One show, a thousand solutions

09 January, 2020

Nearly 9000 visitors made their way to Farnborough for the show in 2019, drawn by the outstanding selection of exhibitors, large and small. The 2020 show will yield a similarly expansive selection of participating firms from across the UK, together with a considerable number of international exhibitors from across Europe, Asia and the Far East. With the show now approaching full occupancy of the 20,000m² Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, the organisers are confident of pushing past the previous high water mark.

Big league

One benefit of the show’s pivotal importance to the region’s engineering supply chain is that it draws the major CNC machinery manufacturers and vendors in numbers. 2020 will be no exception, with an impressive roster of big-league players taking part, including Haas Automation, Yamazaki Mazak, Bystronic, Hurco, XYZ Machine Tools amongst others. Matsuura will demonstrate its best-selling single table 5-axis MX-520 CNC machine tool, machining live, utilising fixtures and work-holding printed on a HP Multi-Jet Fusion 4200 3D printer.

Trumpf returns to Southern Manufacturing 2020, presenting its wide range of sheet metal fabrication machinery and industrial lasers, together with 3D printing systems, power tools and electronics. A vast selection of associated hardware complements the machine tool exhibits, including tooling and workholding from firms such as Roemheld, ITC and Guhring, and precision measurement equipment from Blum Novotest, Faro and Mitutoyo UK.

Hydraulics and pneumatics

Visitors searching for hydraulic and pneumatic components will find much to interest them. CEJN UK offers quick connect solutions for all types of media from compressed air to hydraulics to ultra-high-pressure hydraulics and more.

Lee Products Ltd. will be exhibiting all three ranges of its fluid control components; Microhydraulic, Industrial Microhydraulic (IMH) and its Electro-Fluidic System of miniature chemically inert, solenoid valves and pumps for medical and scientific instruments.

Another well-known name returning for 2020 is BCAS. The firm has over 30 years’ experience in compressed air and vacuum systems, and a distributor for some of the leading manufacturers in the industry including CompAir, Hydrovane and Elmo Rietschle. ESI Technology specialises in the design and manufacture of pressure transducers and pressure transmitters used in a variety of applications including oil & gas, subsea, aerospace, defence, hydraulics, process & industrial, test calibration and OEM markets.

KNF Neuberger designs and manufactures high quality OEM vacuum pumps, air compressors, liquid/metering/dosing pumps. All of its pumps are 100% oil-free and designed for the quiet, reliable and efficient transfer of air, gases and liquids. In addition to its standard range, it offers customer-specific solutions and is able to tailor its pumps to suit individual requirements. The show also features more general component suppliers. Transfer Multisort Elektronik is one of Europe’s largest distributors of electronic, electromechanical, pneumatic and industrial components, carrying over 250,000 product lines from 950 leading manufacturers.

Subcontracting

The choice of subcontractors exhibiting is equally varied, with precision engineering and finishing particularly well-represented. One example is Andover based Perfect Bore Manufacturing Ltd, which specialises in gundrilling, deep-hole boring, honing, CNC turning operations, CNC cylindrical grinding and superfinishing. Perfect Bore operates a fully accredited management system that is compliant to AS9100 Rev 2016/ISO9001:2015, ISO 14001 & OHSAS 18001. It is a bronze awarded signatory to SC21, part of the Fit For Nuclear (F4N) programme and the Supply Chain Charter for Nuclear Decommissioning Sites.

Following last year’s successful collaboration, Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2020 will once again be partnering with the Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, alongside national organisations including Composites UK, NetComposites, the Confederation of British Metalforming, the GTMA and the British Gear Association. Also taking part this year is Locate in Kent, an organisation offering a wide range of services and support to firms looking to locate in the region.

Seminar programme

Alongside the exhibition and demonstration areas, the free seminar programme is a very popular feature. Two programmes run in tandem in two theatres, focused on manufacturing and electronics respectively. Themes discussed include technology, innovation, business management, marketing and a review of current industrial law and regulations. Free access to this kind of high-calibre technical and business expertise is another compelling reason for manufacturing professionals to attend the show.

Farnborough International Conference and Exhibition Centre offers free car parking for 3500 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 show. The venue itself offers a high standard of facilities including a free WiFi service in the foyer area and high-quality catering outlets.

Admission to the show is free.

www.industrysouth.co.uk