AE Sewing Machines at the Furniture Components Expo 2025!
Last week, we had the pleasure of exhibiting at one of the industry’s newer trade shows, The Furniture Components Expo – a smaller, quieter event, but one full of genuine connections and meaningful conversations. The show offered a friendly, community atmosphere that gave visitors time to stop, chat, and really explore how automation and advanced machinery can transform productivity. It was a refreshing change of pace and a great opportunity to engage with businesses truly focused on innovation.
Quick Show Roundup
Tuesday
A few members of our team hopped in the van and headed down to the Telford International Centre to set up. It was much more of a relaxed atmosphere than we’re used to at venues like the NEC, which made a nice change! We were able to get straight in and had everything set up in no time at all.
Wednesday
Day one of the show! We left early in the morning, leaving half the team in Wrexham to hold the fort. Whilst it wasn’t a mad rush, we had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day, including existing customers and businesses looking to update their production processes. At the end of the day we gathered for the exhibitor’s get together and had a couple of drinks and some laughs with our friendly competitors.
Thursday
The final day began with an early start for the show team again! We had another positive day with visitors and even some other exhibitors keen to learn more about next-generation equipment for upholstery manufacturing. Rhys was asked to be a guest on the “Sit On This” live podcast recording, answering questions about the future of the upholstery industry from hosts Ray Clarke and Vicky Grubb. Soon it was time to pack up the vans and head back to Wrexham.
Our stand
Our team were on-hand displaying a sample from our range of specialist textile equipment for upholstery production. This included:
A Juki DU-1181N 1-Needle Walking Foot Lockstitch Machine
The Juki DU-1181N is perfect for sewing medium to heavy-weight fabrics like upholstery, leather, and canvas, etc. It is equipped with a 15mm presser foot lift height for slightly thicker work, an easy-adjustable stitch dial and manual presser foot knee lifter. It doesn’t have any automatic features but is a powerful workhorse of an entry-level machine for upholstery manufacturing.
A Juki PLC-2760-7 2-Needle Post Bed Walking Foot Industrial Sewing Machine with Automatic Functions
The Juki PLC-2760-7 is a popular lockstitch machine for working with heavy fabrics and multiple layers. It is frequently used by upholstery manufacturers and was designed with this application in mind. As well as being durable and powerful, the post-bed allows for otherwise tricky areas to be sewn neatly and efficiently.
A Juki LU-2810-7 1-Needle Walking Foot Lockstitch Industrial Sewing Machine with Automatic Functions
The Juki LU-2810-7 is perfect for sewing medium to heavy-weight fabrics like leather, upholstery, vinyl, and canvas. It is equipped with a direct-drive motor which allows for smoother sewing, plus a unison-feed, walking-foot mechanism for sewing through bulkier, thicker materials. The automatic functions of this machine include thread trimming, backtack, and footlift, and are designed to increase productivity and efficiency while creating a better sewing experience for the operator.
A Rexel ST-3 MINI Compact Pneumatic Lifting Table
Rexel ST-3 pneumatic lifting tables have gained international popularity with upholstery manufacturers due to their ergonomic design and the fact that they have been proven to increase productivity by at least 14% compared to standard upholstery trestles. There are a huge range of options to suit any business, with various sizes, tabletop types, and extra features available.
Key Takeaways from the Show
✅ There’s a growing demand for automation in the upholstery industry, with businesses keen to increase productivity and deskill processes.
✅ Many companies are looking to futureproof their operations to keep production in the UK viable, investing in advanced sewing and cutting technology as a key part of that strategy.
✅ The networking opportunities were invaluable, allowing us to connect with both new and existing customers, industry partners, and fellow exhibitors.
Missed the show? No problem!
If you missed the show and are interesting in learning more about our range of specialist textile equipment for the upholstery industry, get in touch! We’d be happy to discuss options or book you in an appointment to visit our showroom for a machine demonstration. Email info@ae-sewingmachines.co.uk to get the conversation started!
Looking Ahead
We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who visited our stand, engaged in discussions, and shared their production challenges with us. We’re excited to follow up on all the fantastic conversations and continue helping businesses optimise their manufacturing processes. Bring on the next show!
