Manufacturing and Engineering Giants Gather at NEC For PPMA Show 2015
Industry professionals are gearing up to visit the PPMA Show 2015, the UK’s premier, free-to-attend complete production line event for processing and packaging machinery – set to be the largest of its kind in recent years.
Returning to the NEC, Birmingham, the show will run over three days (29th September – 1st October) and will be opened by Lord Digby Jones, former director General of the CBI and Trade and Investment Minister. With exhibitor space up by more than 20 percent compared to preparations for the 2014 show, this time last year, the event is quickly becoming the processing and packaging show that must be not be missed.
Justin King to Take Centre Stage at Seminar Theatre
A leading figure in the FMCG and Grocery retailing sectors and former Sainsbury’s CEO, Justin King CBE is set to headline this year’s PPMA Show seminar theatre. Taking to the stage, Justin will discuss the future for multiple retailers, how the growing market shares of discount retailers will affect the supply chain and how the continued emergence of supermarket convenience outlets is shaping the market. Also confirmed for the 2015 exhibition; Keith Thornhill, Business Manager for Food & Beverage at Siemens; Peter Evans, Compliance Engineer at the CE Marking Association; and Rhys Herbert, Senior Economist at Lloyds Banking Group. Mike Crosby, Finance Director for Burts Potato Chips, joins the line-up to examine how sales targets and profitability have soared thanks to continued factory investment and new technology.
Manufacturing Skills Gap Under the Spotlight
Addressing the ingredients for success and highlighting the opportunities for an engineering future in food and drink, Sam Kelly, Electrical Engineering Apprentice for PepsiCo, and Hannah Whall, Graduate Project Engineer for Nestle, will be closing the show. Representing two of the routes open to young people, including apprenticeships and graduate schemes, Sam and Hannah will share their personal stories as their build a career in the UK’s food and drink manufacturing industries.
In an effort to further encourage young engineers into the sector, the PPMA Show will also welcome the return of the Ones to Watch Awards which recognises the contributions of processing and packaging professionals under the age of 35. Sponsored by Festo, the awards are chosen by a select group of industry specialists from the PPMA Group Industry awards judging panel, with colleagues being urged to nominate outstanding candidates to the PPMA Show press office.
Demonstrating the Future Trends in Manufacturing
The 2015 exhibition will also showcase the latest trends and innovations taking the industry by storm. Visitors can visit stand E90 where Festo, the innovation leader in pneumatic and electric drive technology will be exhibiting a number of its exciting new developments, concepts and solutions for the food and beverage sector. Visitors to the stand will be able to discuss how they can increase productivity in different ways by considering efficiency, simplicity, security as well as accessing Festo’s key competencies. Other confirmed exhibitors include the likes of the RM Group with ABB Limited, Yorkshire Packaging, SMC Pneumatics, SICK UK and Stemmer Imaging.
Finally, the team at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking (stand F40) will once again have a dedicated stand at the show where its team of specialists will be offering advice ranging from day-to-day banking requirements to funding for expansion to exporting. Lloyds Bank return as headline sponsors highlights the company’s confidence in UK manufacturing and in particular, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They be offering visitors and exhibitors a chance to discuss banking opportunities following its 2014 commitment to provide lending facilities to the manufacturing sector of £1 billion per annum every year until 2017.
To register your attendance at the show please visit: http://bit.ly/PPMA2015. For more information on the PPMA Show 2015, please visit www.ppmashow.co.uk or join the conversation on twitter (@PPMAshow #PPMAShow or the PPMA Show LinkedIn group.)
