Following a standout 2026 event, Smart Manufacturing Week (SMW) returns to the NEC Birmingham on 9–10 June 2027 with a bold vision to drive the sector forward. Researched by The Manufacturer (part of Nineteen Group), the show debuts high-impact features that solidify SMW as the definitive one-stop hub for the entire manufacturing ecosystem. With an expanded footprint, fresh interactive zones and new opportunities for both long-standing participants and new partners to collaborate, the event is built to accelerate growth across the industry.
As a showcase for ground-breaking technology, SMW brings together professionals from every corner of the sector to connect and share insight. In a digitally enabled world where technology rarely sits still, the event continues to evolve, introducing a range of updates that reinforce its reputation as the place where today’s industry meets tomorrow’s innovation.
Factory of the Future
Smart Manufacturing Week 2027 will welcome Factory of the Future as a major immersive feature bringing the next generation of connected, intelligent and secure manufacturing to life.
Developed in partnership with AMIC, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, Factory of the Future, in partnership with the University of Belfast, will bring together digital manufacturing, automation, AI, digital twins, cyber security, sustainability and connected supply chains into one integrated manufacturing environment.
Why this matters now: Success for any modern, smart factory means that technology is not added to the shop floor as an isolated roll-out. Equipment, software, data, controls and people need to be homogeneously integrated across multiple locations and geographies as well as individual sites; not to mention, operating cohesively with existing and legacy infrastructure.
Factory of the Future will demonstrate this across a connected production ecosystem, where visitors will be able to walk through a live, modular manufacturing environment and see how modern production systems can respond, adapt and optimise in real time.
Commenting on the new feature, Stuart Dacre, Event Director of Smart Manufacturing Week said: “This isn’t just an exhibition feature. It’s an active movement to future-proof the sector. We are bringing a live, dynamic production line directly to the show floor to prove what’s possible when technology and people connect seamlessly. We invite solution providers and specialist manufacturers of all sizes to integrate their capabilities here and redefine what connected manufacturing looks like in practice.”
What to expect
- Intelligent manufacturing in action: Move beyond traditional product demonstrations to a live environment that will show how technologies from different solution providers can be combined to create more productive, resilient and data-led manufacturing operations.
- A connected, data-driven production environment: AMIC will showcase a data-driven connected supply chain, built on the architecture developed through its flagship Virtual Factory project, that will showcase how manufacturers can move from reactive operations towards intelligent, adaptive and data-led production.
- Technology and capabilities: The Factory of the Future experience will bring together a wide range of advanced manufacturing capabilities, including factory layout and redesign optimisation, digital twins, AR-enabled work instructions, IT and OT infrastructure, and edge analytics.
3D Printing + Additive Manufacturing Zone
As part of Smart Manufacturing Week’s mission to connect high-level strategy with practical, real-world implementation on the factory floor, a dedicated zone entirely focused on 3D Printing + Additive Manufacturing, part of the Design + Engineering Expo, has been announced for 2027, bringing additive manufacturing to the manufacturers who haven’t discovered it yet.
Whether you are looking to take your first steps into 3D printing or want to scale your existing additive capabilities, this new zone will deliver the insights, solutions and connections you need to drive real results.
By including this feature as part of the broader Smart Manufacturing Week exhibition, this zone offers the opportunity to put products and solutions in front of a much wider audience of manufacturers, engineers, production managers, technology leaders and senior decision-makers than companies would typically reach at a traditional single-sector 3D exhibition.
Similarly, it’s also an opportunity for companies that may not currently attend 3D-focused events to see first-hand how the technology could help solve real manufacturing challenges.
Why this matters now: From rapid prototyping and lightweight tooling to true on-demand, end-use production, additive manufacturing is no longer just a futuristic concept; it is a critical commercial advantage. This new area is designed to tackle today’s manufacturing challenges head-on, showing you how to build supply chain resilience, reduce material waste and drastically compress production timelines. Check out The Manufacturer’s Additive Manufacturing Supplement.
What to expect
- Live cutting-edge hardware: Get hands-on with the latest industrial 3D printers, advanced materials (from polymers to metals) and post-processing solutions with exhibitors such as Photocentric, Matsuura and Mark 3d.
- Disruptive innovation: Meet the trailblazing exhibitors and scale-ups pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in geometric complexity and component performance.
- Expert-led insights: Hear real-world case studies from industry pioneers who have successfully integrated additive processes into established production lines.
Fight Fest
Returning for 2027, and taking place on the Accu Bots stand, Fight Fest is a competitive element located within the Drives + Controls section. This high-energy robot fighting competition is aligned with automation and robotics, a core event theme.
Designed to encourage engagement and hands-on experience in engineering, the event will see students from across the UK competing with custom-made robots, alongside professional teams live over the two days.
Positioned at the far end of the Maintec floor, FightFest will pull traffic through the zone while putting extreme engineering on display. The open pit area brings Maintec’s core focus on maintenance and reliability to life as technical crews work continuously to keep combat robots operational.
Why this matters now: Manufacturing and engineering has for some time been battling a skills crisis. With an ageing workforce and more young people needed to come through the talent pipeline, the industry has to act quickly.
Fight Fest showcases some of the most advanced technologies used within the manufacturing sector in an exciting and fun environment, which will help inspire the next generation of manufacturers and engineers into this vibrant and rewarding sector.
What to expect
- Competition: A 1v1 combat robotics tournament, staged inside a purpose-built, bulletproof arena, featuring robots designed and built by engineering experts. Check out The Manufacturer’s interview with Alastair Morris, Managing Director, Accu during Fight Fest 2026.
