"It’s All About Practical Value": Solving Real Maintenance Challenges Together at IMSS 2025

IPE: What’s new for the 2025 edition of the Industrial Maintenance Solutions Summit this September?

Rachel: IMSS 2025 builds directly on the successful elements of last year’s debut event, with a renewed emphasis on delivering practical, hands-on value to maintenance professionals. Once again, IMSS will feature a CPD-accredited conference programme, led by subject matter experts. It’s important for us to feature speakers who have first-hand experience working in the field and understand the day-to-day challenges faced by maintenance teams. Alongside this, we have a strong lineup of industry-leading exhibitors, offering innovative solutions that cover every aspect of industrial maintenance. The Summit is once again located at the CBS Arena in Coventry, but for 2025 we’ve moved to ‘The Curve’, the Arena’s brand new multi-functional conference and exhibition space. As the name suggests, this area features a unique curved design, which we’re confident will contribute to the flow of visitors around the Summit, further enhancing the opportunities to connect and network with peers at IMSS. 

It’s also important to highlight that IMSS is free to attend, with a complimentary lunch for attendees. It is also easy to access, the CBS Arena offers free parking and has its own on-site train station. 

We’ve worked hard to make IMSS 2025 even more valuable, accessible, and engaging, and we’re excited to welcome the maintenance community back to Coventry this September!

IPE: Who should attend IMSS 2025?

Rachel: IMSS is focused on maintenance professionals. It aims to appeal to personnel working throughout the maintenance process, from technicians and fitters, to engineers and millwrights, to supervisors and managers. If you’re involved in industrial maintenance, then IMSS is the place for you. Our emphasis is on what engineers, technicians and maintenance managers need today: reliable, applicable, and cost-effective solutions. It’s that on-the-ground practicality which really sets IMSS apart. Whether you’re tackling downtime, ageing assets, or staff shortages, our conference content and exhibitors are geared to help you solve those specific problems.

IPE: How have you developed this year’s conference programme? 

Rachel: Our team has curated IMSS 2025’s content programme based on in-depth conversations with maintenance professionals across multiple sectors.  Based on their feedback, we've identified a clear need for content that speaks directly to everyday challenges, covering issues such as how to get the most from ageing assets, how to implement predictive maintenance on a limited budget, or how to integrate digital tools without disrupting plant operations. Our content aims to bridge the gap between theory and practical application, with sessions that offer clear, real-world takeaways. Ultimately, our goal is to make IMSS the go-to annual event for anyone responsible for keeping industrial assets running efficiently. 

IPE: What are some of the highlights on the conference agenda at this year’s Summit?  

Rachel: We’re delighted to welcome back Andy Gailey, MD of UPTIME Consultant, who will discuss the ongoing relevance and ROI of Reliability-Centred Maintenance in 2025. 

We will also be joined by Will Ocean from Maintain Reliability, who will provide guidance on how to select and integrate the right condition monitoring tools (such as vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, and lubrication monitoring) for your operations; while Daniel Mendes from the Kaizen Institute will explore how continuous improvement principles can help enhance your maintenance strategy. 

Additionally, Anti-Vibration Methods MD Daniel Lawes will explain why selecting the right anti-vibration mounts is crucial for maintenance success, and United Kingdom Lubricants Association director general David Wright will shine a spotlight on the performance claims made on metalworking fluids, looking at what end users need to be aware of. 

When you put it all together, it’s the kind of agenda that delivers real value, not just abstract ideas, but things you can take back and apply in your business or workplace. 

IPE: What can attendees expect from the exhibition? 

Rachel: Sponsors and exhibitors play a crucial role in shaping the IMSS experience. We’ve curated a list of top-tier maintenance suppliers and solution providers including: Event Partner Kimberly-Clark Professional, Conference Programme Sponsor WD‑40, Catering Sponsor ERIKS Industrial Services, together with UE Systems, Acorn Industrial Services, MaintMaster, SPM Instrument UK, Easy-Laser, IndySoft Europe, and more. 

The focus of the exhibition component of IMSS is on equipping maintenance personnel with the tools they need to succeed. Attendees can expect to explore a wide range of practical maintenance solutions, such as specialist lubricants, condition monitoring tools, laser alignment systems, vibration analysis equipment, CMMS platforms, and calibration software.

It's a fantastic opportunity for professionals to discover the latest cutting-edge technologies and solutions, enabling them to fine-tune their maintenance strategies. 

IPE: How can people register?  

Rachel: It’s completely free to attend, just visit imss.live to register. The website has the speaker line-up, exhibitor list, and programme timings, so you can plan your visit ahead of time. We also encourage people to follow us on LinkedIn for real-time updates in the run-up to this year’s Summit. 

IPE: Finally, what are you most excited ahead of the 2025 edition of IMSS?  

Rachel: Honestly, I’m most excited to see the continuing growth and evolution of IMSS as we bring the maintenance community together again in Coventry. IMSS represents a great opportunity for maintenance professionals and subject matter experts to connect, offering a space to discuss how to overcome challenges and share their successes. 

There’s something inspiring about walking into a room full of people all focused on improving maintenance performance. Whether it’s discovering a product that saves you time and money or gaining a new approach to tackling an old issue, those lightbulb moments are what make it all worthwhile and that’s what IMSS is all about!

Rachel Godfrey is event director at the Industrial Maintenance Solutions Summit and sales director at Industrial Plant and Equipment

For more information: 

imss.live

Tel: 07881 029 806