The country’s largest Irish UK collaborative manufacturing event is returning to the Mid West for the sixth time on Wednesday June 12, and to a brand-new location at the new Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) Coonagh Campus.
The first major event to be held at the newly opened €27.5 million campus on the northside of Limerick city, Manufacturing Solutions Ireland hosted by TUS and UK Manufacturing supply chain trade association – the GTMA, will once again attract hundreds of exhibitors of precision manufacturing tools and thousands of delegates.
This year the event expands its offerings to meet the evolving demands of precision engineering, with a comprehensive line up of speakers and industry experts. The one-day event promises to deliver new knowledge, networking opportunities, and technological advancements to its local, national and international visitors.
Welcoming the event to the new state-of-the-art, 5,819 square metre building at Coonagh, President of TUS Professor Vincent Cunnane said that Coonagh campus has been designed to drive the expansion of engineering education and research in the region, and includes new workshops and laboratories that will deliver space for manufacturing engineering and other engineering activities.
“This first phase of the Coonagh Campus will accommodate 800 students and apprentices and support the TUS ethic of practical learning and connection – our connection with industry, our connection to the jobs market, our connection to the local economy and our connection with the communities we serve.It is therefore appropriate that the first major event we host here, Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2024, is an event that has been fostered and developed as a result of the strong connection between TUS and our partners in the UK manufacturing supply chain trade association, the GTMA and supported by the Precision Turned Parts Manufacturers Association of Ireland (PTMA)”.
The PTMA has long been a supporter of this annual event, and this year founding member and former president of the PTMA Charlie Coughlan will be recognised for his outstanding contribution to industry at a special dinner in the Limerick Strand Hotel on the eve of Manufacturing Solutions Ireland. The Ballybrown, Limerick native began his career in High Life Tools in Shannon, before founding Precision Steel in Ennis in 1980, which later became the global brand Penn Engineering.
Manufacturing Solutions also continues to be supported by TUS based IDEAM (Irish Digital Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing) and Smarter Factory Technology as the tradeshow and conference becomes a hallmark event in the industry calendar.
GTMA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Alan Arthur explained that the demand for the return of Manufacturing Solutions Ireland was huge. “Bringing all the leading technology suppliers together the GTMA and TUS are providing an ideal conduit for the transfer of technology from the specialist suppliers to the practical industrial landscape, where its take-up and practical application can be used to gain a competitive business advantage.”
Among the notable speakers headlining Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2024 is Tony Schmitz, a renowned Professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Joint Faculty at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Schmitz will deliver a presentation titled “Hybrid Manufacturing Using Additive Friction Stir Deposition, Structured Light Scanning, and CNC Machining,” offering insights into cutting-edge techniques reshaping the manufacturing landscape.
Martina O’Flaherty, Senior Engineering Director responsible for Supplier Quality at Medtronic, Manufacturing EAC Region, will share her wealth of experience spanning over 25 years in the medical device industry. Her presentation, “Suppliers Are Partners,” will underscore the critical role of collaboration between manufacturers and suppliers in driving quality and innovation.
Martin Egan, Managing Director of Bijur Delimon Ireland, will take attendees on a journey to digitalization with his presentation titled “Bijur Delimon: Journey to Digitalisation.” Drawing from his extensive experience, Egan will offer valuable insights into the company’s transformation towards digital technologies and Lean Principles.
Moreover, attendees can look forward to a Women in Engineering Forum, celebrating the contributions of engineers across the Manufacturing spectrum. Speakers include Martina O’Flaherty, Senior Engineering Director at Medtronic, with over 25 years of experience in the medical device industry; Maeve Guilfoyle, Quality Manager at Takumi Precision Engineering, offering insights from the aviation, aerospace, and medical device sectors; and Dr. Olivia McDermott, a leading expert in quality management and lean principles. Lily Holmes, Managing Director at PB Machine Tech, also shares her dynamic leadership experience within the engineering sector, rounding out the panel with diverse perspectives and expertise.
With a comprehensive agenda covering topics such as additive manufacturing, supplier collaboration, digitalisation, and diversity in engineering, Manufacturing Solutions Ireland 2024 promises be a hugely beneficial event for all attendees. From engaging presentations to interactive exhibitions featuring the latest technologies and innovations, this year’s event offers opportunities for learning, networking, and professional development.
For more information and to register your attendance at this free event visit www.manufacturingsolutions.ie