Product category:
Engineering Exhibitions and Events
News Release from: Subcon
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 21 June 2006
Subcontracting show continues to expand
This year's Subcon exhibition, which was held from 16th to 18th May at the NEC, Birmingham, continued its strong pattern of year-on-year growth in visitors and exhibitors.
This year's Subcon exhibition, which was held from 16th to 18th May at the NEC, Birmingham, continued its strong pattern of year-on-year growth in visitors and exhibitors Around 200 companies from the UK, Europe, the USA, India and the Far East were represented, showing the complete spectrum of subcontract manufacturing services
Particularly strong growth areas were in the contract electronic manufacturing sector and the representation from Eastern Europe.
Subcon has regularly hosted national and regional pavilions from France, Spain, China and Italy, but this year they were supplemented by significant group stands from the Czech Republic and Latvia.
Subcon 2006 Event Director Jon Hughes commented: "I think that there is no dispute that Subcon is now clearly established as the UK's annual national and international event for subcontract manufacturing".
"In today's global markets that is how it has to be and that is what our visitors want".
This year's visitor numbers showed a 14% increase on last year, even before cross-over visitors from colocated shows were taken into account, and exhibitors were impressed that with the quality of the visitors too.
One word that came up frequently when talking about visitors was "focused".
"We had good quality visitors - focused visitors interested in our products - and met lots of buyers", said Mauro Fusi from Italian exhibitor Pel Pintossi Emilio.
Parminder Singh, Managing Director of Krystal UK in Birmingham, agreed.
"We had some very good high-volume enquiries from some very good names".
"The visitors are very focused and know who they want to speak to".
"It is a very focused show and we are rebooking for next year", he said.
Mike Sanderson of Abbey Metal Finishing also highlighted the number of leads he had received and how busy the show had been.
"We've been here for three years, and this is the busiest show we've seen yet".
"We've got a lot of leads, it's been a good show".
Visitors too praised Subcon 2006 - both for its wide range of exhibitors under one roof and the chance to meet specific suppliers.
"The show has been very good".
"You can see a lot of suppliers in one place", said Sandra Drew of Sinclair International.
Mark Bullock, Purchasing Manager at ITT Industries' Pure Flo Solutions Group UK, said: "The show has been very useful".
"We have found some specialist companies with niche capabilities that are a good fit for our requirements".
"I've already placed an enquiry with one company today".
Real deals were being done at Subcon 2006 too, particularly where exhibitors were cementing relationships made at Subcon 2005.
Sheffield-based machining and fabrication specialist Barker Collins was one of them.
"Someone we met at the show last year placed their first order on the stand this year for GBP 25,000", said MD Chris Carter.
"Exhibiting has made us much more aware of what the market is struggling to source and has led us more in that direction".
Summing up the feelings of visitors and exhibitors alike, Jon Hughes concluded: "As an annual event Subcon has proved to be exactly right for the market's needs".
"We are continuing to grow the scope and size of the show, with more visitors, more exhibitors, wider international representation and a broader scope of services on offer".
"The fact that we are able to attract high-level seminar speakers from companies such as Rolls-Royce and JCB, and the presence among our visitors of representatives from the UK's leading manufacturers, show that Subcon is truly a force to be reckoned with".
"I look forward to an even more successful Subcon 2007".
Subcon 2007 will be held at the NEC Birmingham from 1st to 3rd May. Request free introductory details about products from Subcon ...
• Subcon: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
