Andy Sandford has been involved with the subcontract manufacturing sector, and the Subcon Show, for more than 30 years as a journalist, publisher, consultant, and communications specialist. He originally trained as a metallurgist before working in industry for some years. He then returned to academia to gain his doctorate in the fracture behaviour of welds before finding his natural home in the engineering trade press. Over the years he has worked on magazines covering welding, sheet metal and production engineering, as well as providing PR and consultancy work to companies including machine tool manufacturers, exhibition organisers, trade associations, sourcing specialists, subcontractors, and software houses. In parallel with his communications business, he also owns and edits Engineering Capacity, the UK's only print and online publication dedicated to all kinds of contract and subcontract manufacturing services.