CHEMUK 2026: Industrial Insulation, Trace Heating & Insights

We recently attended the CHEMUK show at the NEC. This was a valuable experience, given our desire to forge more relationships within the chemical industry. An industry that's reliant on effective industrial insulation systems and well-designed trace heating systems for operational efficiency and reliability. As one of the UK's leading events for the chemical, process engineering, and manufacturing sectors, the exhibition provided an ideal opportunity to engage with both existing customers and new prospects operating in a wide range of industries.

The queue to visit the show was extremely long, so footfall was high, creating an energetic atmosphere in the hall. The quality conversations we had with both exhibitors and visitors alike underlined the definite need for energy efficiency, safety, and reliability in plant operations. This translated into meaningful discussions around reducing heat loss, preventing condensation and corrosion, whilst protecting critical process equipment.

Thermal efficiency, energy optimisation and sustainability were important topics that were consistently raised. Various companies were actively pursuing solutions to improve efficiency and reduce operational costs, areas where industrial insulation plays a crucial role. Our extensive experience in engineered insulation systems and removable jackets generated significant interest, particularly from companies looking to improve thermal performance amid ever-increasing energy costs.

Trace heating also proved to be a definite area of interest. With increasingly complex process environments, delegates were eager to know how modern trace heating systems can offer freeze protection or provide precise temperature control to optimise operating efficiency. Well-designed and installed trace heating systems can be tailored to specific plant requirements, whether that's for pipes, vessels, dosing equipment or instrumentation.

We were also able to discuss our high-quality removable insulation jackets. Unlike many of our competitors, we manufacture these jackets in-house to ISO standards in a wide range of materials to suit different temperature profiles. These jackets offer an excellent solution for insulating valves, pumps, flanges, and a broad range of other equipment. This is due to the combination of thermal efficiency, durability, and ease of installation/access, particularly in maintenance-heavy environments.

Beyond the technical discussions, CHEMUK was also an excellent opportunity to build or strengthen relationships within the industry. Catching up with existing customers, familiar faces and making new contacts made ChemUK a really worthwhile experience.

Overall, the event reaffirmed the importance of well-considered, high-quality insulation and trace heating solutions in modern process industries. As the chemical industry strives for more efficient and sustainable operations, we left the NEC knowing we have an important role to play. It created firm enquiries along with a great pipeline of conversations to build on over the coming weeks and months.