Easyfairs acquires CHEMUK to further unite the UK's chemical sectors
CHEMUK becomes the latest in a series of acquisitions that reinforces Easyfairs’ ambition to unite the value chain, accelerate innovation and deliver greater impact for the chemicals, process engineering and formulated products communities.
London, 22/09/2025: Easyfairs today announced the acquisition of CHEMUK, a logical move that further strengthens a well-established portfolio of industrial processing events. The acquisition exemplifies Easyfairs’ long-term commitment to serving its communities with integrity and value. As part of Easyfairs’ pan-European exhibition network, CHEMUK’s audience will benefit from expanded networking opportunities, increased access to innovation and even greater return on investment.
Since its launch in 2019, CHEMUK has rapidly established itself as the annual cross-sector gathering for the UK’s chemical sciences, chemical & process engineering, and chemical industries supply chains. The event attracts professionals from across the chemical & process engineering value chain, all of whom benefit from expertly curated content which is tailored to their needs. Following a hugely successful 2025 edition, the upcoming edition will welcome over 5,000 attendees, +550 specialist exhibitors & 150+ expert speakers on 20 & 21 May 2026 at the NEC in Birmingham. The event is split in five pillars: the Chemicals Supply Show zone; the Chemical Management Show zone; the Process & Chemical Engineering Show zone; the Chemical Laboratory Show zone; and, newly added in 2025, the Formulated Product Manufacturer Show zone.
The synergies for Easyfairs are clear and strategically aligned, with well-established events like Lab Innovations and StocExpo already showcasing alignments with CHEMUK in terms of audience, focus and industry relevance. By integrating CHEMUK into its portfolio, Easyfairs can leverage its expertise, resources and technology to enhance the event’s impact. Furthermore, other European event series, organised by Easyfairs, such as Pumps & Valves and Solids, will provide additional opportunities for cross-promotion, knowledge-sharing and collaboration, creating a more interconnected network of events that serve the industrial processing and chemical sectors. This integration will not only strengthen CHEMUK’s position as a leading UK event, but also amplify its value to exhibitors, attendees and the wider industry, making this a logical progression for both parties.
The past, the present, the future
Alison Willis, CEO of Easyfairs UK&Global, commented: “We’ve closely followed the remarkable growth of CHEMUK in recent years. The event is a natural fit for Easyfairs’ expanding portfolio, and we’re thrilled to work with Ian and the team to further develop the show, deliver even greater value to its dedicated community and ensure it continues to be a cornerstone event for the chemical industries for years to come.”
This is not the first successful collaboration between the two parties. Reflecting on their shared history, Ian Stone, Founder of CHEMUK, commented: “Back in 2015, we ‘passed the baton’ of the Advanced Engineering UK group of events to Easyfairs, following a similar 5–6-year launch cycle. It has been a pleasure to see the event affirm its position as the UK’s leading event for the high-value engineering sector, while expanding with innovative new dimensions under Easyfairs’ stewardship.”
When asked ‘Why Easyfairs?’ Ian replied: “CHEMUK has seen an incredible growth since launching in 2019 and now stands as one of the largest and most important national events on the UK’s industrial landscape. Easyfairs was the obvious home for this complex show as it will now benefit from their large-scale operational capabilities, access to world-class B2B event ‘experiential’ technologies, critical event marketing expertise and event design innovation. All of this provides such an exciting base, underpinning CHEMUK’s future dynamic growth.”
“We are dedicated to not only expanding our portfolio but also enhancing the industries and communities we support,” Willis continued. “With this strategic acquisition, we are investing in the future of the chemical sciences, process & chemical engineering & chemical industries supply chains and we are looking forward to working closely with Ian and the team to ensure CHEMUK continues to grow in relevance and impact. Together, we will build on the event’s success and deliver an even more valuable experience for its exhibitors, visitors and stakeholders.”
Ian concluded: “We’ve every confidence CHEMUK will be ‘turbo-charged’ in both its market impact and value under the new Easyfairs’ stewardship.”
For further information, please contact:
Samuel O’Connell
Regional Marketing Director – Easyfairs UK&G
+44 (0)20 3196 4300
[email protected]