Conference Programme

 Cost optimization starts in Design. And yet, many manufacturers do not consider cost until they are looking at sourcing. We all know 80% of product cost is locked in during design, but how many Design Engineers have visibility of cost in real time, during concept and detailed design phases? Leading names in Automotive, like Dana, Mann+Hummel, and many more, are changing the game and actively using cost as a design KPI. This session explores several case studies on how cost and manufacturability are analysed early, to great effect.

As design complexity grows across industries, engineers need more than faster tools—they need an intelligent approach. Join Mike Neal, Senior Director of NI Product Management at Emerson, as he shares how Emerson is embedding generative AI into its NI products. The session will explore the tangible benefits of adopting trusted AI-enhanced approaches so your organization can achieve better outcomes like faster solution development, greater insights, and more intuitive workflows—all while keeping engineers firmly in control. Mike will also share a vision of how generative AI can amplify engineering innovation as well as a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring these technologies into real products.

What do you do when requirements keep evolving, the timeline is tight, and your design’s application is growing ever more ambitious? Welcome to the world of special projects. This talk explores techniques for designing sensor systems that remain reliable when all else changes, with stories from real‑world design projects including a retrofit rangefinder receiver for an already‑fielded laser designator and a photochemistry instrument that brings scientific rigour to photocatalysed drug production, and shares practical insights for creating technology that meets the brief when the brief doesn’t (fully) exist.

Bluetooth Low Energy has long enabled proximity-based services, but with Bluetooth v6 approaching, we are entering the next phase of truly intelligent environments. This presentation explores how BLE is being used today for indoor positioning, asset tracking and contextual automation—and how Bluetooth v6 enhancements will enable richer, more precise location-aware experiences across industries.  

The UK manufacturing sector faces a critical skills shortage, threatening its growth and competitiveness. This panel discussion will address the widening gap between available talent and industry needs, exploring innovative strategies to attract, train, and retain the next generation of manufacturing professionals. Join us to hear from industry leaders, educators, and students as we discuss how to inspire young people, enhance training programs, and build a sustainable pipeline of skilled workers to ensure a thriving future for UK manufacturing.

Are component obsolescence challenges costing your business or your customers thousands?

Discover why 34% of manufacturers still "wing it" despite quarterly disruptions.

Join embedded systems industry veteran Dunstan Power as he shares how companies are transforming obsolescence from crisis to competitive advantage.

Through exclusive research with nearly 600 industry professionals and real-world case studies, Dunstan will demonstrate how the right approach can help slash crisis response and redesign costs. Leave with actionable strategies, including a practical assessment framework and implementation roadmap, to transform obsolescence management from unavoidable expense to strategic advantage.

Stop reacting to obsolescence - and start controlling it.

The transition to a circular economy is reshaping how engineering companies design, manufacture and manage products. This presentation explores three key legislative drivers: the Circular Economy Act; Right to Repair; and Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulations and what they mean for engineers across sectors. We will examine practical implications for product durability, repairability, recyclability and material efficiency, illustrated with three to four case studies of companies already aligning with these frameworks. Delegates will gain a clear understanding of how regulation and innovation intersect and how engineers can turn compliance into a competitive advantage in sustainable product development.

How to meet the requirements of the act efficiently within the limited timeline.

The 2024 Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which came into force on December 11, 2024, has set a strict 21-month deadline for compliance — placing immediate pressure on engineers and product teams to align their devices and new designs with these new requirements. This session will focus on how to meet the requirements of the act efficiently within this limited timeline. Add to that the UK equivalent came into force in April 2024, and you cannot avoid knowing that failure to comply could result in hefty fines and/or exclusion from selling your products & services.

This presentation will cover PCB layout optimisation for maximum heat dissipation, focusing on design strategies and best practices. It explores tools for identifying thermal issues early in the design stage and techniques to enhance conduction, convection and radiation efficiency. Additionally, it provides insights into ensuring optimal heat transfer from PCB to heatsink. Attendees will gain practical knowledge to improve thermal performance in their designs. Finally, we will be looking at the supporting documentation required as part of the compliance journey when integrating thermal management products.

 Designing products with the user experience and efficiency in mind is a challenge in today's cost and speed driven world of product development and automation introduction. This session will discuss and demonstrate how to approach industrial design for automation & robotics with a lean first and virtual to reality mindset. Digital Transformation only works successfully when the human end users are the key focus, not the technology. This interactive session will include a demonstration of a mobile industrial robot and its virtual counterpart. Participants will gain insights into automation projects for billion dollar blue chip customers.

This presentation covers the need for digital thread continuity between PCB design, MCAD and thermal simulation… with our HEEDS platform we can use our AI algorithms to optimise the power module design. As products are becoming more complex, this process actually reduces time to market.

The Oxford–Cambridge Arc, home to the Silverstone Technology Cluster, shows how high-tech innovation can drive transformation beyond motorsport. Agriculture faces global challenges in moving soft fruit: low margins, weather reliance, rising labour costs, and limited automation. Farms, like warehouses once were, are ripe for technological disruption, with potential for robotics and autonomy to boost efficiency. Seasonal labour dependency and market failures highlight the need for durable, reliable agritech solutions. With controlled environments, farms offer ideal testbeds for safe automation. The opportunity is global, worth billions, creating high-skilled jobs and enabling long-term growth in engineering, manufacturing, and food production.

