Regional event has global appeal

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics returns to FIVE, Farnborough, on 15th and 16th February 2012. Here, IP&E highlights what's in store for the event's many visitors

The show has been a fixture in the calendar for many of the South's industrial professionals for 16 years now. It has grown significantly over the years and the 2012 event will be the largest show staged and the most international with companies from all over the UK, continental Europe, the USA, Israel and China taking part.

For those outside industry, raised in the belief that the UK doesn't make anything anymore, this growth may seem perplexing.

But in reality, nobody should be surprised; the UK still ranks very highly when it comes to innovation and high-value engineering.

With most of that activity taking place in small to medium sized enterprises up and down the country, the SME-friendly format of Southern Manufacturing provides the perfect shop window for suppliers large and small; from major international manufacturers such as Amada,Matsuura, Yamazaki Mazak, Fanuc and many others, to more modest-sized suppliers of components and services such as tools, safety equipment and work clothing.

Main areas As in previous years, the show venue is arranged into three main areas covering manufacturing, electronics and a specialist high-tech engineering area for the automotive and aerospace sectors, Auto Aero. Hall 2, an extension to the venue added last year, will host a new area in 2012, dedicated to electronics production, automation and machine control. The increased floor area was needed for a sharp increase in first-time exhibitors.

While most of the regular exhibitors will return in 2012, more than 20% of the total exhibition space this year will be occupied by new companies.

Some of the more notable names appearing this year for the first time include Finder, manufacturer of electromechanical components, Baran Advanced Technologies - an Israeli-based manufacturer of piezoelectric pushbuttons for harsh environments, Wyse Oils, SGS Carbide Tools and John Parker & Sons steel stockholders. These firms will join more than 500 others, together supplying just about every possible industrial requirement.

Seminar programme The show's free technical seminar programme is a popular attraction, and with one of the strongest line-ups every fielded, this year will be no exception. Presenters include: The Smart Group, BAE Systems, EDF Energy, NAMRC, Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, University of Sheffield and The Composite Systems Innovation Centre. The programme takes in everything from practical business advice to a look at the latest advances in manufacturing technology.

An introduction to Lean Manufacturing from Paul Smith of the Manufacturing Advisory Service (South East) gives visitors an insight into reducing waste and improving competitiveness. In 'How I Tripled Output and Saved Money', Owen Buckwell will show how applying those principles improved productivity by 265% in Portsmouth's Housing Department. Peter Grundy from The SMART Group gives advice on How to Create an Efficient Factory, while Best Practice and World Class Manufacturing with Ailsa Kaye looks at examples of best practice from around the world.

Other sessions will focus on the latest advanced materials and manufacturing techniques, Supply Chain & SC21 and a look at the UK's fast-growing medical devices industry. A full list of the 24 sessions on the 2012 seminar programme is available at www.industrysouth.co