The Maintec exhibition returns to Birmingham’s NEC, supported by a programme of educational content, from 21-23 March.
Under the new ownership of Western Business Exhibitions, Maintec 2017 – the UK’s annual maintenance, plant and asset management event – will be accompanied by a wide-ranging educational programme.
The latter will feature global perspectives on topics such as predictive maintenance and how to implement connected technologies across factories and distributed assets.
Education
“The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to revolutionise the way that modern process engineers go about their daily tasks and it’s important that this trend features prominently at the show,” says event director Tim Else.
Greater connectivity across process plants will provide companies with far better visibility of their assets, say organisers, creating the potential for smarter factories based on preventative maintenance methodologies.
It will also transform the way that equipment is monitored and repaired out in the field, leading to the emergence of new service-based business models using cutting-edge technology such as augmented reality and wearables.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is set to revolutionise the way that modern process engineers go about their daily tasks and it’s important that this trend features prominently at the show
Tim Else, event director
“We felt it was important to increase the educational aspect of Maintec to reflect the rapid pace of technological change in the industrial sector,” adds Else.
“Already we are seeing industrial facilities using sensors to collect and analyse data at every point of production, meaning they can predict failures before they occur.
“IoT is an enabler of condition-based modelling, and will unleash the true potential of predictive maintenance regimes.
“Furthermore, by fitting sensors to equipment out in the field, manufacturers also have a better idea of how their products perform in real-world operating environments.”
Seminars
Maintec 2017 will feature two content streams, amounting to more than 15 hours of free conferences and seminars taking place across three days.
Among the 30 industry figures involved, confirmed speakers include Steve Brambley (director of public affairs at Gambica, the trade association for instrumentation, control, automation and laboratory technology in the UK) who will speak about smart maintenance, focusing on how the industrial base can get involved with IoT demonstration efforts.
Professor Rajkumar Roy, director of Through-life Engineering Services Centre/Operations Excellence Institute at Cranfield University, will speak on how digital technologies will underpin the concept of continuous maintenance, focusing at the foundations and technologies required to offer such a service.
Cyril Deschanel, head of IoT in Northern Europe for Vodafone, will discuss the role of IoT-enabled technologies in supporting reliable preventative maintenance programmes; while Chris Mitchell, principal consultant at US software giant PTC, will look at how augmented reality and wearable technology will change the way that factory equipment is maintained.
Maintec really is a chance for the entire maintenance and asset management community to come together in one place
Tim Else, event director
Exhibitors In addition to the conference activities, the exhibition halls at Maintec also promise to be packed full of companies showcasing interesting technology.
The exhibition is expected to feature more than 100 exhibitors, covering a wide range of sectors including electric motors, pumps, lubricants, hydraulic equipment, vibration analysis software and safety products.
There will also be interactive demonstration areas where visitors can view machinery and safety equipment in operation.
The show is expected to attract more than 5,000 delegates from leading companies. Maintec 2016, for instance, had visitors from blue-chip firms such as Jaguar Land Rover, Bentley Motors, Rolls-Royce, Network Rail and Robert Bosch.
“We’re expecting it to be a really busy event,” says Else. “Maintec is strategically located with three complementary exhibitions – the Health & Safety Event, the Fire Safety event, and Facilities Management – so visitors can really make the most of their time away from their day jobs.
Overall, there will be more than 400 exhibitors, with no fewer than eight focused educational theatres.”
The Maintec show is supported by several high-profile organisations, including the Institute for Automotive & Manufacturing Advanced Practice, Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades, Society of Diagnostic Engineers and British Compressed Air Society.
“Maintec really is a chance for the entire maintenance and asset management community to come together in one place,” adds Else.
- To register, interest visit www.maintec.co.uk
