Subcon 2017 - the right time and place to find new suppliers

The latest research by Subcon shows that 23 per cent of companies plan to appoint new subcontractors in the next 12 months. And with 400 exhibitors from all sectors and across all technologies, Subcon 2017 aims provide visitors with the ideal opportunity to get face to face with potential suppliers.

With companies having to keep a clear strategic focus on their core competencies, the trend towards outsourcing some or all manufacturing processes is accelerating.

According to the survey, the key reasons for subcontracting manufacturing processes rather than carrying them out in-house were: only wanting to focus on core competencies (47 per cent), not having enough capacity in-house (45 per cent) and gaining access to processes (41 per cent) and expertise (38 per cent) they don’t have themselves.

According to the survey results, 15 per cent of manufacturers have increased the amount of work they place with subcontractors in the past 12 months and 20 per cent expect to increase it further in the coming year.

This is good news for UK manufacturing as 10 per cent of companies asked had re-shored work to the UK in the past 12 months and 27 per cent expected the proportion of work placed with UK suppliers to increase in the next three years. The key factors here were quality (71 per cent), logistical considerations (59 per cent), response time (46 per cent) and cost (46 per cent).

Subcon 2017 runs from June 6-8 alongside The Advanced Manufacturing Show and The Engineer Design & Innovation Show. Together the three shows cover the complete manufacturing cycle from concept to component, bringing together design engineering, product development, in-house production and outsourced supply chains.

Subcon is the UK’s only event dedicated to outsourced manufacturing. It serves all sectors and all processes – from machining, sheet metalworking, casting and forging, to plastic moulding, composites and electronics.

The Advanced Manufacturing Show covers every aspect of production technology. including machine tools, workholding and accessories, software, additive manufacturing and metrology. Exhibitors including XYZ Machine Tools, Hurco, Renishaw, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Autodesk, Faro and 1st MTA.

The third piece in the jigsaw is The Engineer Design and Innovation Show. This offers everything a design engineer needs to create innovative new products – from CAD and simulation software to prototyping and components. Exhibitors include Bowman Additive Manufacturing, Laser Lines, Johnson Matthey, Ricoh Imaging and Schunk Intec.

Complementing the shows, two free-to-attend conference streams will address key industry issues including additive manufacturing, Industry 4.0, the Apprenticeship Levy and lightweight components.

Subcon event director Gordon Kirk said: “To succeed in volatile and keenly competitive markets, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on what they do best. This means working with subcontract manufacturing partners who are experts at what they do, have access to the latest technology and possess unique know-how. Subcon is the ideal opportunity for them to find the right suppliers for their outsourcing requirement.

“At the same time, the Advanced Manufacturing Show and The Engineer Design and Innovation Show give them access to the design and production tools that are vital to their core operations. Together, the three shows are an unmissable proposition for UK manufacturers.”

Register now to attend at www.subconshow.co.uk , www.advancedmanufacturingshow.co.uk and www.theengineer-designinnovationshow.co.uk .