Show switches to three-day format

The claim of providing 'something for everyone' is somewhat overused these days, but when describing the vast selection of products and services that await visitors to Southern Manufacturing 2015, it almost feels like an understatement. An expected 800 exhibitors in an 18,000m2 venue makes the show a major UK business event by any measure. But the influence of the show is now spreading far wider than just the domestic market, bringing with it a wealth of new exhibitors.

The new three-day format makes it a much more practical proposition for firms travelling from outside the UK. This is reflected in the unprecedented number of non-UK exhibitors showcasing their wares, with vendors from Germany, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Spain, Lithuania, the USA, Japan and Taiwan exhibiting in 2015. For visitors, the uncommon opportunity to meet companies and see products that they normally wouldn’t have the chance to see at a domestic exhibition adds an exciting new dimension to an already comprehensive cross-section of UK industrial enterprise.

The wide appeal of Southern Manufacturing and its Northern sibling event means that the shows enjoy consistently strong patronage from industrial exhibitors large and small. At the major end of the scale, are many of the best-known names in machining, automation and production equipment; names such as Amada, Bystronic, Yamazaki Mazak, Matsuura, CMZ, Fanuc, Trumpf, Kawasaki Robotics, igus, LG Motion, Hepco and Haas Automation. As in previous years, Southern Manufacturing will feature a live Machinery Area, where the latest offerings from major suppliers can be seen cutting metal. This gives visitors the opportunity to compare machines side-by-side in one convenient location. The timing is beneficial for firms looking to invest at the turn of the fiscal year. Southern has acquired a reputation as a show where visitors come ready to do business. A surprising number of high-value machinery orders were placed at the 2014 show by walk-up visitors.

For those with less lofty aspirations, there is still plenty to see. The show remains very much focused on the requirements of small to medium-sized British firms, and its policy of accessible pricing means that its open to a greater variety of companies than perhaps any other major show. This means that visitors will  encounter a wide variety of vendors, between them providing every imaginable kind of component, production hardware, consumable and engineering service. A few examples include aqueous cleaning machines from MecWash, oil mist extraction systems from Filtermist, machine safety products from Bernstein, metrology and inspection equipment from Faro, Olympus, Nikon and Bowers Group, and welding systems from TPS Weldtech. Schnelldorfer Maschinenbau will be demonstrating its longitudal welding systems, and there are several vendors of laser and EDM equipment exhibiting, among them Laserlines, Fimark and Anotronic. A full list of the companies present, and a searchable database of products and services, is available at www.industrysouth.co.uk.

Seminars

Also worthy of note is the free technical seminar programme that runs over three days in two theatres. For many the seminars are a highlight of the show, with many sessions heavily oversubscribed. For that reason, pre-registration is strongly urged.

The programme for 2015 provides the usual notable line-up of professionals from industry, academia and commerce, among them The CE Marking Association, TUV Sud, York EMC Services and Kings College London. Some 28 sessions address topics such as machine safety, Lean, manufacturing best practice and current EU legislation. A full index of sessions and the online booking form is available at www.industrysouth.co.uk.

The FIVE site is near the M3 and is well served by public transport. There's free admission and free on-site car parking. Admission to the event and the technical seminars is free to business visitors. To register for tickets, simply visit www.industrysouth.co.uk or call the number below.