Advanced Engineering drew more than 9,000 engineering and manufacturing professionals to the NEC, Birmingham, with organisers reporting record interest in the revamped Composites Zone.
The area, overhauled as part of a deepened partnership with Composites UK, was one of the strongest performers at the 16th edition of the event.
Composites UK curated the two-day programme on the Composites Forum stage, focusing on sustainability, material circularity, next-generation product development, and the future of composite manufacturing.
Dr David Bailey, Chief Executive of Composites UK, opened proceedings with new industry data showing that the UK composites sector has passed £14 billion in annual revenue and now supports more than 52,000 high-value jobs.
“We believe this is the best place for our members to do composites business in the UK,” Bailey said, adding that all 18 companies exhibiting with the organisation reported strong commercial engagement.
The Composites Networking Lounge, sponsored by materials supplier PRF Composites, returned in an expanded format and quickly became one of the busiest areas of the show. PRF also ran live demonstrations of its prepreg systems, including a 4-minute heated press cycle, a fire-retardant variant, and a recycled carbon nonwoven product.
“We’ve actually been hot pressing live on the show floor,” said Hannah Khusainova, Marketing Director at PRF Composite Materials. “The response has been incredible.”
The show introduced a new Composites Village, aimed at start-ups and smaller firms seeking visibility and partnerships. Meanwhile, the co-located Composites UK Industry Awards Dinner brought together companies from across the sector to recognise innovation and collaboration.
Stephen Brown of Scott Bader noted progress in bio-derived materials, sustainable technologies, and additive manufacturing, arguing that performance no longer needs to be compromised to achieve sustainability objectives.
Commercial activity remained strong throughout the two days, including a deal concluded on the show floor by cutting-technology supplier Zünd.
Organisers said the success of the Composites Zone underlined the event’s role as the UK’s annual meeting point for the composites industry. Further expansion is planned for 2026, when Advanced Engineering will return to the NEC on 4th–5th November and, for the first time, be co-located with UK Metals Expo to encourage broader cross-sector collaboration.
