Qimtek to Host Supply Chain Lounge at Engineering Design Show 2026

The Engineering Design Show takes place at the Coventry Building Society Arena on 7th and 8th October 2026 , bringing together thousands of engineers, designers and purchasing professionals from across the UK.

As part of this year's show, the Qimtek Supply Chain Lounge will provide a dedicated area where visitors can discuss live and upcoming manufacturing requirements and meet relevant UK suppliers through focused one-to-one conversations.

Rather than simply walking the exhibition looking for potential manufacturing partners, buyers will be able to use Qimtek's knowledge of the UK subcontract manufacturing market to help identify suppliers suited to their particular requirements.

The lounge will support buyers looking for manufacturing capabilities including CNC machining, sheet metalwork, fabrication, laser and profile cutting, moulding, casting, electronics and complete manufacturing solutions .

Bringing Buyers and Manufacturers Together

Qimtek has spent more than 30 years connecting UK engineering buyers with subcontract manufacturers, and the EDS Supply Chain Lounge brings that experience directly onto the exhibition floor.

The objective is simple: help engineers find the right manufacturing companies and create useful conversations around genuine sourcing requirements.

Dean Munkley, Managing Director at Qimtek, said:

"Engineering exhibitions are fantastic for discovering new technology and meeting suppliers, but if you're an engineer with a specific part or project to source, finding the right manufacturing company in a busy exhibition can still be difficult.

"That's where we can help. We know the capabilities of the manufacturers within our network, so we can introduce buyers to companies that are genuinely relevant to what they need.

"The Supply Chain Lounge is about creating proper conversations between engineers and UK manufacturers. If somebody comes to EDS with a drawing, a new project or simply wants to strengthen their supply chain, we want them to leave having met companies that can actually help."

Supporting UK Manufacturing

The initiative will also give participating manufacturers the opportunity to meet engineers actively looking for additional production capacity, specialist processes, prototype support and longer-term manufacturing partners.

For buyers, the service provides an opportunity to expand their supplier base while maintaining a direct relationship with the manufacturers producing their components.

Qimtek does not add a purchasing commission or margin to projects introduced through its sourcing service, allowing buyers and suppliers to discuss technical requirements, quotations and future opportunities directly.

Meet Qimtek at EDS 2026

The Engineering Design Show 2026 takes place on:

7th–8th October 2026 Coventry

Building Society Arena Coventry, CV6 6AQ

Entry to the Engineering Design Show is free for visitors. Engineering and purchasing teams attending EDS who are looking for new UK manufacturing partners are encouraged to visit the Qimtek Supply Chain Lounge / Meet the Buyer area during the event.

About Qimtek

Qimtek is a UK manufacturing sourcing platform connecting engineering and purchasing professionals with experienced subcontract manufacturers. The service helps buyers source everything from individual components and prototypes through to complex assemblies and ongoing production requirements, covering a wide range of UK manufacturing processes and capabilities.

For more information, visit qimtek.co.uk .