Small show with

FIVE, Farnborough, plays host to Southern Manufacturing, Southern Electronics and Auto-Aero on 10th and 11th February.There's also a topical seminar programme - all designed tomake effective use of visitors' time

Now in its third year at the Hampshire venue, the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show has quickly established itself as a familiar fixture in the business calendar. Yet, despite steadily growing numbers of visitors and exhibitors, show organiser European Trade & Exhibition Services (ETES), remains committed to the idea of an easily accessible event, open to all.

It's this accessibility that ETES believes is a key factor behind the show's popularity.

Despite its growing stature, the ethos of the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show remains firmly rooted in its staunch support for the small and medium-sized enterprises that are the bedrock of the UK's engineering sector.

The format of the show makes it attractive to some of the more interesting engineering-based SMEs from across the UK and mainland Europe - many of which do not exhibit elsewhere. From this accessibility comes another important feature of Southern Manufacturing & Electronics; the diversity of suppliers that take part.

Conveniently close to the M3 in Hampshire and well-served by public transport, the show is an opportunity for engineering professionals across the region to see the latest tooling, technology products and services quickly and easily.

With more than 5000 visitors last year, this 'door-step' approach is clearly popular with today's busy industry professionals. Phil Valentine, show director, says "Everyone in business today recognises the value of their time. Being able to see so much in a single, convenient visit, represents a really effective use of that time." The show is actually three shows in one: Southern Manufacturing, Southern Electronics and Auto-Aero, the newest section of the show, dedicated to specialist automotive/aerospace precision engineering.

Technology trails guide visitors around the event, allowing them to make the most efficient use of their time at the show.

Specialist zones such as the Production Equipment,Machinery and Sub-contracting areas make it easy for visitors to find what they want quickly.

New for 2010, the show now has its own blog at www.sme2010.wordpress.com and a presence on the business networking site LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com), allowing visitors to meet and start interacting with exhibitors before the show has even opened its doors. The Southern Manufacturing & Electronics group is free to join and has a special area for visitors to post requests for information from exhibitors.

Seminar programme The show's free seminar programme is a popular attraction. Two programmes will run simultaneously, focusing on manufacturing and electronics respectively, and encompassing discussions on technical developments, business management, marketing and the latest industrial legislation.

In the Manufacturing room visitors will discover Secrets of Low Cost Marketing; Chris Needham from MAS-SE will examine how manufacturing businesses can extract maximum value from even the most modest marketing budgets. In his session, Rapid Manufacturing in the Future, Graham Tromans from the Rapid Manufacturing Research Group at Loughborough University will assess the impact of the latest Rapid Prototyping and Rapid Tooling techniques on future manufacturing. Collaborate to Win More Business, presented by Clive Lewis of Achieving The Difference, will look at why an increasing number of prime and tier 1 customers are awarding business to suppliers working collaboratively, plus practical advice on developing collaborations of your own.

In the Electronics room, The True Cost of Outsourcing is examined by Tony Inskip of Stadium Electronics in a revealing session that will help delegates find the best fit for their own manufacturing models. In How to Succeed at New Product Development, Grant Baker from MAS-SE will examine the techniques used to sort 'winners' from 'losers' at the earliest stages of development.

Other topics covered will include Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing,Waste Management, and The Impact of EMC Directive 2004/108/EC:What Manufacturers Need To Do.