- More robots. More battles. Bigger FightFest: After bringing live B2B robot combat to Smart Manufacturing Week, FightFest returns for 2027 with an expanded edition, more action and even more engineering pushed to the absolute limit.
- Engineering at its best: See purpose-built combat robots go head-to-head in explosive battles, as engineering teams put their design, control, durability and ingenuity to the ultimate test.
SmART Gallery
Also new for 2027, Smart Manufacturing Week is partnering with Make UK’s 2026 Photography Competition, the goal of which is to show the world the realities of modern manufacturing and creating a true picture of what the sector really looks like.
Winning entries will feature in a dedicated art gallery on the show floor, helping to create what could possibly become the largest collection of modern manufacturing photography ever assembled in the UK.
The SmART Gallery will celebrate the intersection of manufacturing, engineering, technology and creativity. Designed to challenge perceptions of modern industry, the feature will showcase work from artists, designers, engineers and manufacturers. One of the exhibits will feature winning entries from the Make UK Manufacturing Photography Competition. The gallery reflects SMW’s ambition to celebrate not only technology, but also the people, stories and ideas shaping the future of industry.
Why this matters now: Manufacturing is all around us and is an integral part of our everyday lives. Not only that but behind every manufactured product is a story. However, all too often that story is staying untold. There are certain perceptions that many people have around manufacturing; ideas that don’t often recognise the innovative, creative, skilled and inspiring people, products and processes that make the everyday possible. Make UK and The Manufacturer want to change that.
What to expect
- Winning entries: View winning entries across the competition’s three categories – Best young photographer; Best amateur photographer; Best professional photographer.
- 4 categories: The competition has been split in four engaging categories – Manufacturing Makes Things Possible; The People Who Make It Possible, Manufacturing Reimagined, and The Future of Industry.
- Chance to chat: Take the opportunity to meet some of the competition winners and hear their story.
SME Village
New for 2027, Smart Manufacturing Week is introducing the SME Village, a dedicated space designed specifically for manufacturing SMEs, from established family-owned businesses to ambitious growth companies.
SMEs are the backbone of UK manufacturing, yet many face barriers to accessing the expertise, support networks and practical guidance needed to overcome challenges and accelerate growth. While support exists across the industry, it can often be fragmented and difficult to navigate.
The SME Village has been created to provide a central hub where manufacturing SMEs can connect with peers, access trusted advice, discover practical solutions and engage with organisations committed to supporting the sector. By bringing together expertise, learning opportunities and relevant solution providers in one place, the Village gives SME manufacturers a dedicated platform within Smart Manufacturing Week that reflects their scale, importance and contribution to UK industry.
Visitors will be able to hear how other manufacturers are tackling challenges around productivity, technology adoption, workforce development, leadership and business growth, while accessing practical guidance and real-world experiences from organisations working closely with the SME manufacturing community.
For solution providers, the SME Village offers a focused environment to engage with SME manufacturers, understand their priorities and demonstrate how their expertise, products and services can help address real business challenges. Alongside this, a dedicated start-up area will provide an affordable platform for innovative early-stage businesses serving the manufacturing sector to showcase their solutions and build industry connections.
Why it matters now: Manufacturing SMEs account for the vast majority of businesses within the sector and play a critical role in driving innovation, employment and economic growth across the UK. However, many continue to face challenges in identifying and accessing the support, knowledge and resources available to them.
The SME Village reflects Smart Manufacturing Week’s commitment to championing this vital community by creating a trusted space where manufacturers can access practical advice, build valuable connections and discover new opportunities. It is designed to help SMEs strengthen their operations, navigate change and build long-term resilience in an increasingly competitive manufacturing landscape.
What to expect
- A dedicated community hub for manufacturing SMEs to meet, network and share experiences.
- Practical content focused on the opportunities and challenges facing SME manufacturers.
- Access to trusted organisations, advisers and solution providers offering relevant guidance and support.
- Opportunities to discover funding, skills, technology and growth resources.
- A showcase area for innovative start-ups and emerging solution providers serving the manufacturing sector.
- Informal networking and discussion spaces designed to encourage peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
As well as all the new additions, regular show favourites such as the Ambassador Programme, STEM Programme, Best of British showcase and the show’s dedicated solution theatres will also be returning for 2027.
Commenting on the agenda, Grace Gilling, Managing Director, Hennik Research, part of Nineteen Group and publishers of The Manufacturer said: “The Solutions Theatres are the content anchors of Smart Manufacturing Week, providing a focused platform for the industry’s most important challenges, opportunities and innovations. Each theatre is aligned to the core themes of our four co-located exhibitions, helping visitors discover the ideas, technologies and strategies most relevant to their business.
“Across the theatres sits a headline programme researched, curated and produced by The Manufacturer’s content team. For more than 30 years, we have been at the heart of the UK manufacturing community, building relationships with the people and organisations driving real change. The result is a programme built around genuine best practice, featuring impactful case studies, lessons learned and innovation stories from manufacturers our team has spoken with, visited and interviewed, alongside organisations recognised through The Manufacturer MX Awards. Rather than theory, these sessions showcase proven results and practical insights from the companies setting the benchmark for manufacturing excellence today.”
Get involved with Smart Manufacturing Week 2027
Smart Manufacturing Week 2027 takes place on 9–10 June 2027 at the NEC Birmingham, bringing together the UK manufacturing and engineering community.
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