New venue for Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2018

The new 35m Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre development is said to be the largest exhibition venue to be built in the UK for two decades. Designed by award-winning architects Terence O'Rourke,the ultra-modern, the two-storey, 20,000m2 Hall 1 complex offers world-class facilities and easy access. Southern Manufacturing will be the first major exhibition to take place here. Given its prime location on the site of the Farnborough Airshow, it seems certain that Hall 1 will quickly become one of the most important international showcases for UK engineering and manufacturing expertise.

While the venue will be new, the most important aspects of the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show remain comfortably familiar. Around 800 companies are expected to take part, so Southern Manufacturing & Electronics will continue its reputation as one of the best marketplaces for industrial hardware and engineering services in Europe. A good proportion of exhibitors are overseas firms who seldom, if ever, exhibit in the UK. Southern Manufacturing therefore offers visitors the opportunity to see a much wider range of products and services than they would normally expect to find at a domestic event. The ability to address multiple sourcing issues at one show has always been one of Southern's strongest features, and it is one that remains top of the list for the majority of visitors.

Components and services for machine builders

For machine builders, there will be - as always - plenty to see. Many of the show's most familiar faces return for 2018, including igus UK, HepcoMotion, Heidenhain, Hitaltek and IEC. Fuji Electric Europe GmbH will display high-performance inverters that offer automatically controlled motor operations for a wide variety of AC drive applications including conveyor systems, pumps, fans, HVAC and lift applications. Kabelshlepp Metool showcases its new Master drag chain system that is designed to meet the demands of Industry 4.0 applications. Master drag chains feature the TS3 divider system; its reduced wall thickness creates more interior space, achieving a vertical space saving of 50 per cent and 37.5 per cent in the horizontal. At the same time, the company says the Master drag chains are easy to open and fill, for time-saving harnessing from all sides.

CamdenBoss showcases a number of recently introduced products, including its CFTBN range of fuse holders, which has become one of the first to meet the latest fire safety standard EN 60127-6 that came into force in October 2017. The CamdenBoss CFTBN range of fused terminal blocks incorporates a 5 x 20mm fuse holder with a one- to five-pole terminal strip, along with an integral spare fuse carrier. Designed for use in lighting and similar applications, the fused terminal blocks feature IP20 finger protection and anti-rotation spigot, 4mm two-cable entry (2.5mm x 2 with wire protector).

Labelling, displays, cabling and connectors

Rebo Systems will be demonstrating its new SMS R1 colour and cut sign and labelling system. Suitable for low to mid-range volume production, the SMS R1 can produce customised label shapes and sizes with up to nine colours on-demand and in-house. Craft Data will be showing examples from its comprehensive electronic display range, from simple alphanumeric LCD modules, through monochrome graphic modules, character and graphic OLED to full colour TFT LCD including four-wire resistive and projected capacitive touch versions, as well as high brightness sunlight viewing options.

Cabling and connectors are also very well represented. One of the world's leading specialist cable manufacturers, Sweden's Habia Cables, will highlight its extremely broad range of products, many of which are designed for harsh environments. Among many other recently introduced products, Hylec-APL showcases its TeePlug TH381 plug and socket electrical micro connector that is designed for underwater use and harsh environment installations. Offering high levels of reliability, TeePlug TH381 Series connectors provide complete protection against the effects of permanent submersion in water to ensure electrical connections, even when subjected to high-pressure water jets. The IP68/IP69K rated TeeTubeTH381 models also prevent dust and dirt ingress.

Connector specialist ODU will be showing its new Mini-Snap self-securing circular connection, used in a multitude of applications. Whether for transferring power, signals, data or even media, this circular connector in a robust metal housing offers great long-term quality, reliability and functionality. The push-pull principle ensures connection integrity. Once mated, the Mini-Snap locks itself into the receptacle and can no longer be separated by just pulling on the cable. The ODU Mini-Snap is available in a wide range of sizes and designs, and a choice of three basic keyings.

Yamaichi Electronics recently expanded its push-pull connector series Y-Circ P with the IP68-compliant waterproof T-series. To be seen for the first time at Southern Manufacturing, the new waterproof T-series shares compatibility with the Y-Circ P product family, but with a more compact profile. The T-series also features a one-piece collet for error-free installation and an optimised mechanism for reliable locking.

Free seminars

Another extremely popular feature returning for 2018 is the free technical seminar programme, which once again runs in two separate theatres over all three days of the show. The comprehensive programme of sessions includes a broad range of technical topics, such as Industry 4.0 and 3D printing, together with general business management such as effective marketing, Lean implementation and the key features of the forthcoming GDPR legislation, which is set to have a substantial impact on all businesses when it comes into effect next May. A full list of sessions can be found at seminars.industrysouth.co.uk, together with the all-important booking form.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2018 opens from 6-8 February and admission is free. More information and tickets are available from www.industrysouth.co.uk. Farnborough Exhibition and Conference Centre offers free on-site car parking and is easily reached by road, air or public transport.