Southern Manufacturing and Electronics returns

EARLY NEXT year, Southern Manufacturing and Electronics 2023 will bring together the worlds of mechanical engineering and electronics in a cohesive event that will demonstrate the synergy between the two areas of industry. At arguably the most comprehensive engineering show in the country, close to 600 exhibition stands will welcome, if previous years are anything to go by, around 9,000 visitors. As usual it will take place at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre from 7-9 February and admission and parking are free of charge. 

Having progressed from a small regional exhibition 25 years ago, the event now attracts exhibitors and visitors from around the whole of the UK, Ireland, continental Europe and beyond. Process automation companies, vendors of mechanical and electronic components and consumables, test and inspection system specialists and subcontracting service providers will rub shoulders with machine tool and other production technology firms at what is the largest annual exhibition in the UK. It is also an important destination for sourcing production and planning aids and all manner of software tools for business and engineering.

A comprehensive electronics presentation

Everything electronic (and electrical) traditionally accounts for half of the show. There will be a huge array of stands promoting passive components, sensors and OEM parts alongside others offering production, automation and test equipment. Subcontract services will also be a major feature of the event, with representatives from every electronics production discipline from design and contract assembly to PCB production and inspection. Other suppliers will be offering labelling, storage and handling systems, and many day-to-day essentials that manufacturing businesses and service providers need.

To give a flavour of the strength in depth visitors will be able to witness, surface mount technology and PCB assembly equipment and consultancy will be on offer from at least 13 firms: ASMPT SMT Solutions from Munich, Blundell Production Equipment, Brady, Corintech, CT Production, Electronic InCap Electronics UK, Electronic Manufacturing Solutions, Electronic Technicians (ETL), European Circuits, Nemco, Top Hex, Trojan Electronics and the Latvian firm, Volburg. Likewise, connectors will be exhibited by numerous companies including Cembre, CIE Electronics, Coax Connectors, Kanya UK, Selwyn Electronics and Shoal Group.

Production engineering expertise 

The UK subsidiaries and agents of multinational machine tool manufacturers will as usual form a significant part of the mechanical engineering side of the show. Attendees already confirmed include Ajax Machine Tools International, Citizen Machinery, Haas Automation, Hurco Europe, Matsuura Machinery, Mills CNC, NCMT, Yamazaki Mazak UK and YMT Technologies. In addition, XYZ Machine Tools has taken two stands, one of which will be dedicated to the launch of its new TMC range of machining centres fitted with the latest ProtoTRAK control.

Among the cutting tool companies taking stands are Guhring and Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), while the latest workholding equipment will be demonstrated by 1st Machine Tool Accessories, Lang Technik UK and Thame. Metrology solutions from ARC, Blum Novotest, Central Scanning UK (part of the Zeiss/GOM "HandsOnMetrology" network) and Status will bring visitors up to date with the latest inspection and measurement technology from some of the world's leading companies in the field.

Although it is a multidisciplinary event, that does not mean it is fragmented. There are no physical barriers between the areas, so people can walk easily between stands showing many diverse engineering disciplines. Visitors often say this is one of the show’s main attractions, as it often leads to the discovery of companies and technologies that would otherwise be missed. Firms with expertise in similar areas are grouped together, allowing Technology Trails to guide visitors logically around the showground.

For more information: 

www.industrysouth.co.uk

Tel: 01784 880890