At the Advanced Engineering Show on October 29 and 30 in Birmingham, Goodfellow is putting the integration of 3D printing, sustainable materials, and cross-industry development center stage. The Huntingdon-based company supplies industry and research with a large portfolio of metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites, as well as certified reference materials and an expanded analysis service.
Tomou points to growing demand for bio-based polymers, high-entropy alloys, and functional coatings. Procurement departments are prioritizing traceability, robust life-cycle assessments, and process-secure performance at scale.
“With 9000 delegates set to descend on the Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC in Birmingham, there really is no better place to get under the skin of new applications and, importantly, the materials that will be at the heart of the next innovations,” explained Dr Aphrodite Tomou. “Sectors – including fusion, aerospace, medical and battery tech – are all adopting new materials and, importantly for the domestic marketplace, there appears to be a genuine shift towards reshoring and just-in-time delivery. This is being driven by significant supply chain concerns.”
She went on to add: “Many of the technologies that will define the next 20 years, like quantum computing, hypersonic travel, and clean energy breakthroughs, will depend on materials that didn’t even exist a decade ago…that is a really exciting journey to embark on. What was once science fiction – materials that self-heal, adapt to environmental conditions, or conduct electricity better than copper – are now entering real-world applications. And these materials are no longer hidden enablers; they are strategic assets shaping global competitiveness and I’m sure we’ll be talking about them during the two-day show.”
For 2025, Goodfellow reports acquisitions of Suisse TP and the Bureau of Analysed Samples to expand its reference-material and analysis capabilities. Operationally, the company supports additive projects with post-processing options such as rolling, electroplating, sputtering, and heat treatment. In parallel, AI is gaining importance, for example in material screening, simulation-driven design, and predictive maintenance.
Dr Tomou went on to add: “We’ve already got some excellent meetings lined up with OEMs, tier 1 suppliers and R&D leaders and there will be lots to discuss. Rising demand for materials enabling electrification, quantum computing, and hypersonics will all be on the agenda and artificial intelligence is never far away from the conversation. In particular, the increased use of AI and machine learning in material R&D and selection, whilst wider adoption in real-time simulation, design optimisation and predictive maintenance, will all have a big impact going forward.”
Goodfellow will be in Hall R, Stand R195, will sponsor the AM² Forum, and will record a podcast on October 30 in which Tomou and Channel Partner Manager Adam Sells discuss future material supply for 2026.
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