Southern Manufacturing returns to Farnborough

The show is divided roughly equally between manufacturing and electronics. The Production, Tooling and Machinery section is one of the biggest attractions, providing visitors the opportunity to see the latest offerings from an excellent selection of international vendors in action. Highlights this year include demonstrations of hybrid additive and subtractive manufacturing from Matsuura Machinery, automation solutions from XYZ Machine Tools and Mills CNC, plus a huge range of machine tools from leading brands such as Bystronic, C. Dugard, Haas Automation, Hurco, Trumpf, Unison and Yamazaki Mazak amongst others. Other well known names include AMF Andreas Maier, Faro, MecWash, Bruderer, Blum Novotest and Roemheld. There are also numerous examples of the latest additive manufacturing technologies from leading vendors such as Laser Lines, Creat3D and CDG 3D Systems.

The electronics aspect of the show offers an abundance of production, automation and test systems from firms such as Blundell Production Equipment, AdoptSMT, ASM Assembly Systems and PACE Europe amongst others. Component vendors include ESI Technology, Wurth Electronics, TDK Lambda, Luso Electronics, the Rebound Group, Cosel Europe, Selwyn Electronics, Transfer Multisort Elektronik and Austria’s CODICO GmbH amongst many others.

The show also highlights an enormous range of industrial equipment and workshop essentials, such as automated retrieval solutions from Kardex Remstar, storage systems from Bott and modular workstations from Kanya UK. Yaplex showcases its materials handling systems, and there’s a wide selection of consumables from well-known brands such as Henkel Loctite, Ambersil and Lohmann Technologies.

Alongside the hardware, Southern Manufacturing is also a vitally important marketplace for subcontract services of all descriptions, from contract electronics manufacture to highly specialised precision engineering and finishing. Many of the exhibitors have specialist experience within the aerospace and automotive sectors – both highly active industries in the South. 

The show is partnered with the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, alongside national bodies including Composites UK, NetComposites, the Confederation of British Metalforming, the SMMT, the GTMA, the British Gear Association and Locate in Kent. Much of the expertise encompassed within these organisations will be accessible to visitors via the show’s ever-popular free seminar programme.

Running in two lecture theatres over all three days of the show, the programme covers a wide-ranging agenda, from advanced materials, additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to real-world examples of business transformation and Lean. The seminar programme gives delegates the opportunity to gain insight at the very highest level into many of the biggest issues facing industry today. All sessions are completely free to attend and open to all visitors to the show.

Award winning author of Staying Lean, creator of the Lean Iceberg Model and partner at S.A. Partners, Gary Griffiths, will discuss how organisations have successfully delivered results for their business by embedding and sustaining Lean and Continuous Improvement. Popular presenter Ailsa Carson of Onsite Insights gives examples of best practice in manufacturing through ten, real-world case studies. Kevin Askew of GoPrint3D reviews the Additive Manufacturing Landscape and the applications of the technology, from prototype to end-use parts. Steven Barr and Ravi Gidoomal of Edge Digital Manufacturing discuss how to develop a digital roadmap for your business and identify the right digital technologies to maximise value.

Mark Knowlton from Locate in Kent will present Delivering Industry 4.0 – an examination of how SMEs can benefit from embracing digital manufacturing. In 4.0 The Quality Revolution, Mike John of The Sempre Group looks at how British Industry must evolve its quality control in a global competitive market. Nick Aitken and Dr Alex Martin of the RINA take a look at Counterfeit components and product compliance challenges, while Dr Chris Robertson

discusses Life after Brexit – What next in trade relations and product regulation. Mike Foster, managing director of The CE Marking Association will explore another aspect of the post-Brexit landscape in CE Marking 2020 and Beyond – How the changes will affect all manufacturers.

Farnborough International Conference and Exhibition Centre offers complimentary car parking for 3,500 vehicles and is well-served by road and public transport links. A regular free shuttle bus service operates from both of Farnborough’s mainline railway stations directly to the exhibition. The venue itself provides a high standard of facilities including a complimentary WiFi service in the foyer area as well as high quality catering outlets.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2020 opens from February 11th to 13th. Admission to the exhibition is free of charge. More information and tickets are available from www.industrysouth.co.uk.