Manufacturing & Supply Chain

The Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will be held at the Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, on Thursday, 12th of September 2024.

Incorporating a comprehensive conference programme featuring free workshops and key note speakers combined with a wide array of exhibitors displaying the latest technological solutions and business services available, the 2024 Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will serve as a forum for manufacturers and operators involved throughout the associated supply chains from across Northern Ireland to gather to discuss pressing issues facing their industry.

Generating annual sales of about £20 billion, manufacturing is crucial to Northern Ireland’s economic development. Manufacturers directly employ 80,000 people while supporting further employment throughout the wider supply chain in every region of Northern Ireland. The manufacturing sector accounts for 13.4% of Northern Ireland’s economic output, significantly higher than UK figure of 9.8%. Northern Ireland’s manufacturers also generate almost half of the country’s external sales and more than half of export sales.

The Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will encompass the full manufacturing spectrum in Northern Ireland, including the food and drink, biopharma, medtech, healthcare, engineering, transport, technology, building products, fabrics, polymers, packaging and renewables sectors.

The event will cover various topical themes including: Manufacturing; Supply Chain & Logistics; Sustainability; Lean Productivity & Continuous Improvement; Automation & Robotics; Procurement; 3D Printing; Hi-tech Manufacturing & Precision Engineering; IoT & Industry 4.0; and Lean Productivity & Continuous Improvement.

The Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition will provide an ideal location for businesses to meet with Government agencies and supporting associations, and gain free advice from experts on how to improve operational performance. The Event will also provide networking zones to connect buyers and suppliers. Indeed, the layout of the Conference & Exhibition is intended to maximise the opportunity for visitors to network and make new contacts.

AMIC (Advance Manufacturing Innovation Centre)

The Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is being organised in partnership with AMIC (Advance Manufacturing Innovation Centre), which is part of Queen’s University. The manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland and globally is being radically transformed by the ongoing developments in digital technologies, data and automation. There is an urgent need to support businesses in Northern Ireland to scale-up R&D within a smart factory setting so that they can continue to compete in the global marketplace. This is AMIC’s role.

In collaboration with manufacturing industry partners and experts from the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Manufacturing, Queen’s University has developed a Strategic Technology Roadmap for Northern Ireland and identified key priorities for AMIC to improve Northern Ireland’s distinctive strengths in advanced manufacturing and outline how it can support the region’s large, world-class companies as well as its SMEs.

Factory of the Future

Working in collaboration with industry, AMIC aims to open a £100 million state-of-the-art Factory of the Future at Global Point in Newtownabbey. The new centre will act as a springboard for manufacturing innovation so that Northern Ireland can be recognised worldwide for manufacturing excellence for generations to come.

Due to open in 2026, the 10,000 sq m open access manufacturing and engineering innovation centre with capacity for 150 staff is designed to reinvigorate local industrial potential and address the future technology and skills challenges faced by the manufacturing sector. The new facility is expected to create up to 1,500 jobs across Northern Ireland, contribute £1 billion to the economy and train 300 apprentices by 2050.

AMIC will provide a specialised environment for advanced manufacturing, materials, and engineering sectors to access the latest digital, automation and robotics technology, supported by experienced engineers and underpinned by academic excellence.

AMIC will also open up access to existing innovation networks in the UK and Ireland. Only by increasing capability in advanced manufacturing can Northern Ireland continue to compete in the global marketplace and attract new investment.

Registration for the 2024 Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition is free and is now open at www.northernirelandmanufacturing.co.uk/register/

Event Organiser

Event organiser, Dublin-based Premier Publishing & Events, has been staging similar exhibitions and conferences in the UK and Ireland for many years. Forthcoming events include:

* Northern Ireland Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition – 12th September – Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland;

* All-Ireland Food & Beverage Manufacturing Conference & Exhibition – 3rd October – Mullingar Park Hotel, Mullingar, Westmeath;

* Scottish Manufacturing & Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition – 23rd & 24th October – Scottish Event Campus, Glasgow, Scotland;

* All-Ireland Lab & Cleanroom Expo – 7th November – Leopardstown Pavilion, Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin;

* The European Infrastructure Conference – 14th November –The Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge, Dublin;

* The All-Ireland Water & Wastewater Expo – 21st November – Leopardstown Pavilion, Leopardstown Racecourse, Dublin.