Industry experts, global companies as well as individuals representing local manufacturing and engineering businesses will be in Newport next month to attend the UK’s largest regional Industrial Control and Automation Exhibition.

The event is being held at the head office of the IAC Group in Newport.

Presentations and technical seminars will be hosted by market leading international organisations including Siemens and ABB.

The impact of industrial digitalisation on the UK’s manufacturing sector will be one of the main topics being discussed.

Sometimes referred to as the 4th Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, industrial digitalisation is the term used for the deployment of advanced digital technologies by manufacturing/engineering companies.

Peter Lewis, managing director of the IAC Group, said that the impact of industrial digitalisation will have a significant impact on manufacturing and engineering firms based in Wales and the South West.

He said: “We work on engineering projects here in the UK and across the globe. The uptake of automation in other countries has made it even more important for UK based companies to embrace the new technologies.

"Smaller businesses especially industrial companies need to be educated about how digitalisation can help their business and understand what they can do. The faster adoption of industrial digital technologies (IDT) can become a key driver of improved productivity, global competitiveness and increased exports.

"A recent study identified that by fully applying these technologies over the next decade, UK industrial production would be up to 30 per cent faster and 25 per cent more efficient.

“We are looking forward to hosting the event in May. It is free to attend, and we are extending the invite to manufacturing and engineering businesses based here in Wales and the South West of England, so they can attend and not just learn more about industrial digitalisation and ask related questions to companies who contributed to the Industrial Digitalisation Review.”