The upcoming Farnborough International Airshow provides precision bearing specialist CARTER MANUFACTURING the ideal opportunity to showcase its technical expertise in supplying specialist aerospace bearings and tool services. Ahead of the show, Karl Brundell, Managing Director of Carter, discusses the importance of the show and answers a wide range of questions regarding the latest developments at Carter Manufacturing.
What are your aims and intentions for this year’s show and is it still an important event for the aerospace industry?
“Farnborough remains one of the most important events in the global aerospace calendar. In 2026, our focus is on strengthening existing relationships while developing new international opportunities, showcasing our fully integrated global capability across UK manufacturing, European logistics, and US operations. The show continues to play a critical role in connecting the aerospace supply chain with high-quality, dependable partners”.
Are there any changes to your stand, and what can visitors expect?
“We are pleased to be returning to our premium location in Hall One, positioned on the main walkway to maximize visibility and engagement. This year, our stand has been fully upgraded to deliver a focused and engaging showcase of our precision bearing and aerospace tooling capabilities. Visitors will experience an interactive environment where integrated media enhances the physical products on display, providing a deeper understanding of their application and performance.
The stand will highlight our specialist ranges, including Silverthin thin section bearings, UNASIS aerospace tooling, and Napoleon Engineering Services’ aerospace and space bearing solutions. In addition, we will be promoting our custom engineered capabilities, each supported by clear technical insight into performance, quality, and inspection within demanding aerospace applications”.
How are you balancing rising exhibition costs against ROI?
“While exhibiting costs have increased, Farnborough delivers significant long-term value. The ability to meet global OEMs, MROs, and supply chain partners in one location is highly efficient. With a structured approach to pre-arranged meetings and post-show follow-up, the event continues to provide strong commercial returns and remains a positive investment”.
Which partners and stakeholders are you working with this year?
“We are working closely with our global network to deliver a truly integrated presence, bringing together expertise from Carter Manufacturing Limited, Carter Americas LLC., and Carter Manufacturing SL, with key representatives from each organization in attendance. In addition, we are pleased to be joined by leading technical manufacturing partners, including Silverthin Bearing Group and UNASIS Bearings, whose specialist capabilities strengthen our ability to support high-performance and mission-critical applications. We are also proud to highlight Napoleon Engineering Services, bringing advanced expertise in aerospace and space bearing solutions, inspection, and technical support further enhancing our ability to support complex and highly demanding applications. Supporting our global reach further, valued distribution partners such as OTAR Spa and CGB Pty Ltd will also be present, reflecting our strong and established international partnerships.
This collaborative approach enables us to present a cohesive, global offering seamlessly combining advanced engineering expertise, precision manufacturing capability, and efficient international logistics”.
“Visitors will benefit from direct access to decision-makers across our network, ensuring informed discussions, responsive support, and a clear pathway from concept through to delivery on a global scale”.
What international and governmental engagement do you expect?
“We expect to engage with a wide range of international and governmental delegations across both civil and defence sectors. Discussions will focus on technical capability, supply chain resilience, and our ability to support critical applications through our global footprint. Alongside this, we will highlight our robust export compliance framework, ensuring all activities are fully aligned with applicable international regulations, including UK, US, and EU export control requirements. Our structured approach to compliance covering classification, licensing, end-use verification, and due diligence. We will also be showcasing our high standards of cyber security, demonstrating how we protect sensitive data, intellectual property, and customer information across our global operations. This includes secure systems, controlled data access, and ongoing investment in cyber resilience, ensuring we meet the expectations of both commercial and defence customers operating in increasingly security-conscious environments”.
Will your focus be civil, defence, or a mix of both?
“Our approach reflects a balanced mix of civil and defence aerospace. We support applications across both sectors, including radar, optical, satellite, and commercial aviation systems, and will be highlighting our ability to meet the stringent requirements of each”.
Will you be involved in ‘Meet the Buyer’ sessions?
“We are participating, we see strong value in ‘Meet the Buyer’ initiatives. These sessions provide focused, high-quality engagement, and we anticipate productive discussions leading to promising new opportunities.
How are you ensuring SME visibility at a large-scale event?
“We take a proactive and focused approach, centered on clear communication, strong technical expertise, and targeted engagement. Through effective pre-show outreach, well-defined messaging, and a highly capable on-stand engineering presence, we create meaningful interactions with the right audience. This enables us to confidently position our specialist, high-end capabilities and deliver real value through expert technical support”.
Will visitors see manufacturing technologies on your stand?
“Our focus is on demonstrating the advanced engineering and inspection processes behind our bearing products, including precision machining, material expertise, and rigorous quality control. Visitors will gain insight into how our solutions are designed and delivered for high performance aerospace applications”.
Karl concludes, “We look forward to welcoming you on our stand 1031 in Hall 1”.