Composites UK’s marketing and communications manager, Claire Whysall looks forward to Advanced Engineering 2023 and why member companies are looking for the most effective return on their investment.
Exhibiting at tradeshows is an important part of any company’s marketing strategy. Since the pandemic, we have seen large demand from member companies who want to make their mark at the leading tradeshows in both the composites industry and the specialised sectors they supply into but are looking even more so than before for the most effective return on their investment.
For any company, exhibiting at a tradeshow is a huge undertaking of resource in terms of both finance and personnel. Over the past 18 months, here at Composites UK, we have successfully developed a turnkey exhibition solution to enable companies to exhibit on a Composites UK organised pavilion, thus providing increased exposure whilst reducing staff input-time and financial risk. Whilst the package is particularly designed for SMEs, there is no limit to the size of the organisation able to take part.
Being part of a pavilion enables companies to gain more exposure as a collective group, rather than occupying individual small stands and being swallowed up on a large floorplan. They provide a platform for visibility, awareness and increased networking opportunities. On our pavilions, each company has their own 2m x 1m pod with optional TV screen, branding, storage space, marketing tools and organisational support before and during the shows.
As this issue of Composites in Manufacturing magazine is released, you’ll find us on stand X140 at the Advanced Engineering Show 2023 with several composites companies across 64m2. Upon our return from the show, we’ll be gearing up as hosts of the UK Pavilion at JEC World (5–7 March 2024) for a stand double this size, where we will be flying a literal flag for UK composites companies.
We are well versed at running pavilion stands at both of these shows and following their success and having consulted with our member companies, we are excited to announce that our offering in this area expands in 2024 to include the Farnborough Airshow. This prestigious, five-day event will take place from 22–26 July 2024, focusing on the aerospace, aviation and defence industries, building new connection and gaining access to new business development opportunities.
Working with the Northwest Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) our 150m2 Farnborough stand will house 24 Composites UK and NWAA members in the Pioneers of Change Zone, situated near to one of the main entrances of the large hall.
Aside from the pavilions, we can’t fail to mention the show we co-organise with Fluency – the International Composites Summit (ICS), which is the single place to do the most cost effective and sustainable composites business in the UK. Following a successful third year where over 1,300 people attended the show across the two days, ICS returns on 4–5 September 2024 (Milton Keynes), bringing together industry leaders, researchers, and innovators from across the composites sector.
Composites UK members receive a 15% discount to exhibit at ICS on all sized stands, and whilst there is no pavilion, the same pods that are used on our pavilions at Advanced Engineering, JEC and beyond also appear together on the show floor here so that smaller companies can test the water and showcase their capabilities, before progressing to a larger space in the future.
Companies wishing to join any of our pavilion stands or exhibit at the International Composites Summit are welcome to contact us for more details including pricing information.
Claire Whysall, marketing and communications manager, Composites UK
