Sheffield will take centre stage this September as senior leaders from some of the world’s largest food and drink brands gather for The Connected Performance Summit – Where AI Meets Motion.
The invite-only event, co-hosted by Dinnington-based industrial AI specialist IntelliAM and SKF, the world’s largest bearing and lubrication systems manufacturer, will take place at the historic Cutlers’ Hall on Wednesday 24 September 2025, the day before National Manufacturing Day.
More than 150 senior decision-makers are expected to attend, with over 20% of the world’s top 100 food and drink brands represented, including Mars, PepsiCo, Weetabix, Hovis, Diageo, and ADM.
The Summit will explore how connected technologies and AI-driven maintenance are transforming modern manufacturing. The full-day programme includes talks, case studies, and interactive sessions covering technology convergence, best-practice asset management, and the use of AI to improve output, reduce downtime, and tackle one of industry’s largest hidden inefficiencies – friction.
Tom Clayton, CEO of IntelliAM, said: “We’re proud to co-host what will be the most important manufacturing event this year – not only in the region but across the whole of the UK. Sheffield’s rich industrial and engineering heritage makes it the perfect setting for the Summit. By bringing together global food and drink leaders with world-class manufacturing expertise right here in Yorkshire, we’re showing how the region continues to shape the future of industry.”
The Summit will highlight how AI can be scaled across factory operations to deliver measurable performance gains. Industry figures estimate £14 billion of untapped potential in UK food and drink manufacturing, with around 20% of global energy lost through friction.
Tim Veal, UK Lubrication Systems Business Manager at SKF, commented: “Reducing friction saves energy, boosts efficiency, and makes industry smarter and more competitive. This Summit will show how AI and connected systems can drive performance and support a more sustainable, energy-efficient future for UK food and drink manufacturing – enabling them to do more with less.”
Clayton added: “The impact also goes beyond the factory floor. Reducing friction and improving productivity translates to more affordable groceries, fewer empty shelves, less waste, and increased resilience to shocks – all of which better serve everyday consumers.”
Founded in 2023 and built on the technical foundations of Sheffield-based 53 Degrees North, Aquis-listed IntelliAM works with a quarter of the world’s top 100 FMCGs and half of the top 12 food and beverage manufacturers.
The Connected Performance Summit promises to put Sheffield at the heart of discussions shaping the future of manufacturing in the UK and beyond.
