Show preview: TCT Live & Interplas

There will be many debuts, launches and enhancements that will be presented at this year's events, along with comprehensive conference and seminar programmes. TCT Live is the ideal forum for everyone involved in the concept, design, specification and manufacturing process to learn about the latest in Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing and other cutting edge product development software and technology. Whatever your level of knowledge, TCT Live is designed to further your product development skills as well as source new suppliers from over 200 leading exhibitors in a live environment. At the exhibition, companies from all over the world will be available to help the manufacturer to reduce product development time, reduce cost and improve efficiency. In addition to the exhibition, of course, will be what the organiser is calling 'Europe's Leading Additive Manufacturing Conference' the world renowned TCT Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Conference. This year, the conference will be full of high-quality presentations from users such as Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Clarks and Tata Motors. World class commentators including Todd Grimm, Terry Wohlers and Phil Reeves complete the line up. In addition, Richard Noble OBE will present a keynote address within this programme. Following on from the success of 2010 with over 250 attendees to these sessions alone, the Additive Manufacturing Tech Briefings will return for 2011. Here all major vendors are invited to present their latest developments in short sharp presentations, giving the buyer an instant snapshot of what is hot and imminent from each of the major players. If you are looking to source and purchase 3D printing or additive manufacturing machines this session is essential viewing for you! Technology Seminar programmes take place on the show floor and will address the issues of Inspection, Digitising & Metrology, and Software in Product Development. There are sessions looking at high-value goods and the dental sector, examining how technology can assist these growing sectors. At TCT Live this year, there will also be two unique teams gunning for World Records in 2012 – Bloodhound SSC and Torpedalo Project will both be on site so visitors can get up close with these fantastic feats of engineering. Also available this year will be Additive Technology Introduction Sessions. These highly oversubscribed free seminar sessions, presented by Graham Tromans, give newcomers to "additive" technologies the opportunity to get up to speed as fast as possible and to be aware of how they can best access them. There will be seven co-located Industrial Events on site and the TCT badge gets you into them all. Running alongside TCT Live will be Interplas 2011. Over 240 exhibitors are set to present the latest in plastics technology in September, so whether you design, manufacture, process or finish plastic components this is the event you need to attend. The exhibits that will be presented at this year's event, along with the comprehensive conference and seminar programme that will ensure that Interplas is the ideal forum for everyone involved in the concept, design, specification and manufacturing process to learn of the latest developments in plastics technology. From machines to materials to software and services, Interplas covers the complete spectrum of the plastic industry and enables the visitor to find everything they need to improve their business and stay ahead of their competitors. A feature of this year's exhibition will be the new 'British Centre Of Excellence' feature zone located in the very heart of the exhibition. Here some of Britain's finest end products will be paraded, demonstrating the UK's expertise in this area of manufacturing. New for Interplas 2011 is the Plastics Design Intelligence (PDI) Initiative. If you design or develop new products in plastics, then lookout for this logo on stands, it indicates that they might be able to assist you with your project. There is also a dedicated PDI Seminar Theatre staged within the Interplas Hall 4. The Green Room Seminar Sessions will be another highlight. The Green Room is one of three seminar programmes being staged at Interplas. Sponsored by Engel UK, it will be dedicated to highlighting the best in environmentally friendly plastics innovation. Interplas 2011 will also host the Tool-Temp 60 Second Dart Shoot-Out held in association with Tool-Temp, a 60 second dart shoot-out for visitors and exhibitors to pit their skills against one another. More seriously, Technology & Innovation Sessions will feature cutting edge papers that tackle either specific industries or processes. Sessions include Advanced Moulding Technologies, Efficient Manufacturing and Extrusion Technologies. There is also a full day focused on Medical Plastics. Naturally, Interplas 2011 will also feature a number of live machine demonstrations. Many of the 240+ exhibitors will be processing live allowing the visitor to compare and contrast in a real environment, while designers seeking one-to-one confidential product development advice should consider booking a free consultation at the Design Workshop adjacent to the PDI Seminar Theatre. Running concurrently alongside Interplas 2011 will be TCT Live 2011, MM Live UK 2011, NANO Live 2011, MEMS Live 2011 – these events combined with the PPMA Show and the Sensors Technology Show make up the largest gathering of engineering professionals in the UK in 2011 - an essential visit for anyone in engineering.