Growing larger by the year

Southern Manufacturing is one of the largest events in the country for engineers and a primary destination for some of the world's most well known industrial brands. The exhibition has been a recurring fixture in the calendar for thousands of the South’s industrial professionals for the best part of two decades. In more recent times, the show has grown significantly, pulling in visitors and participants from far further than the local area.

In 2013, the organisers successfully launched Northern Manufacturing & Electronics at Manchester's EventCity, aimed at recreating the phenomenal popularity of the exhibition for those located in the Midlands northward.

A key characteristic of both shows is that they have not fallen prey to the temptation to court the big manufacturers at the expense of the smaller enterprises taking part. The UK still ranks very highly for innovation and high-value engineering, but most of this activity is happening in small to medium sized enterprises. The SME-friendly format of Southern Manufacturing offers an effective showcase for this talent, encouraging more modest-sized suppliers to demonstrate alongside major global manufacturers. It is this impressive selection of goods and services on display that affords the event its special appeal.

The exhibition venue is organised into three main areas covering manufacturing, electronics and a specialist high-tech engineering area for the automotive and aerospace sectors – Auto Aero. Those who haven't attended the event for a couple of years will probably be surprised at just how big it has become. The venue has more than doubled in size since relocating to Farnborough in 2008. The newest addition, the Machining, Tooling, Production & Packaging Area, has also grown considerably since last year. One of the big new companies exhibiting in 2014 is Olympus, displaying its range of industrial endoscopy products. 

Major international machinery manufacturers and dealers, for example Amada, Bystronic, Matsuura, Yamazaki Mazak, Fronius, XYZ Machine Tools, C. Dugard, Ajax Machine Tools and others, are now regular features at the show. The event's Machinery Area enables visitors to observe many of those state-of-the-art machines being put through their paces.

While visitors are certain of seeing virtually all of the regular exhibitors once again in 2014, more than 100 firms will be exhibiting for the first time. They will join the many hundreds of others, together presenting solutions to pretty much every possible industrial requirement. 

The show’s free technical seminar programme is also a popular attraction, and with many of the most in demand speakers revisiting once more in 2014, this year will be no different. The programme takes in everything from practical business hints and tips to a look into the latest advances in manufacturing know-how. Again, diversity of subject matter discussed means that there should be something of interest for everybody. 

Entry to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2014 is free to business visitors, and FIVE Farnborough offers plentiful free car parking and easy access by road or public transport. A free shuttle bus operates daily between Farnborough’s North Camp and Main railway stations and the show.

To register online for event tickets, simply head to www.industrysouth.co.uk or call 01784 880 890. Visitors can also check all the most recent news from the show by visiting the official blog page at http://blog.industrysouth.co.uk, by following @industry_co_uk and the #southmanf hashtag on Twitter or by joining the show’s LinkedIn group at http://linkedin.industrysouth.co.uk