Featuring the very best in production technology, Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2025 will open from 4th to 6th February at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre in Hampshire. The electrical/electronic and mechanical engineering sectors are represented more or less equally, a combination that at first sight may seem anomalous. However, together with the inclusion of a host of companies providing generic products and services, the exhibition as a whole is much more than the sum of its parts and the synergy has proved highly successful over the last 27 years.
During that time, the event has grown from a small gathering of local firms to become a showcase for engineering across the whole of Britain and Ireland, continental Europe and beyond. The enormous diversity of exhibitors and their offerings underpins the show’s reputation as one of the most compelling annual industrial trade fairs in the UK. It provides a rare opportunity to carry out extensive and often complex research and purchasing requirements quickly in a single location. There is no difficulty finding one’s way around, as there are no barriers between the different areas, while technology trails grouping firms with similar expertise help to guide visitors.
On show will be surface mount technology, IC and PCB manufacture, box build through to full EMS, electrical, electronic and optoelectronic components, cables, connectors, mechatronics, electro-mechanical components and systems, power supplies, transformers, batteries and chargers, and electrical/electronic test and inspection equipment. Mechanical engineering exhibits will include hydraulic and pneumatic components and assemblies, machine tools and tooling, workholding systems, metrology platforms, finishing machines, 3D printers, laser cutting and marking equipment, robot and cobot machine loading, and other automation solutions driven by the well-publicised skills shortage in industry. The event is also an important destination for sourcing subcontract services and many firms will present examples of traditionally machined components and additively manufactured parts.
Items spanning the engineering divide will encompass drives and encoders, sensors and actuators, controls, displays, HMIs, data acquisition and planning systems, plus business and manufacturing software. The show will reflect the ongoing growth in end-to-end digitalisation of the factory environment, as well as an increase in Industry 4.0-compatible manufacturing systems. There will likewise be an emphasis on reshoring of production, plus new ecological technologies such as green energy generation, efficient under-floor heating and power-saving machinery.
Additional products and services serving both sides of the exhibition will be workshop equipment, health and safety equipment including dust and fume extraction and humidity control, workplace handling and storage systems, bespoke case and foam manufacture, plastic packaging, injection moulding, supply of castings with optional added-value machining, hand tools, adhesives, industrial flooring, waste removal and recycling, freight forwarding, training, and financial and business consultancy.
The new owner of the show, Easyfairs, which runs more than 100 events across Europe, says the next expo will be a sell-out and expects well in excess of 9,000 people through the doors, as in previous years. It operates a policy of open access, discouraging larger firms from dominating the space, so visitors will encounter a vibrant mix of multinational firms, SMEs and small vendors. It is a defining quality, giving the exhibition a unique atmosphere that fosters collaboration, learning and discovery. Testament to its effectiveness as a business forum is the very high rate of return bookings. A large percentage of participants are regular returnees and many have been with the show since it started.
Over the three days, attendees will be able to take advantage of an extensive programme of free technical seminars covering a range of topics, with a particular focus on the technical, managerial and environmental issues facing manufacturers today. All sessions will be CPD-approved to ensure they meet specific quality standards. The Institute for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits (IPC) hand soldering competition returns in 2025, as does AutoAero, a specialist thread that runs through the main programme concentrating on matters important to the automotive and aerospace sectors. Both are especially important to the UK economy, as they directly contribute billions of pounds to GDP, while supporting numerous businesses in their supply chains and providing much needed employment for highly skilled people.
There is free car parking at the Farnborough site, which is well connected by road and public transport links. A regular, complimentary bus service runs between the two local railway stations and the showground. Admission to the exhibition is also free of charge. Register today here.
