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GET TOGETHER PREVIEW • REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR CHEMUK 2021, THE UK’S NATIONAL EXPO FOR THE BROAD CHEMICAL SECTOR, DUE TO TAKE PLACE ON 15 AND 16 SEPTEMBER CHEMUK 2021 IS the only large-scale trade show that brings together the UK’s chemical processing, product formulation and chemicalusing industries and will this year offer a much-needed two-day opportunity for business networking, intelligence gathering, innovation showcasing and supply chain sourcing. Following the show’s successful launch in Harrogate in 2019, event organiser UK Industry Events took the decision to move the show to the largest industrial event space in the UK, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) just outside Birmingham, to facilitate the huge industry demand. Founder and managing director Ian Stone says: “ChemUK has doubled in size in terms of the number of exhibitors and stands. We had 170 in 2019 and this year we’ve got 350-plus. What you can draw from that is a massive appetite among suppliers and partners in the chemical industry to be part of ChemUK.” ChemUK 2021 will provide visitors with a diverse and impressive showcase of the latest
developments in plant, equipment, technology, materials and services that can help the industry drive product innovation, plant and process performance, supply chain fulfilment, and safety and compliance levels. As an illustration, the organisers offer some of the highest profile exhibitors this year, including ABB, Anton Paar, Atlas Copco, Brenntag UK, BTC UK, Busch (UK) Ltd, Calgavin, Dachser, DEKRA UK, Edwards Vacuum, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, George Fischer Sales, Grundfos Pumps, HRS Heat Exchangers, IMCD, Labtex, Monarch Chemicals, Siemens, Tradebe Chemicals, VEGA Controls, Univar Solutions, Siemens and many, many more. LET’S GET TALKING The ChemUK expo is accompanied by a wide-ranging speaker programme, with more than 150 contributors offering more than 40 hours of free-to-attend sessions. They will offer expert intelligence, case studies, best practice and technological insights to inspire
attendees and assist with investment decisions in taking operations to the next level. The conference sessions will feature contributions from more than 25 trade and technical organisations, four government departments and agencies, several centres of research and technology transfer, and an exciting cross-section of leading chemical suppliers, technology partners, and specialist service providers and consultants. In particular, as a gathering for the UK industry, the conference will take a look at the impact of the Brexit process and what it means for the chemical sector, along with wider global pressures and trends, the challenges they present and the opportunities they offer. Among those confirmed to speak are Tim Doggett, recently appointed as chief executive of the Chemical Business Association (CBA), along with its membership manager Dr Karen Harvey; Stephen Elliott, chief executive of the Chemical Industries Association (CIA); and leading executives from BASF UK & Ireland and Brenntag Essentials. An interesting perspective will be given by Dr Richard Daniels, director of the Chemicals Regulation Division at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), who will look at the challenges and opportunities posed for a chemicals regulator after Brexit. The ChemUK speaker programme, as well as the wider show floor, includes a wealth of downstream chemical user ‘sector-specific’ focus with association and federation keynotes confirmed from the likes of Solvents Industry Association (SIA), British Pest Control Association (BPCA), Paint Research Association (PRA), UK Lubricants Association (UKLA), British Coating Federation (BCF), British Adhesives & Sealants Association (BASA), Cosmetics Cluster UK, Oil & Colour Chemists’ Association (OCCA), Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) and others. LET’S GET DIGITAL A key theme of this year’s ChemUK will be the transition to digitised operations. A host of top speakers, including a feature panel session, together with leading suppliers and industry partners across the show floor will address
HCB MONTHLY | JULY/AUGUST 2021
