Accu to present FightFest at Smart Manufacturing Week
Leading precision engineering screw supplier Accu is bringing a thrilling, exciting and engineering-driven combat robotics tournament with FightFest to Smart Manufacturing Week held at the NEC in Birmingham on June 3rd and 4th.
FightFest, presented by Accu, is a high-energy one-on-one combat robotics exhibit designed to add drama and excitement to Smart Manufacturing Week, making it one of the largest exhibits the event has ever seen.
This live engineering spectacle on the show floor provides a high-profile live attraction to showcase innovation, engineering and advanced manufacturing, making engineering exciting for a young audience.
Taking place in a purpose-built, bulletproof arena with an eight-camera production setup and professional commentary, the action is impossible to miss. Visitors will experience brands go head-to-head in a high-intensity robotic battle operating at full capacity, while gaining technical insights into robotics and engineering.
FightFest offers brands an exciting opportunity to sponsor a competing robot, placing them in the spotlight on the largest stand at Smart Manufacturing Week and securing a prime space on the pit lane.
The eight robots battling it out at FightFest are designed and built by engineers from BBC’s Robot Wars, with each robot warrior branded by sponsoring businesses. Sponsoring brands can also select the weapon type for their robot.
This sponsorship enables brands to amplify their existing Smart Manufacturing Week presence and raise their profile throughout the event, with branding and involvement in live team interviews, pre- and post-fight chats, leadership talks between fights and large screen replays of tournaments. Participation creates a natural talking point that draws visitors deeper into conversations and aligns with innovation and real-world engineering credibility.
Alastair Morris, Managing Director at Accu, comments: “We’re thrilled to be presenting FightFest at Smart Manufacturing Week. Our collaboration with FightFest adds real value to Smart Manufacturing Week, bringing precision engineering to life and demonstrating real skill and innovation in a fun and interactive way. This is easily the most dramatic thing ever at an engineering trade show.”
Accu first partnered with FightFest in 2022, supporting the scale-up of the event and the launch of its first livestream, enabling it to reach and engage wider audiences. In 2023, FightFest featured 27 competing teams, followed in 2024, where 39 featherweight robots built by teams from across the UK competed at the Magna Science Adventure Centre in South Yorkshire, where more than 2,000 spectators experienced the sport first-hand. In 2026, FightFest is set to become one of the most recognisable features at Smart Manufacturing Week.
Ed Hodges, Director of FightFest, adds: “We are beyond excited to be bringing FightFest to Smart Manufacturing Week. We’re changing the game in a way that just happens to be ridiculously cool. The robotic tournament in collaboration with Accu will provide an exciting platform for engineers, innovators and manufacturers to demonstrate creativity and technical expertise with visitors in an interactive live environment.”
Henry Anson, Director at Nineteen Group, Organisers of Smart Manufacturing Week, shared: “FightFest is a great addition to Smart Manufacturing Week, aligning perfectly with our goals of bringing manufacturing technologies to life for our audience. This will be the most ambitious exhibition event ever!”
Smart Manufacturing Week is expected to welcome 150,000 visitors and 450 exhibitors, while FightFest is estimated to reach a global audience of 750,000+ across all digital channels.
For more information about Accu, visit: www.accu.co.uk
To learn more about FightFest, visit: https://fightfest.co.uk/
Find out more about Smart Manufacturing Week, visit: www.smartmanufacturingweek.com/