Exhibition News

On 4^th September 2024 the Confederation of British Metalforming (CBM) staged its second Fastener Mini-Expo at the National Metalforming Centre, West Bromwich. Aimed at providing an informative networking opportunity for the UK fastener manufacturing sector, all respondents to a post-expo survey felt the event was good or excellent, with 83% recommending it to industry colleagues.

The one day event involved twenty-seven exhibitors, encompassing leading European steel and machinery manufacturers, inspection, process monitoring and simulation systems, tooling and heat treatment specialists, as well as lubricant and energy suppliers, including Brankamp MARPOSS, Carlo Salvi, SASPI, RLS Tooling, Regg Inspection, Condat Lubricants, Hariton Machinery Company, TR Fastenings, Vision Engineering and voestalpine. The Mini-Expo was also supported by Fastener + Fixing Magazine and CBM associates Croner HR and Crowe UK.  

A highlight of the event was a fascinating in-depth presentation from voestalpine, exploring both the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to green steel production.  

The CBM Fastener Mini-Expo originated in 2019, but plans for further editions were stymied by the Covid-19 pandemic, until a successful relaunch this year. That was at the initiative of CBM Fastener Specialist Derek Barnes, with the able support of the Confederation’s Media and Communications Administrator Rachael Bromley. 

Reflecting on the event, Derek said: “The CBM set out to create a dedicated trade fair for fastener and precision component manufacturing companies, giving them access to key providers in the supply chain but also bringing them together as a community for a great networking opportunity. We chose exhibitors that were diverse in their products and services and offered state of the art technologies that add value to the manufacturing industry.”

Explaining the selection of voestalpine as the day’s keynote speaker, Derek explained: “We decided to have a single keynote speaker and the presentation by voestalpine on green steel was not only extremely relevant but also very insightful. It created an excellent focal point for attendees and exhibitors, with discussions continuing over the buffet lunch provided by the CBM.”

The National Metalforming Centre is the CBM’s headquarters and events venue, conveniently located in the heart of the West Midlands, close to the M5 and M6 motorway network. For Derek Barnes, as well as showcasing the capabilities of the NMC as a welcoming and effective venue, hosting the Expo there “allowed us to create a really good, relaxed atmosphere, appreciated by all”. He noted: “It’s fair to say that the day was a total success with both exhibitors and attendees enjoying the event. Having re-established the value of the Mini-Expo, now we can start planning next year’s event.”

Derek was far from alone in his assessment of the day. One exhibitor noted that it had received three times as many positive enquiries than it had at big exhibitions. All bar one exhibitor confirmed they would be pleased to exhibit again. 

There was unanimous approval for the voestalpine presentation, which was described by one attendee as “very good and useful”. The presentation, led by Dr Walter Berger, voestalpine’s director of innovation – who flew in with his team especially for the event, provided a detailed and scrupulously honest commentary on both the opportunities and challenges of transitioning to green steel production. 

Overall assessments of the Mini-Expo included comments describing it as “well organised and well attended”, with positive feedback on the range of featured exhibitors, as well as special praise for a “lovely lunch”. 91% of respondents to the post event survey were pleased with the variety of exhibitor stands, with a similar percentage approving the time efficient schedule – some felt the event might be even more focused closing sooner after the keynote presentation and lunch. Others, however, clearly valued the networking time. Every respondent concurred that the National Metalforming Centre was a good location, although there was a feeling that, if this year’s success drove greater demand, as seems likely, space might become a challenge.  

CBM Chief Executive Geraldine Bolton commented: “CBM was delighted to host so many fastener sector participants, both as exhibitors and attendees. It was particularly pleasing to see ‘standing room only’ for an excellent presentation from voestalpine. It was also great to hear how attendees were engaging with the exhibitors and each other. It was important to Derek that the Mini-Expo should be a successful networking, as well as informative, event and it certainly delivered on both scores. It was also a measure of the range of support that CBM provides its members that attendees valued the presence of Croner HR and Crowe UK, as well as our Policy Advisor Phil Matten, who was clearly being ‘collared’ on various pressing regulatory issues, particularly steel safeguarding and CBAM.”

The CBM stages informative TTG webinars on fastener manufacturing technology and holds regular online forging and fastener meetings, which deliver the latest on market and regulatory developments. The webinars also include personal updates from President Steve Morley on CBM’s lobbying with government departments on key concerns for the entire metal manufacturing sector.