Subcon reflects resilient engineering sector

Organisers of Subcon 2009 have announced that forward bookings from exhibitors are 20 per cent up on this time last year and 45 per cent up on the year before.

Exhibition manager Jon Clark said: 'Subcon 2009 is shaping up to be one of the best shows we have ever had.

'The UK's high-end contract manufacturing base is asserting its strength; stand space sales at Subcon 2009 are at record levels.

Subcon 2009 will give buyers the chance to source all types of subcontract manufacturing services from the UK's biggest showcase of national and international suppliers.

Manufacturing services on offer cover everything from machined parts, electronic assemblies, castings, plastic mouldings and metal fabrications, through to full manufacturing services, design and build, and rapid prototyping.

Subcon 2009 is supported by leading industry associations including, for the first time this year, the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC) with its SC21 supply chains for the 21st Century initiative.

Recognising the fact that there is a strong and healthy demand for outsourced capacity, particularly in areas such as aerospace, medical equipment, energy and offshore, around 60 per cent of the bookings taken in the past six months have come from companies that have never exhibited at Subcon before or are returning to the show after a gap of several years.

These include AS9100 accredited companies such as Tridan Engineering, Claro Precision and PP Plasma, as well as international organisations such as the TTI group and DJJ Engineering.

Subcon is also living up to its reputation as a leading international showcase for engineering capacity, with pavilions already booked from Thailand, Slovakia and Spain, plus strong representation from exhibitors in France, the Czech Republic, Germany, Holland, Taiwan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Ireland, China and India.

Subcon 2009 will also see the introduction of the Manufacturing Equipment and Materials Zone.

This aims to present complementary products and services that buyers of subcontract manufacturing may also have procurement responsibility for.

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