We live in unsettling times where old values crumble daily: there are colouring books for adults; the man bun is an official hairstyle; some young girls are sporting Charlie Chaplinesque eyebrows.
And now, most unsettling of all is the news that Ian and Jini Stone will no longer be directing Advanced Engineering UK show operations. Should a manufacturing industry that took UK Tech Events’ dynamic duo to its collective bosom be worried? The Advanced Engineering UK show has grown to become one of the most widely anticipated annual engineering trade fairs in the sector. Now in its seventh year, its Aero Engineering Show component represents the founding cornerstone of the event from which the rest of the show has flourished. Aerospace Manufacturing has played a huge role in getting it off the ground, so whilst we’re proud of the show’s success, we’re also very interested to see how the changes at the top will affect its dynamics and more importantly, gauge the confidence of its regular exhibitors too. Now managed by global trade show operator, Artexis Easyfairs who acquired UK Tech Events last July, former managing director Ian Stone says the new owners have the small company-style hunger to ensure the show will go from strength to strength. Stone’s appetite for hunger reminds me of one of his nice touches from previous shows: free Millionaires’ shortbread handouts to help revive the flagging minds and bodies of exhibitors and visitors alike! With more than 700 exhibitors and an anticipated 13,000 attendees expected, Artexis Easyfairs will want to continue creating opportunities that address core technologies, processes and supply chain efficiencies which help keep the UK at the forefront of aerospace technology. Farewell Ian and Jini - and our best wishes to Easyfairs. An industry awaits your next move. Mike Richardson, editor
Boeing is testing three dozen technologies on its ecoDemonstrator programme focused on strengthening operational efficiency and sustainability in cabin interiors, one of the most challenging parts of recycling an airplane.
Space exploration is experiencing a resurgence with exciting new missions like the highly anticipated Artemis II mission, the recent successful lunar landing missions such as JAXA SLIM and Chandaaryan-3, and New Space deployments in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Three Northern Ireland based companies are set to highlight supply chain excellence, and the value of Northern Ireland’s thriving aerospace manufacturing sector to the global market, at this year’s Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIX), which takes place in Hamburg from 28-30 May.
