Smart Manufacturing Week returns to the NEC Birmingham on 3–4 June 2026

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This year’s edition is set to raise the bar once again. As the UK’s leading gathering for manufacturing and engineering professionals, the event brings together the people, technologies and ideas shaping the future of industry, all under one roof.

With more than 136 new exhibitors joining over 250 returning brands, the scale of the 2026 event reflects both the pace of innovation across the sector and the growing demand for practical, future-focused solutions. For visitors, it offers a unique opportunity to explore the latest technologies, benchmark strategies and build meaningful connections that drive real business outcomes.

At the heart of Smart Manufacturing Week is its comprehensive content programme. Seven dedicated solution theatres will host more than 150 expert speakers, covering the full spectrum of modern manufacturing challenges and opportunities. From product innovation and digital twins to AI, industrial data and connected production, the agenda is designed to deliver both strategic insight and practical takeaways.

Key themes for 2026 include digital transformation, workforce development, sustainability and supply chain resilience. Industry leaders from organisations such as PTC, Dassault Systèmes and Epicor will share real-world applications and lessons learned, while manufacturers themselves will provide honest accounts of digital adoption, operational change and growth strategies.

Beyond the conference theatres, the show floor introduces a range of new and returning features designed to enhance engagement and networking. Highlights include the launch of Fight Fest, a high-energy robotics competition hosted within the Drives & Controls zone, and the expanded Ambassador Programme, which will facilitate deeper collaboration among influential voices in the sector.

A significant addition for 2026 is the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders’ Meet the Buyer programme. This initiative connects suppliers directly with automotive buyers across key areas such as electrification, sensors and connectivity, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration during a critical period of industry transition.

Smart Manufacturing Week also continues its strong commitment to the future workforce. The Student STEM Programme, taking place on Day 2, will welcome students from Year 9 through to university level, offering hands-on activities, live demonstrations and direct engagement with employers. For exhibitors, it provides a platform to showcase career opportunities and support the next generation of talent entering the sector.

Alongside the main event, Reliabilityweb will deliver its globally recognised Certified Reliability Leader programme, equipping attendees with the tools and frameworks 

needed to embed reliability and asset management excellence within their organisations.

Ultimately, Smart Manufacturing Week is more than an exhibition. It is a focal point for the UK manufacturing community, bringing together innovators, decision-makers and future leaders to share knowledge, spark ideas and accelerate progress.

With attendance continuing to grow and the industry evolving at pace, 2026 promises to be the most impactful edition yet. Register for free at www.smartmanufacturingweek.com

Brady EMEA and Caretag Announce Strategic Partnership for End-to End Surgical Instrument Tracking

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A new partnership combines Brady EMEA’s identification technology with Caretag’s UHF RFID platform to deliver end-to-end surgical instrument management for hospitals.

Brady EMEA, a provider of identification solutions for high-consequence environments, and Caretag, a healthcare technology company specialising in surgical instrument tracking, today announced a strategic partnership to deliver a fully integrated instrument management solution to hospitals and sterile supply departments (CSSD/RUMED) across Europe.

Together, Brady EMEA and Caretag are addressing one of the most persistent challenges in modern surgical care: ensuring that every instrument is precisely identified, reliably tracked, and fully traceable from sterilisation to the operating table and back. The combined solution is designed to meet the evolving demands of EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) while delivering measurable gains in efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

A Critical Challenge, a Shared Commitment Surgical instrument management remains one of the most complex and risk-laden processes in healthcare. Manual tracking methods are time-consuming and error-prone, creating risks both in the operating theatre and in compliance with regulatory requirements. Under EU law, healthcare providers face strengthening traceability obligations through Unique Device Identification (UDI) requirements, with transition deadlines extending to 2027 and 2028.

Brady EMEA and Caretag recognised a shared mission: to put the right instrument in the right place, every time with full documentation, full confidence, and zero compromise on patient safety.

The partnership addresses the critical need for precision and reliability in healthcare by combining expertise in identification with advanced tracking technology. The resulting comprehensive solution provides hospitals with a way to strengthen patient safety and improve operational efficiency.

