Companies prepare to demonstrate the latest developments in motion control technology

In April, Birmingham’s NEC will become the focus of one of the largest manufacturing and engineering events of 2012: Drives and Controls, Air-Tech, the International Fluid Power Exhibition (IFPEX) and the Plant and Asset Management Exhibition are taking place on 17–19 of the month and will form part of the manufacturing and engineering series of shows, alongside MACH.

A highlight of this year’s Drives and Controls show will be a pavilion organised by the European Power Transmission Distributors Association (EPTDA), featuring up to 15 of its members. This will be the first time that the EPTDA has organised such an event away from Hanover. ‘It is a chance for our members to get a better grip on the UK market,’ said EPTDA executive vice-president Hans Hanegreefs, who expects most of his members at the show to be from outside the UK, with one even travelling from the US to appear.

The EPTDA has more than 200 members based in 28 countries across Europe and further afield. Together, its members represent an annual sales volume of nearly €24bn (£20bn) and employ around 245,000 people.

Members that have already booked to take part in the EPTDA pavilion at the Drives and Controls show include Iwis Chain, Bega Tools, Posi Lock Puller and Diamond Chain.

Meanwhile, a stream of companies have signed up in recent weeks to exhibit at the show, many for the first time. These include Charter Controls, REO, Sensor-Technik, Motion Control Products, British Encoder Products and Wieland Electric.

New for 2012 is the Energy and Safety seminar theatre, which will focus on energy management

First timers from outside the UK include German industrial communications specialist Insys, Finnish mechanical power transmission manufacturer Katsa and Dutch supplier of flexible conduit Anamet. French electrical CAD provider IGE-XAO will also be making its debut. Returning exhibitors include SICK and Lamonde Automation.

Complementing Drives and Controls, the Plant and Asset Management Exhibition, Air-Tech and IFPEX is a free, highly focused seminar programme. New for 2012 is the Energy and Safety seminar theatre, sponsored by CompAir, where themed panel discussions and seminar presentations will focus on key energy management topics, ranging from wind-turbine maintenance to the latest legislative debates surrounding health and safety.

Also new for 2012 is the Motion and Control Industry seminar theatre, which will include more technical workshop-style presentations, with practical issues being discussed concerning the various sectors that make up Drives and Controls, Air-Tech and IFPEX.

The Plant and Asset Management Exhibition will have two free seminar theatres, but visitors will need to book in advance to guarantee a seat. Despite only being launched in February 2011, momentum is building, with the floor plan having to be enlarged to accommodate additional stand space and a second seminar theatre.

Already, more than 30 companies have either booked or reserved space, including Antech Hydraulics, Artesis, ChA Oil/Triple R, Das Developments, Derma Shield, Flir, EA Technology, Flowcrete, Fluke, Forward Industrial Products, GDO Engineering, Helmets, Icon Research, Idhammar Systems, Keytracker, Mainnovation, Mistras, Monition, Petro-Canada, PCMS, RMS, Schaeffler, Shire Systems, Strategic Maintenance, Tempus Software, Testo and Xetec.

The seminar theatres will give delegates the opportunity to pick up best-practice tips and advice from speakers representing a cross section of the engineering and manufacturing sector.