Over the years, it has grown from a small, regional show into one of international importance, attracting hundreds of exhibitors (nearly 800 immediately before the pandemic) and many thousands of visitors. The enormous diversity of exhibitors and their products and services secures the event’s reputation as the largest, most comprehensive as well as the longest running annual engineering show in the UK.
A large proportion of exhibitors have supported the show since the beginning and the percentage of returning firms is very high. Many regular participants have already booked stands for 2023. With space filling up quickly, the organisers anticipate that the exhibition will be fully booked by the time it opens.
The event melds the worlds of mechanical engineering and electronics, the show being split approximately equally between the two areas. Companies looking for new ideas on how to bolster their order books and keen to find new business opportunities will do well to visit, as it is the ideal venue for addressing multiple sourcing requirements in a time-efficient manner.
Having under one roof the best of mechanical engineering and electronics operating at the forefront of technology and innovating across a multitude of sectors gives the event a unique character. Interestingly, although the industries and technologies represented are diverse, there are no barriers between the areas, allowing cross-over between the different disciplines. Many visitors say it is a facet of the show that is especially useful, as it encourages a wide-ranging itinerary though the exhibition, leading to discovery of firms specialising in related technologies that might otherwise not be encountered. Technology Trails guide visitors around the event, grouping firms having expertise in particular areas.
Exhibitors will highlight a vast array of high technology mechanical, electrical, electronic, optoelectronic, electromechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic assemblies and components, PCBs, connectors, sensors, and such items as drives, rotary encoders, linear scales, fasteners, pressings, wireforms, springs, plastic and rubber mouldings, gaskets, and nylon and brass pillars and spacers.
As usual there will be suppliers of machine tools and tooling, workholding systems, metrology equipment for both tactile and non-contact measurement and inspection, test and inspection systems, finishing machines, laser cutting and marking equipment, additive manufacturing machines and consumables, industrial hardware, production and planning aids, and engineering and business software.
Industry 4.0 solutions will be in evidence alongside controls, displays, HMIs, data acquisition systems, augmented, mixed, and virtual reality, robot and cobot machine tending and other automation solutions. Other diverse and no less essential products and services on offer will encompass oil and coolant supply, workshop equipment, dust and fume extraction, humidity control, workplace storage systems, bespoke case and foam manufacture, plastic packaging, injection moulding, hand tools, adhesives, industrial flooring, waste removal and recycling, training, freight services and financial consultancy.
The event is also an important destination for sourcing subcontract services. Leading practitioners will show examples of parts they have machined from a vast array of materials, from metal billets and castings to plastics. Traditional subtractive machining specialists will be joined by firms specialising in 3D printing and all will be available to discuss the broad range of skills they offer. Further subcontract engineering services include electronics assembly, finishing, test and inspection, while providers of business consultancy services will similarly be able to outline how they can help industrial companies to thrive.
Alongside the exhibition, over the three days there will be an extensive technical seminar programme, which will be especially strong this time. It will give visitors and exhibitors alike valuable learning opportunities, with a particular focus on the technical, managerial and environmental issues facing manufacturers today. There will be two programmes, one covering mechanical engineering and the other electrical and electronic engineering.
Topics addressed will include lean continuous improvement, design for test, marketing, team motivation, 3D printing and business succession planning.There will also be a focus on, amongst other things, management techniquesencompassing the well-being and retention of employees, CE and UKCA marking, the role of IP in adding business value, social media for lead generation and other marketing strategies, commercialisation of ideas, and testing. A full list of sessions and pre-registration are available on the show organiser’s website.
Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2023 opens from 7th to 9th February and will co-locate again with AutoAero, a specialist theme within the exhibition devoted to aerospace and automotive engineering. There is a free bus service between Farnborough’s train stations directly to the show. Admission and parking are also free of charge. More information and tickets are available from www.industrysouth.co.uk
