The lab is a key and growing component of the annual CHEMUK Expo. Managing director of show organisers UK Industry Events, Ian Stone discusses how he seeks to balance laboratory R&D with scaled-up manufacturing to present a holistic view of the chemicals sector and its cutting edge.
What value does CHEMUK provide for laboratory scientists?
Laboratory science is a very broad field indeed – embracing physical, chemical, life science, chemical arenas and feeding into highly specific application. CHEMUK provides a unique focus into the technologies, techniques, unique challenges and opportunities within the broad chemicals industries – embracing organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and industrial biotechnology.
Laboratory scientists and technicians involved in R&D can soak up the very latest thinking at the heart of their world – whether this relates to innovation/best practice and latest analytical techniques empowering ever more efficient R&D; analysis and characterisation of compounds and formulations; innovation in chemical process development and early scale-up; innovation in quality control laboratory applications; [or] the ever changing regulatory and compliance landscape.
The show floor is also teeming with the very latest lab equipment, apparatus and consumables for applications within the chemicals industries and demonstrating products serving wider laboratory applications areas. And the event provides a unique networking environment.
What’s the balance between R&D and manufacturing?
What we are seeing throughout the CHEMUK event are three focus areas: Certainly laboratory R&D is absolutely central to the rapidly growing ChemLAB show floor component of the event, and indeed the supporting conference stream. Analytical chemistry, formulation chemistry, polymer chemist and materials science and process development are all at the core of the events remit for attending laboratory professionals working in the R&D spheres of chemical compounds, formulations and materials.
This is reflected with a broad showcase of latest technologies and suppliers in the areas of analytical chemistry – with a range of suppliers providing latest products, technologies and solutions in key areas of reaction chemistry/synthesis, analytical techniques, spectroscopy/spectrometry, chromatography, formulation chemistry, chemical analysis and characterisation, analytical data technologies and lab automation/AI and newer disruptive technologies.
However, the ChemLAB stream balances this with an equally strong cross section of solutions offered by exhibiting companies that reflects both the full-scale production laboratory sampling, testing and wider QA/QC tools for batch and continuous inprocess. In a sector characterised by rigorous production/product performance standards and regulatory compliance, the importance of laboratory science in the production environment cannot be overstated – both for monitoring the quality consistency of the product and the full-scale process.
The inputs into the conference from some 150-plus expert contributors each year through a host of panel sessions, keynotes and feature presentations provide the UK’s largest ‘freeze frame’ of emerging trends and technologies that are affecting and influencing both the R&D spheres, as well as production environments
There is of course a critical bridge between pure lab-based R&D and production full-scale operations and that is in the important scaleup phase. This is reflected I think through two main areas of coverage at CHEMUK, as part of the ChemLAB stream.
Firstly products, technologies and services allowing chemicals industries to run trial/ pilot/scale-up testing and measurement for product and process validation is massively important. CHEMUK provides a healthy cross section of leading pilot-plant and scale-up solutions to partner with R&D and production teams through this transition. Equally we are seeing, particularly in API and fine chemistry, the increasing use of tools in the laboratory flow-chemistry scale-up arena. That provides an exciting fast track in reactor scale-up from lab to production scale.
The lab landscape has evolved considerably in a short time: how has this affected content and attendance demographics?
I think that laboratories, whether in-house or independent, are facing a perfect storm of challenges at present. CHEMUK has, and continues to address, these challenges in the areas of: talent and skills attraction and retention; embracing cutting edge technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, VR/AR, blockchain, LIMS, Cloud computing, robotics and automation of lab processes – allowing labs to compete in an increasingly complex, regulated and ultra-competitive timeconscious marketplace; and sustainability, whether looking at use of lab water, energy, or use of greener solvents and lab chemistries. CHEMUK is attracting lab professionals and lab asset management in ever higher numbers to find out where the industry is at.
And how do you adapt to incorporate those emerging trends?
The inputs into the conference from some 150-plus expert contributors each year through a host of panel sessions, keynotes and feature presentations provide the UK’s largest ‘freeze frame’ of emerging trends and technologies that are affecting and influencing both the R&D spheres, as well as production environments. In 2024 we will host a record 27 panel sessions as part of a massive five-stage (50-plus hours) of topical discussion at the cutting edge of where the sector is, further reinforced by the 450-plus exhibitors across the 14,000 sq m show floor.
Bridging the gap between lab experimentation and scaled-up manufacturing is crucial across your audience. Do you have an active strategy for identifying innovative technologies and solutions?
CHEMUK recognises that the phase between laboratory experimentation and scaled-up manufacturing is fraught with challenge – whether relating to batch or continuous flow production models.
Complex scale-up process planning, communication and collaboration between different groups and adoption of the right protocols to manage risk and achieve best evaluation procedures, optimisation of process design and conformity to safety, quality, sustainability and regulatory criteria, is a broad undertaking. Not only does CHEMUK provide discussion around the holistic goals of scale-up, but through discussion in each of these crucial subtopics – providing a joined-up landscape of knowledge and experience for attendees to tap into.
We touched earlier on also the increasing use of flow-chemistry approaches – providing exciting fast track reaction chemistry solutions scale-up from lab to production level – applied already in API and fine chemistry arenas. Working in close liaison with IChemE, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), InnovateUK, IBioIC, ScotCHEM, Process Intensification Network, CPI and a host of other key bodies ensures that CHEMUK provides a stage for these organisations to bring invaluable up to the minute thinking.
Higher education is well represented but is there a challenge to address around schools?
This is correct, for sure. Among higher educational attendees – Masters and PhD candidates and research fellows etc – we are seeing an ever-increasing attendance. While difficult to engage schools directly in such a commercial trade show format, CHEMUK is certainly continuing to provide a valuable national stage for educators, industry groups and professional bodies to compare notes and coalesce around the future skills and STEM careers challenge, so pivotal in order that the UK can achieve long-term ambitions in this high-value sector and contribute to a balanced economy.
The Royal Society of Chemistry panel session on Day One illustrates this point, hosting a 90-minute mini conference ‘How do we build a positive science culture’, shining a light on the importance of fostering and enabling a culture in science that is open, empowering and supportive of all individuals.
Your show, like so many others, was postponed during the pandemic which, paradoxically, advanced lab’s reliance on the virtual, digital, automated and remote. Do you worry for the future of the live event?
Quite the contrary. The last few years have seen of course the arrival of a whole host of virtual platforms in all walks of life and business. The pandemic, however, accelerated the adoption, testing and real experience of virtual events of all kinds, and in doing so created a reinforcing of the unique role and value of the live and in-person experience.
In the case of events such as ours, characterised by hundreds of latest technologies, products, solutions and services, the multi-sensory, spontaneity of the “kick the tires” physical show cannot be replicated on a screen: the pandemic’s brake on real world interaction means that, coming out of lockdown, the new ‘normal’ is live.
For more information about CHEMUK 2024, click here.
