ChemUK is the UK’s chemical industries supply chain expo, held every May at the NEC Birmingham. The 2026 show drew more than 5,000 visitors and 550+ exhibitors across five show zones, covering Chemicals Supply, Chemicals Management, Process & Chemical Engineering, Chemical Laboratory, and Formulated Product Manufacturer. A conference programme of 100+ speakers runs across ten tracks.
Entry is free, and the audience is technical and commercial, including process engineers, R&D and lab scientists, plant managers, EHS specialists, procurement teams and supply chain managers. Many arrive with meetings already booked through the show’s matchmaking app, looking for suppliers they can trust on quality, compliance and continuity of supply.
Your stand has to earn the confidence of people who read data sheets for a living. Both shell scheme and space only plots are available, from small presences to large feature builds. Planning a space only stand? Working with exhibition stand contractors who know the NEC stops being optional.
The people at ChemUK make decisions based on evidence, such as purity, performance, compliance, lead times and supply security. A wrong choice can stop a production line or fail an audit, so they’re cautious, precise and quick to dismiss marketing that doesn’t come with data behind it.
The end application, showing what your product goes into and why it’s better. Technical detail that’s easy to find and easy to take away. A quiet space for the pre-booked meetings where real business gets done.
We design and build exhibition stands for ChemUK, from bespoke stand design to shell scheme and space only packages. We know what this floor needs. Two days, 550+ exhibitors across five show zones and an audience of chemists, engineers and buyers who want technical proof before anything else. When your product is a powder, a liquid or a process, the stand has to work harder to show why it matters.
So we build to make it tangible. Application walls show the products your chemistry ends up in, and sealed sample displays and lit cabinets let visitors see the real thing within the organiser’s rules. Lab-style benches and touchscreens bring process visuals and data to life, and there’s meeting space for the conversations booked through the matchmaking app. Finishes are clean and precise to suit a technical audience. And because the NEC has no on-site storage, we can build lockable storage for samples, spec sheets and kit into the stand itself. Then we review what worked, so next May’s stand does even better.
We don’t build stands. We build the story your brand tells on the show floor. Every material, layout and lighting choice serves the narrative.
Heat mapping and visitor tracking available on request, plus a post-show review on every project. We prove what worked, not just what looked good.
LITE, READY and CUSTOM. Three clear ways to exhibit, three clear price points. You always know exactly what you’re getting, before you commit.
Your win is our win. We review the results together, and we’re genuinely invested in your next show being even better than the last.
Designed, made and installed by one in-house team in Lincolnshire. You’ll see 3D visuals before anything is built, and one project manager runs your stand from brief to debrief.
Everything you need to look the part, sorted.
Branded, professional, and ready to go.
The smart entry point.
from
£2,995
The clever way to exhibit.
A reusable backbone with Rocket-X craft on top, and it gets cheaper every show.
from
£8,995
Your story, built from scratch by the people who tell it best.
No limits, no compromises.
The full Rocket-X.
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The NEC is the UK’s busiest exhibition venue, and a few of its rules change how your stand should be designed. There’s no storage on site, power and internet are ordered in advance, and anything overhead goes through the venue. We handle the logistics. Here’s what’s worth knowing for your stand and your team.
Organisers set rules on displaying chemicals and hazardous materials. We check the requirements early and design sealed displays or visual alternatives to match.
There’s nowhere at the NEC to keep stock, literature or your team’s bags. We can build lockable storage into the stand itself, behind a wall or under the counter, so everything stays secure overnight.
It’s fine for email, not for anything your stand depends on. We spec and order a dedicated connection for screens, demos, lead capture and card payments.
Power, internet, water and furniture are ordered through the venue and its contractors, and late orders usually cost more. We spec everything with your stand and order it well before the deadlines.
A sign above your stand is the easiest way to be spotted across a busy hall. It’s rigged by the venue and needs ordering early, so we can design it in from the start.
Exhibitors can get into the halls before the doors open, so that’s the time to restock and brief the team. Birmingham International station is next to the NEC and on-site parking is charged, so plan your team’s travel in advance.
Two days, 550+ exhibitors and visitors who read the small print. Here’s how to make the most of it, from first plan to next year’s booking.
Show the end application, such as the coating, the formulation or the finished product. Visitors remember what your chemistry does, not what it’s called.
Purity, certifications, compliance and supply security. Make the technical detail easy to find on the stand and easy to take away with a QR code.
ChemUK’s matchmaking app lets you schedule meetings in advance. Fill your diary, then give those meetings a quiet space on the stand.
With five show zones, visitors arrive with a specific need. Tailor the message to the zone you’re in, from lab to process to formulation.
What you can display is set by the organiser’s rules. Check early, then plan sealed samples, application pieces or visuals to match.
Many shows sell next year’s space before this one ends. Rebook, tell us your plot, and we can start on next year’s stand straight away. When we debrief the show, we’ll know what worked this time, so we can make your next stand work harder and give you better return on investment.
We build exhibitions to work harder over time. By reusing and refining crafted elements across multiple shows, we reduce waste, retain what works, and make every next build more efficient than the last. Show one makes an impact. Show two builds on it. That’s how exhibiting should work.
We build with reuse in mind from the start. That means fewer one-use builds, less waste, and exhibition stands designed to work harder over time. We use FSC- and PEFC-certified timber wherever possible and make smarter material choices at every stage. Because sustainability should be built in, not added on.
Got more questions? Check out our FAQs page or just get in touch. We’re always ready to help.
Tell us about your plot. We’ll show you what being noticed looks like.
This one's for you.
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