Integrated Technology Solution The Brady–Caretag solution brings together two complementary areas of leadership to create a seamless, all-in-one answer to instrument management:

Brady contributes advanced, patented data capture technology for reliable instrument identification throughout sterilisation and surgical workflows. Brady’s accurate RFID tag reading is part of a complete, full stack AIDC solution that also includes high performance labelling, printing, lasering and engraving.

Caretag provides its AI-powered UHF RFID platform and instrument tags, engineered to withstand more than 2,500 sterilisation cycles without impacting instrument performance or usability. The Caretag system enables the automatic, simultaneous identification of multiple instruments, accelerating the instrument packing process by more than 33% compared with traditional DataMatrix scanning, while delivering real-time location tracking, full usage history and actionable inventory insights.

Together, the partnership enables hospitals to track every instrument throughout its complete lifecycle, from the CSSD sterile supply room to the operating theatre and back, with full digital traceability, MDR-compliant documentation, and the data insights needed to optimise instrument utilisation and reduce unnecessary procurement.

“Caretag was founded on the belief that every surgical procedure should have complete instrument traceability. Partnering with Brady EMEA allows us to extend this capability to more hospitals and healthcare systems, delivering greater transparency, efficiency and confidence in surgical instrument management”, Michael Leibig, Founder & CCO, Caretag.

Availability & Contact The Brady EMEA–Caretag solution is available to healthcare providers across Europe. To request a demonstration, or to seek further information, please contact Michael Leibig, CCO at Caretag, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Key Benefits of the Brady–Caretag Partnership

Full instrument lifecycle traceability — from sterilisation to surgical use and return, with complete digital documentation Simultaneous bulk tray verification using UHF RFID, delivering a packing process more than 33% faster than DataMatrix scanning Real-time location tracking and usage history to prevent instrument loss and ensure surgical readiness Instrument utilisation data to optimise inventory, reduce waste, and support sustainability goals Proven durability: identification technology validated to 2,500+ sterilisation cycles with no impact on instrument performance Full alignment with EU MDR 2017/745 UDI requirements, with transition deadlines to 2027–2028

Food producer selects Speedor Mini

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Production of Food requires meticulous cleanliness. Due to the ongoing success of its brand, a leading food manufacturer required a 50% increase in production.

The result was an extended building within a new production line. In the maintenance of the required standards, Speedor Mini high speed automatic rolling doors were selected. The Mini is the ideal solution with features neat and tidy installation, automatic high speed reliable frequent operation controlled by state-of-the-art sensors and BSEN compliant safety devices. 

Speedor Mini is designed for openings up to four metres and frequent use in high traffic situations, constructed to sustain thousands of opening and closing cycles. The Mini is a proven reliable product, delivering minimal maintenance and low cost of ownership with many years of use.

Hart Door Systems’ chairman, Douglas Hart, says the Speedor range of high-speed doors has been in manufacture for 46 years, delivering many thousands of Speedors in operation, countless cycles and saving huge amounts of energy.

Speedors offer various models all designed to deliver the reliable long-term operation appropriate to the requirements where openings, from one metre wide internal openings to eight metres wide, are in exposed situations requiring wind resistance to class 5.

www.hartdoors.com

Managing Safety with the Lockout/Tagout Logbook

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Effective energy isolation requires more than just hardware; it demands accurate record-keeping. The Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) Logbook offers a quick and simple system for tracking and documenting the isolation of equipment and machinery. By centralising LOTO activities, facilities can ensure that every procedure is accounted for, reducing the risk of accidental re-energisation during maintenance.

Containing 112 pages, each logbook features detailed record sheets designed to support compliance with legal requirements and local technical standards. It is a practical solution for warehouses, manufacturing environments, and any industrial site looking to improve workplace accountability.

Why Use a Dedicated LOTO Logbook?

• Simplified Documentation: Streamlines the tracking of equipment isolation.
• Audit Readiness: Provides a clear paper trail to meet safety standards.
• Versatile Application: Suitable for all industrial sectors requiring LOTO protocols.
• Increased Accountability: Ensures clear responsibility for every lockout event.

Improve your site safety and documentation efficiency today.

Order your copy online >>

Brady Corporation Ltd.

www.brady.co.uk