Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 showcases innovation, collaboration and industry impact
25 June 2025 
Smart Manufacturing Week 2025 returned to the NEC Birmingham on 4–5 June. Bringing together Smart Factory Expo, Design & Engineering Expo, Drives & Controls, and Maintec—alongside specialist zones for Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech—the event offered wide-ranging insight into the technologies and trends shaping modern industry. PWE reports.
More than just a showcase of products and services, the event was defined by its ambition to push the boundaries of what a manufacturing exhibition can deliver. With a focus on rich technical content, forward-looking innovation, and the sector’s most pressing priorities, Smart Manufacturing Week offered a comprehensive platform for learning, collaboration and inspiration.
Welcoming 13,319 attendees across two days, the event combined impressive technology with an extensive educational programme and a vibrant show floor. Adding extra flair were celebrity look-a-likes, movie robots, and live music, creating a dynamic atmosphere that celebrated innovation and industry.
With 456 exhibitors on the show floor, attendees explored hundreds of cutting-edge products and innovative solutions driving the future of industry.
Solutions Theatres
Alongside the exhibition floor, the Solutions Theatres delivered over 170 free-to-attend educational sessions led by experts in manufacturing and technology. Covering key themes such as Industrial Data & AI, IIoT & Connectivity, Digital Transformation and Leadership and Strategy, the programme offered valuable insights for professionals at every level. Attendees also benefited from practical workshops hosted by the Institute for Manufacturing and explored the latest advancements showcased in the ever-popular Innovation Alley.
A brand-new feature for 2025, Smart Tank took place on Day 1. Exhibitors from Innovation Alley pitched their business ideas and solutions to a panel of industry leaders, who scored entries based on criteria ranging from innovation to market size to business readiness. Two sessions ran, with a winner crowned from each. Uie impressed the judges with the simple ingenuity of its batteryless heat sensor for electrical condition monitoring applications, while Logidot, stood out for taking the idea of GPS vehicle tracking software, moving it inside the factory and then expanding its capability to create a unified seamless system. Both winners received a prize package designed to accelerate their growth, including complimentary exhibitor space at next year’s event, access to a mentor, investor introductions, media coverage and free advertising.
In the Solutions Theatres a standout moment on Day 1 came from Professor Henrik von Scheel, whose headline keynote The Future of Manufacturing: Megatrends Shaping the Next Decade drew significant attention while Former Team Principal of the Haas Formula 1 Team, Guenther Steiner captivated visitors on Day 2 with a keynote that offered rare insight into the high-stakes world of elite motorsport.
Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit
Alongside this, the Manufacturing Digitalisation Summit brought together senior leaders from across the sector to explore how AI and digital technologies are shaping the future of industry. With real world insights from global manufacturers, the summit delivered practical knowledge and high-impact exchanges between decision makers from multiple sectors.
Providing an extensive STEM programme, Smart Manufacturing Week’s Manufacturers & Engineers of the Future extended its reach to welcome school-age students for the first time, alongside apprentices and those already pursuing further education. Sponsored by FANUC, the initiative offered a dynamic mix of hands-on workshops, live demonstrations and speaker sessions designed to expose young people to the possibilities within manufacturing and engineering. Highlights included the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics Competition, Coventry University’s Hydrogen Power Workshop and career-focused contributions from organisations such as Lisi Aerospace. Attendees also met current apprentices, gained insight into real career pathways and saw emerging talent in action, helping to spark genuine interest in the sector’s future.
The festival atmosphere was genuine with music upon entry, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Stormzy, Lady Ga-Ga and Ed Sheeran look-a-likes walking the floor and a piano busking spot. The Guitar Legends Competition, a much-loved feature of Smart Manufacturing Week, gave engineering guitarists a chance to showcase their musical talents. A winner was crowned on each day of the event, with both taking home a custom 3D-printed guitar. Day 1’s winner also joined live band The Shadow Monkeys on stage, adding to the energy and entertainment of the evening drinks reception.
Event Director, Grace Gilling said :”It’s been incredible to feel the buzz throughout Smart Manufacturing Week 2025. We knew this year would be special, but the response has truly exceeded expectations. From the moment doors opened to the final moments, the floor was alive with innovation, collaboration and a real sense of excitement for the future of manufacturing.”
Reflecting on the wider impact of the event, Chloe Bale of Make UK commented: “Events like this remind us just how much potential our sector holds when we come together to share ideas, solutions, and ambition.”
The dates for the Smart Manufacturing Week exhibitions next year have been confirmed as 3-4 June 2026.
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