Southern Manufacturing and Electronics returns to FIVE, Farnborough on its new Spring dates of 21st to 23rd of March 2017. More convenient show dates combined with its popular three-day format is expected to provide a further boost to visitor numbers at what many consider to be the best annual industrial exhibition in the UK.
Conveniently located close to the M3 in Hampshire on the site of the world-famous Farnborough International Airshow, Southern Manufacturing is the largest annual showcase of industrial hardware and subcontracting in the UK. The 18,000m² purpose-built venue will host around 800 exhibitors from all over Europe, between them representing just about the entire spectrum of industrial activity, from fixtures and fittings to engineering services.
Southern Manufacturing is one of the most important annual showcases for machinery makers and so attracts strong support from global brands such as Bruderer, Yamazaki Mazak and Haas Automation. Bystronic will showcase its mobile automation module for the Xpert 40 press brake as a compact solution for automated and manual bending. Matsuura will launch its newest machining centre, the eagerly-awaited MX-330 PC10 5 axis. Hurco Europe showcases two machines from its compact production solutions portfolio, the VM10i vertical machining centre (VMC) and a TM6i CNC lathe. Emco UK will highlight its wide range of production hardware which includes manual and CNC mills and lathes, routers, Stratasys 3D printers, 3D scanners and laser cutting/marking machines.
Complementing the machinery is a vast array of tooling, workholding and production aids, such as, AMF Andreas Maier, Roemheld, Wilson Tool International, Dormer Pramet, C.Dugard, Rolla-V, Laser Lines, TLM Laser and many others. Production and metrology vendors include Faro Technologies, Nikon Metrology, Mitutoyo and Renishaw. Bowers Group will highlight several new products developed in-house, alongside examples from key suppliers such as Trimos, Sylvac, Wyler, Innovatest Gagemaker and Accretech.
Along with the machinery, there’s a good selection of other production equipment too. Nabertherm travels from Germany to promote its extensive range of furnaces and heat treatment systems. Filtermist International will highlight products for the removal of oil mist, dust, smoke and fumes. Yaplex and Scaglia Indeva return with a wide range of manual handling equipment, and there’s storage systems from SSI Schaefer. Brady will highlight its range of industrial printing and labelling systems; there’s air conditioning and industrial ventilation systems from the Clean Air Group and waste management services from CSG. Industrial consumables are represented by firms such as Ambersil and Henkel Loctite, and there’s also suppliers of industrial oils such as Q8 Oils and Wyse Oil.
The electronics side of the event is just as comprehensive, with an impressive selection of vendors and subcontract service providers taking part. Just a few names from the list include Easby Electronics, showcasing its extremely wide range of components. Transformers and wound components of all descriptions can be found on the Trans-Tronic and North Devon Electronics stands. Variohm Eurosensor highlights a new non-contacting range of rotary sensors along with combined pressure & temperature sensors and load transducers. Connector manufacturers exhibiting in 2017 include Coax Connectors, Lemo UK, Molex and ODU, which is highlighting the recent major expansion of its ODU-MAC modular connector range, developed originally for military applications. Also returning for 2017 is Yamaichi Electronics, showcasing its range of circular connectors with a unique push-pull locking mechanism. Major new overseas exhibitors for 2017 include Taiwanese KS Terminals and Poland’s Transfer Multisort Elektronik, one of central Europe’s largest component distributors.
The show is also one of the key marketplaces for subcontract engineering services in the UK, with a huge variety of firms represented. Over 45% of visitors in 2016 came to find new subcontract partners, ranging from precision engineering to electronics assembly. Again the selection is extremely comprehensive and covers just about every kind of engineering activity from design and production to testing and certification.
Finally, the show’s ever-popular free seminar programme provides the chance to rest weary feet and engage the grey matter. The programme for 2017 offers its customary high standard of presenters drawn from industry, academia and commerce, and is designed to appeal to anyone involved in engineering or manufacturing. Topics addressed range from advice on Lean, effective design and selling technical products, to reviews of the latest advances in manufacturing technology. A total of 28 sessions over three days will include an overview of advanced manufacturing and 3D Printing, enclosure design, Industry 4.0 and the regulatory significance of the Brexit vote amongst others. All of the sessions are free of charge, although pre-booking is definitely recommended. A complete listing of sessions and the online reservation form is available at www.industrysouth.co.uk.
Entry to the show is free of charge, and FIVE Farnborough offers plentiful on-site free parking. There’s easy access by road from the M3 or by public transport. A free shuttle bus connects the exhibition and both of Farnborough’s railway stations. To sign-up for tickets, just visit www.industrysouth.co.uk . Exhibition visitors can keep up to date with the latest show and exhibitor news by heading to the show’s official blog, http://blog.industrysouth.co.uk, by following @industry_co_uk #southmanf on Twitter or by becoming a member of the show’s official LinkedIn group at LinkedIn at http://linkedin.industrysouth.co.uk
