Test and measurement in focus

More than 40 years after its launch, the Engineering Integrity Society’s (EIS) Instrumentation, Analysis & Testing Exhibition continues to prove its value to the engineering community.

What started life as a relatively modest gathering in a hotel meeting room has evolved into a well-established fixture at Silverstone, bringing together suppliers, engineers and technical specialists from across the testing, measurement and analysis sector.

Measurement & Manufacturing caught up with organiser Sara Atkin to discuss the event’s evolution, feedback from exhibitors and why demand for next year’s show is already gathering pace.

Despite the economic challenges facing many areas of UK manufacturing, this year’s exhibition demonstrated the resilience of the testing and measurement sector. The event brought together 84 exhibitors and attracted a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, creating a busy and positive atmosphere across the halls.

According to Sara, exhibitor numbers increased compared with last year’s event, while visitor engagement remained particularly strong: “We ended up with more exhibitors than last year and really strong visitor engagement, which ticked all the boxes.

“The quality of the people who came this year was excellent. They stayed longer, had meaningful conversations with exhibitors and the whole day had a really positive, friendly feel.”

A walk around the exhibition floor highlighted the breadth of technology on display. Leading names including Instron, HBK, Kistler, Dewesoft, HORIBA MIRA, AVL, MTS Systems, Yokogawa and ZwickRoell were among the companies showcasing solutions spanning materials testing, sensing technologies, data acquisition, calibration, simulation and reliability engineering.

Headline sponsor Instron was among the companies attracting considerable interest throughout the day. A long-established name in materials testing, the company showcased technologies covering tensile, compression, fatigue and impact testing, alongside engineering support services. Its presence reflected the exhibition’s strong focus on helping engineers validate performance, improve product quality and gain confidence in critical design decisions.

Beyond the exhibition stands, visitors were treated to a varied programme of technical content. Instrumented vehicle displays outside the venue and robot navigation demonstrations inside The Silverstone Wing offered practical examples of how measurement and testing technologies are being applied in real-world engineering environments.

The seminar programme also reflected many of the key issues currently shaping engineering and manufacturing. Sessions covered topics including the forthcoming EU Cyber Resilience Act, the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reliability engineering, advances in extreme temperature testing, sustainable materials testing and the value of instrumentation and measurement within the rail sector.

AI emerged as one of the recurring themes throughout the day. Presentations from Relyence UK and ZwickRoell explored how AI is beginning to influence reliability engineering and materials testing, while still relying on the expertise and judgement of experienced engineers. Meanwhile, HORIBA MIRA’s presentation highlighted the increasing importance of cybersecurity as connected products become more common across industry.

The exhibitor list itself provided a snapshot of a sector that continues to evolve. Alongside established names in instrumentation and calibration were companies specialising in autonomous vehicle development, digital image correlation, non-destructive testing, high-speed imaging and advanced sensing technologies. The result was a show that balanced traditional engineering disciplines with the technologies shaping the future of product development and validation.

For Sara, one of the most encouraging signs came after the exhibition had closed.

“I’ve been blown away by how many companies have already been in touch wanting to book for next year,” she states. “That’s a real vote of confidence in the event.”

That early demand suggests the exhibition continues to offer genuine value for exhibitors and visitors alike. While engineers have more ways than ever to connect digitally, events such as this still provide an opportunity to see technologies first-hand, discuss challenges with technical experts and make valuable industry contacts.

More than four decades after its humble beginnings, the Instrumentation, Analysis & Testing Exhibition remains an important date in the engineering calendar. Judging by the quality of exhibitors, the relevance of the seminar programme and the enthusiasm shown by visitors, the event continues to provide a valuable showcase for the technologies helping engineers test, measure and validate the products of tomorrow.