustainable steelmaking future in the UK. Following this, a panel discussion on sustainable practices in the automotive, aerospace, and wind sectors will feature experts from NMIS, Boeing, and Renewable Parts Ltd, discussing innovative approaches to extend product lifecycles and enhance resource efficiency.
Other sessions on the first day include: ‘Culture + robots = winning combination’, and ‘Scrap shake-up: the new era of scrap and raw materials in the UK supply chain’.
Day two, on 12th September, will focus on decarbonisation with a panel on ‘How to extract the highest social value from decarbonisation of steel,’ featuring insights from Net Zero Industry Wales, University of Leeds, Swansea University, Celtic Freeport, and Tata Steel.
A crucial midday session, ‘The EU and UK carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM),’ addresses the impacts of separate emissions trading schemes post-Brexit. Experts from Make UK (UK Steel), Cbamboo, CarbonChain, and Tata Steel UK will discuss the implications of CBAM on exporters, focusing on carbon pricing and future costs.
Another significant session – ‘Aluminium manufacturing with recycled scrap’ – will cover sustainable aluminium production. Experts from EMR Group, Brunel University, Innoval Technology, Frog Bikes, and Volvo Cars will highlight innovations in post-consumer scrap recycling.
Later in the day, the ‘Meet the funder and networking’ session will offer a platform for industry stakeholders to connect with potential investors. Panellists will include representatives from Innovate UK, NMIS, Scottish Enterprise, NatWest Group, Advanced Propulsion Centre, and ZINC, focusing on securing funding for transformative projects in the metals sector.
For the full conference agenda, exhibitor list, floor plan, and to receive your free badge, visit: www.ukmetalsexpo.com