Industrial automation and robotics are driving the modernisation of UK manufacturing. Drives & Controls 2027 sits within Smart Manufacturing Week and brings together control systems, drives and integration solutions aimed at on‑floor implementation.
Dates and venue for Drives & Controls 2027
Drives & Controls 2027 takes place from 9 to 10 June 2027 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. The show runs in Halls 5 with exhibition hours on 9 June from 09:30 to 17:00 with VIP entry from 09:00 and an evening drinks reception, and on 10 June from 09:30 to 16:00 with VIP entry from 09:00.
The event is organised by Nineteen Group and produced by The Manufacturer.
What Drives & Controls brings to Smart Manufacturing Week
Drives & Controls is one strand inside a broader festival that includes Smart Factory Expo, Factory of the Future, Maintec and Design + Engineering Expo. The format supports comparisons across hardware, software and integrated solutions for manufacturing operations.
Expect a concentrated display of servo drives, variable speed drives, PLCs, safety controllers and robot integration components, set alongside maintenance and reliability offerings.
Typical exhibitors and technologies
Exhibitors include equipment manufacturers, systems integrators, drive and motor suppliers, industrial robotics vendors and providers of control software. The emphasis is on products and systems that connect control electronics to production lines and machine tools.
This combination reflects the event’s practical focus on moving from strategy to implementation on the shop floor.
How to prepare B2B prospecting in Birmingham
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Target selection. Use the exhibitor list to build a shortlist by technology and by role, for example drives manufacturers, integrators and robotics specialists.
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Block scheduling. Group meetings by technology cluster to reduce walking time within Halls 5 and to maximise back‑to‑back conversations with related suppliers.
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Focused collateral. Bring concise technical sheets and digital demos reachable by QR. Prepare three sales pointers: the issue you solve, a short proof point and a clear next step for the prospect.
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Use festival programming. Note sessions and networking moments where maintenance, engineering and procurement professionals gather and arrange meetings around those slots.
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Fast follow up. Record contact notes during the show and send follow‑up emails proposing a technical demo or pilot within the week after the event.
Final note and link
Drives & Controls 2027 provides a practical setting to evaluate control and drive solutions in context with wider factory technologies. If your objective is to accelerate automation projects, organise the visit by technology and use the broader Smart Manufacturing Week programme to align meetings with potential partners and suppliers. Find programme details and registration on the official site http://www.smartmanufacturingweek.com/welcome-drives