 All innovative businesses are creating valuable Intellectual Property (IP). But are they protecting that IP properly? Technical inventions can be protected by filing patent applications and getting patents granted. There are many advantages to obtaining patents and building a patent portfolio. This presentation covers the main advantages that businesses gain by filing patent applications and obtaining granted patents. These include diverse commercial and technical advantages including valuable tax breaks that are available to owners of granted UK patents. The tax break can often far exceed the cost of obtaining a patent, creating a virtuous circle of patent creation and investment.

Ever wondered why your relay welds, your contactor overheats or your switch just won’t last? From energy storage systems to electrified industrial vehicles, equipment lacking robust switching can lead to premature failure, safety hazards and costly downtime.

Whether you’re an engineer designing next-gen systems, a buyer responsible for driving efficiency or a manufacturer seeking to boost customer confidence, join Durakool to discover how choosing and integrating the correct relay and contactor provides reliability, optimises performance, protects your investment and delivers peace of mind

Sitting at the intersection of technology and law, the patent system was designed to incentivise innovation by rewarding human creativity, granting monopolies in exchange for contributing to human knowledge. Starting with a discussion on common misconceptions about patents – including whether you can patent software, what rights a patent actually gives you, and the different ways a patent can be commercially valuable, this session will discuss the how, what and why of securing patent protection. This session is suitable for those who have no experience with IP and patent filings, as well as those who are more experienced.

We will present the state of the art for the use of automated formal methods in the development of control systems, using an exemplar in the nuclear sector.  Formal methods have been acknowledged as a very powerful set of techniques with potential to significantly improve the speed and quality of software deployment but usually requiring the use of rare, expensive skills.  We show the how automated formalism is introduced through software requirements, design and code and used as the basis for automatic, independent verification. The possible claims for certification credit are also discussed, metrics are presented.

AI adoption promises speed and innovation - but also exposes organisations to cyber risk, regulatory scrutiny, and supply chain pressure. Thibault Williams, Director of TMW Resilience, will show why strong governance isn’t bureaucracy but a competitive advantage: it protects against disruption, demonstrates accountability, and enables safe, trusted AI. You’ll learn how aligning information security with AI assurance builds resilience and earns confidence from customers and regulators alike. Using TISAX as a powerful, real-world model, Thibault shares practical ways to see your vulnerabilities clearly and strengthen defences, so governance becomes a driver of trust and innovation - not a blocker.

Engineering teams face constant pressure to deliver parts faster, reduce costs, and adapt designs under tight schedules. Traditional methods can’t always keep up — and this is where additive manufacturing offers a practical alternative.

In this session, Stratasys will show how to identify the parts and applications best suited for additive, explain how different technologies align with different requirements, and share real examples of measurable ROI with cost and time savings. The discussion will also cover the growing range of materials — from engineering-grade thermoplastics to real silicone — and the engineering benefits they unlock, including metal replacement, lightweighting, part consolidation, and more sustainable production.

Key takeaways include:

-How to recognise where additive brings the most value

-How to match technologies and materials to different engineering needs

-Tangible benefits such as lighter designs, reduced assemblies, and faster iteration

-ROI examples with hard data on time and cost savings

We’ll also touch on how onshoring and supply chain delays are prompting engineers to rethink the way they make components.

This is a practical session designed for engineers, focused on real applications, data, and a clear framework you can take back to your own projects.

Avoid costly redesigns, failed tests, and project delays by building EMC compliance into your product from day one. In this practical session, we’ll explore proven design strategies—covering grounding, filtering, and shielding—and how to validate them early using real-world tools like spectrum analysers, LISNs, and pre-compliance test gear. Learn how to leverage affordable, accessible instruments from brands like Siglent, Rigol, and Tekbox to catch EMC issues before certification. Whether you're a hardware engineer, system designer, or project lead, this session will help you design with confidence and pass EMC the first time.

In product assembly, delays in tooling, jigs, and fixtures slow projects down and drain resources. But design engineers don’t have to wait. In this session, Stratasys will show how additive manufacturing is transforming EDS applications — from PCB testing rigs to ergonomic assembly jigs and precision fixtures. You’ll see how FixtureMate™ and AM-driven design approaches slash lead times from weeks to hours, cut costs by up to 80%, and unlock design freedom that traditional methods can’t match. Walk away with practical steps you can take immediately to streamline EDS workflows and accelerate product development.

Successful digital adoption isn’t just a technical challenge - it’s a human one.

The Made Smarter Innovation: Centre for People-Led Digitalisation is a university-led research initiative focused on addressing the human and cultural barriers to adopting digital technologies within the manufacturing sector.

Join to explore the research behind this work and discover how it has been translated into practical, industry-ready tools. The session will feature case studies from our partners - Rolls-Royce, Eyelit Technologies, and Domino Printing - showcasing how these tools are being used to support effective digital adoption and progress towards Net Zero targets.

Infrared thermography, supported by AI,  has emerged as a versatile diagnostic and analytical tool with wide-ranging applications across engineering and medical sectors. In his lecture, Amin will present multidisciplinary case studies showcasing infrared technology  role in advancing medical technologies, product design, energy systems, intelligent cities and buildings, and modern manufacturing processes. The talk will emphasise how the integration of artificial intelligence with infrared thermography enables deeper insights, supports practical problem-solving, and addresses key industrial and medical challenges. Particular focus will be placed on the importance of cross-disciplinary research in accelerating innovation and translating thermal imaging into real-world solutions. The lecture will also explore how infrared thermography contributes to global priorities such as reducing carbon emissions, enhancing productivity, and driving down costs.