IDS Open Day 2026 Event Highlights, Expert Talks & Technology

Following months of planning, it was fantastic to finally welcome customers, partners and industry professionals to our IDS Open Day 2026.

From the moment the doors opened there was a real buzz around the building. Despite one of the hottest days of the year outside, our workshop and presentation room provided a welcome escape from the heat, creating the perfect environment for technical demonstrations, networking and some excellent engineering conversations.

It was a pleasure to welcome representatives from organisations including Anglian Water, Severn Trent Water, and the Environment Agency, we also had visitors from facilities management companies, public sector concerns, drainage boards and a wide range of industrial businesses. Bringing together professionals from so many different sectors created an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss engineering challenges and explore technologies designed to improve energy efficiency, reliability and asset performance.

Thank You for Joining Us

Before we share some of the highlights from the day, we’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who attended.

Events like these are only possible thanks to the support of our technology partners, presenters, engineers and, of course, every guest who took the time to join us. Throughout the day there was a genuine willingness to share knowledge, answer questions and discuss real-world applications, creating exactly the kind of atmosphere we had hoped for.

Expert Presentations

Throughout the day our presenters delivered a series of engaging technical sessions, covering the latest developments in Variable Speed Drives, high-efficiency motors, condition monitoring, automation, power quality and industrial reliability.

The presentations generated plenty of discussion, with visitors taking the opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and speak directly with our engineers and technical specialists throughout the day.

Meet the Experts

One of the biggest attractions of the Open Day was the opportunity to speak directly with industry experts and see the latest technologies demonstrated first-hand.

ABB

The ABB stands proved incredibly popular throughout the day, with visitors exploring the latest developments in industrial automation and motor control.

The team from ABB showcased the brand new ACS180 Variable Speed Drive, alongside ABB PLCs, soft starters, contactors, overload relays and isolation switches, giving visitors the opportunity to discuss the right solutions for a wide range of industrial applications.

One of the highlights of the day was ABB’s Air Gap Inspection Unit. Visitors were able to review this innovative inspection system, which uses a specialist camera capable of passing through an air gap of just 12 mm between the stator and rotor. This allows engineers to inspect the internal condition of generator windings and the rotor without removing the rotor itself, helping to reduce inspection time, minimise downtime and improve maintenance planning.

ABB also brought along their impressive Digital Powertrain demonstration rig, illustrating how motors, drives and connected digital technologies can work together to improve operational efficiency, monitor equipment health and support smarter maintenance strategies.

DART

The DART team demonstrated how modern condition monitoring is transforming the way Variable Speed Drives are maintained.

Visitors were able to see how DART continuously monitors drive performance, collecting detailed operational data that can be analysed to identify trends, generate early warnings and provide valuable insight into equipment health.

The live demonstrations showed just how much information can be captured, enabling maintenance teams to move away from reactive repairs and towards predictive maintenance based on real operating data.

Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy showcased their latest Power Factor Correction solutions, discussing how businesses can improve electrical efficiency, reduce unnecessary energy costs and support more reliable electrical infrastructure.

With energy efficiency continuing to be a priority across industry, there was considerable interest in how power quality solutions can help organisations reduce operating costs while improving the performance and resilience of their electrical systems.

A Proud Milestone for IDS

One of the standout moments of the IDS Open Day came when Hitachi Energy officially recognised IDS as an Alliance Partner.

To mark the occasion, Moses Irangu from Hitachi Energy presented Jake Lawrence, Senior Engineering & Projects Manager at IDS, with the Hitachi Energy Alliance Partner plaque.

The recognition reflects the strong working relationship between IDS and Hitachi Energy and acknowledges IDS’ commitment to delivering high-quality engineering solutions and support. Becoming a Hitachi Energy Alliance Partner further strengthens the collaboration between the two organisations and reinforces IDS’ ability to provide customers with trusted expertise and innovative power quality solutions.

Receiving the plaque in front of customers, partners and colleagues made the recognition even more meaningful and was a proud moment for everyone at IDS.

The IDS Team

Alongside our technology partners, the IDS engineering team were available throughout the day to answer questions, discuss applications and help visitors explore the best solutions for their own systems.

Whether the conversation was about upgrading an ageing Variable Speed Drive, improving motor efficiency, implementing condition monitoring or overcoming a specific engineering challenge, it was fantastic to see so many valuable technical discussions taking place throughout the day.

More Than Just Technology

While the demonstrations and presentations were undoubtedly a highlight, the Open Day was about much more than products.

It was about bringing together engineers, maintenance teams, consultants and industry professionals in one place to share knowledge, exchange ideas and build relationships.

Of course, no successful event would be complete without good food! Throughout the day guests enjoyed refreshments while conversations continued around the demonstration stands, in the workshop and between presentations. Some of the best discussions happened over lunch, with engineers sharing experiences from sites across the UK and exploring new ways of improving reliability and efficiency.

Watch the Highlights

If you couldn’t make it this year, or you’d simply like to relive some of the day’s highlights, we’ve put together a highlight video showcasing just some of the demonstrations, presentations and conversations that made the IDS Open Day 2026 such a memorable event.

Thank You

Finally, we’d like to thank everyone who helped make the IDS Open Day 2026 possible.

Thank you to our presenters for sharing their expertise, to ABB, DART and Hitachi Energy for bringing along such impressive demonstrations and innovative technologies, to everyone supporting the exhibition stands, and to our fantastic IDS engineering team whose knowledge and enthusiasm helped make the day so valuable for our visitors.

Most importantly, thank you to every guest who joined us. Your questions, conversations and willingness to share your own experiences created exactly the collaborative atmosphere we hoped for.

We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming you to IDS and showcasing the latest developments in industrial automation, energy efficiency and reliability.

We hope you enjoyed the day as much as we did, and we hope you can join us again next year.