NEWS
WHERE INNOVATION MEETS INDUSTRY
27 November 2025, the eyes of the automation world will be on the SPS – Smart Production Solutions. Bringing together decision-makers, developers, and visionaries from around the world, the international exhibition has been a fixture in the industry calendar for more than three decades – a platform for innovation and exchange, and a reliable barometer for the latest trends and technological developments in the automation industry. Across its 15 exhibition halls, the
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SPS 2025 will welcome around 1,150 companies from the automation industry to showcase advanced smart production solutions and their latest product ranges. Besides such international industry giants as Siemens, Beckhoff Automation, Phoenix Contact and Bosch Rexroth, a great many British companies, such as Analog Devices, Motortronics, and Mechan Controls will also be in attendance with their own exhibition booths. Artificial intelligence in
production technology will be a central theme of this year’s SPS. These technologies are fundamentally changing automation technology and opening up new potential for efficiency, flexibility, and resource conservation. The twice-daily guided tours
offered by SmartFactory Kaiserslautern offer practical insights into how AI is already being used in practice today and its potential for future automation applications. Guided by experts, the tours take in innovative companies in the hardware and software sector, highlighting the technical challenges currently being faced. In addition to the expansive
exhibition area, the SPS 2025 will offer a diverse and future- oriented program of supporting events for trade visitors, industry experts, and young talent alike. A total of four stages in Halls 1, 3,
3C, and 6 offer an opportunity for discussion, knowledge sharing, and inspiration.
sps-exhibition.com
hen the doors of Nuremberg Exhibition Centre open from 25 –
KEY ‘TAKEAWAYS’ FROM CHEMICAL SUPPLY CHAIN SURVEY However, UK road haulage issues appear to be
face a range of challenges – and a lack of recognition. Tim Doggett, CEO of the Chemical Business Association (CBA), shares insights from the organisation’s latest business trends survey. As the voice of the UK’s chemical supply chain
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the CBA conducts regular surveys with its wide-ranging membership. The most recent quarterly survey for Q2 2025 shows a cautiously optimistic shift in business sentiment. A growing number of
companies (31%) are reporting stronger order books – a welcome rise from 23% in the previous quarter. However, current sales figures reveal a slight dip, with 29% of respondents reporting improvements compared to 32% in Q1. And while 26% anticipate sales increases in the months ahead, this represents only a marginal uptick.
Profit margins More concerning are the trends around profitability. Current margins remain stagnant or under pressure, with only 9% of businesses seeing improvement. Meanwhile, nearly four in ten respondents expect margins to decline in the coming quarter – a clear signal of cost pressures and pricing volatility that many firms are contending with. These figures reflect a sector struggling to
achieve consistent forward momentum, despite it being the cornerstone of British industry, underpinning the production of more than 97% of all manufactured goods. Labour market concerns remain front and centre.
Although 14% of businesses plan to grow their workforce – up slightly from earlier in the year – 20% anticipate a decline in headcount. This is troubling and highlights broader structural issues facing the sector. Attracting talent has long been a challenge for
the chemical industry. Negative perceptions about the industry, coupled with limited awareness of the sector’s career opportunities, continues to deter potential recruits.
Changing perceptions Over the past few years, the CBA has led and worked in partnership with other stakeholders to collaborate on initiatives to raise awareness and promote the scope of opportunities available within the industry, and to improve the perception that people have of it. The CBA has also made workforce development a priority, working to position the sector as an employer of choice through initiatives such as 5050Vision, Generation STEAM and its Future Council. While some shipping constraints have eased, a
significant 77% of companies reported increased costs in Q2. Disruption linked to the Red Sea/Suez shipping routes also continued to affect operations, impacting 57% of respondents – up sharply from 36% in Q1 and demonstrating that shipping remains volatile and vulnerable to geopolitical risk.
6 SEPTEMBER 2025 | PROCESS & CONTROL
he chemical supply chain is vital to sustaining essential services and maintaining economic stability. Yet, despite its value, it continues to
easing, with only 8% reporting difficulties versus 16% earlier in the year. Yet logistics resilience is still being tested, with new threats emerging as global trade relationships shift and evolve.
Policy delays Despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty and trade tensions – including US tariffs – Brexit-related regulatory issues, particularly UK REACH, remain the most persistent concern, with data showing that while the sector is showing resilience, it is increasingly being worn down by policy delays and lack of clarity. The recent announcement that UK REACH registration deadlines will be further extended is deeply
frustrating for CBA members and the wider sector as these ongoing delays
prolong uncertainty, hinder investment, and
continue to place barriers to trade along with unnecessary financial and operational burdens on chemical businesses. Until the strategic and economic importance of
the UK chemical sector is acknowledged and progress is made on an effective, workable solution for UK REACH, investment, innovation and growth within the UK chemical supply chain and wider UK economy will remain stifled.
What the sector needs to know Chemicals is one of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sectors, yet it continues to be overlooked by Government. Excluded from the eight growth-driving sectors (IS‑8) highlighted in the UK’s recently announced Modern Industrial Strategy, for many it represented a missed opportunity to drive growth across the wider industry, including the chemical supply chain. Despite this and many ongoing challenges, the
chemical supply chain remains remarkably resilient. Businesses continue to adapt and innovate, even in the face of rising costs, global instability, and regulatory change. But resilience cannot be the industry’s only strategy. What’s needed urgently is alignment between government policy and industry reality. That means faster progress on regulatory reform,
sustained investment in workforce development, and a commitment to fostering global competitiveness. It also means recognising the sector’s central role in nearly every aspect of modern life.
Encouraging dialogue Trade organisations like the CBA play a crucial role in facilitating this by equipping businesses with strategic insights, advocating for supportive policies, and actively encouraging industry-wide dialogue. With the right support, the chemical sector can
continue to deliver innovation, opportunity, and economic growth for the UK. But to unlock that potential, clarity and action must replace delay and doubt.
www.chemical.org.uk
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