Looking ahead to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2020
Author : Phil Valentine | Managing Director | European Trade & Exhibition Services (ETES)
03 January 2020
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Here, we look ahead to Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, which returns to Farnborough from February 11th to 13th 2020, with Phil Valentine, Managing Director of show organisers, European Trade & Exhibition Services (ETES).
This show preview was originally featured in the January 2020 issue of EPDT magazine [read the digital issue]. Sign up to receive your own copy each month.
The show – the largest and longest running annual electronics exhibition in the UK – is already heading toward full occupancy of the 20,000m² Farnborough International Exhibition Centre. With over half the total exhibition space dedicated to electronics, the show offers a comprehensive range of exhibitors from all over the UK, together with off-shore exhibitors from across Europe, Asia and the Far East.
For many visitors, the appeal of Southern – according to exit polls from previous shows – is its broad coverage of every aspect of electronics production and test. Within one show, you can find numerous component suppliers, offering everything from passive components to highly specialised ASICs, along with a wide range of production equipment and hardware, including automation and inspection, plus an incredible diversity of service providers and subcontractors. Alongside the latest hardware, there’s a fantastic range of business management aids, including ERP software and Industry 4.0 solutions, not to mention the more mundane items that every enterprise needs – from storage systems to consumables. The theme of this year’s event is “make it better”, and by offering thousands of ways to improve performance, productivity and efficiency, the show aims to do just that...
Southern Manufacturing is a comprehensive marketplace for electronic components, featuring a huge variety of vendors from across Europe and further afield. Hamamatsu Photonics, a leading Japanese manufacturer of optoelectronic components and systems, will be showcasing a range of products at Southern Manufacturing, including X-ray cameras and sources for NDT, to laser systems for plastics welding, printed electronics sintering and light measuring devices for many LiDAR applications. CODICO is a leading Austrian distributor of high-quality active and passive electronic components and interconnect systems. CODICO offers a wide range of components and technologies including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IoT, M2M, embedded system-on-modules (SoMs), smart sensors, power management and displays. At Southern 2020, the firm will focus particularly on its power management solutions ranging from discrete components and DC-DC modules through to both open and enclosed AC-DC power supplies. Medical, smart and configurable power supplies will also feature on the Cosel stand. Visitors will see a range of single output and configurable output power supplies which offer digital communication as standard. Connected by UART or PMBus, users can monitor and control up to 85 commands on the power supply, including digitally adjusting output voltage, constant current-constant voltage mode and life expectancy.
Closer to home, Easby Electronics returns in force to Southern Manufacturing 2020, showcasing a broad range of products aimed at, amongst others, the industrial, mil-aero, medical and automotive markets. In the expanding EV (electric vehicles) market, Easby and its long-term manufacturing partner, Degson offer several solutions, including 32Amp Type2 sockets to IEC62196-2 and 32amp Type 1 & 2 cables. Displays will feature prominently on the stand in 2020, with Raystar and Team Source both able to offer the latest in IPS TFT displays, OLED displays and traditional STN/FSTN type LCD character and graphics modules.
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Smaller components, such as switches and connectors, are also well represented at the show. RJS1NLP switches are the latest edition to RJS Electronic’s ‘low profile’ switch range, available in sizes from 12mm to 25mm, with IP67/IP68 rating and RGB illumination. This entire series has an ultra-low profile of 12.3mm from the underside of the bezel. In a typical 3mm panel, this would mean there is only 9.3mm behind the panel, including switch terminals. Scolmore showcases a raft of new additions to its IEC Lock range. IEC Lock is a unique mechanism for locking IEC connectors and is designed to provide protection against accidental disconnection of computer equipment, servers and most network devices, by way of a unique and patented locking mechanism. E-tec Interconnect’s recently expanded range of waterproof and flexible interconnects will also be available to view at Southern Manufacturing this year. These will include highly reliable IPX7-rated wire-to-wire waterproof connectors, available in 2mm pitch with 2, 3, or 4 contacts.
More specialist components include a new range of LoRa (long range) radio modules and a new range of off-the-shelf products from RF Solutions. The Lambda 62 RF module will be showcased. This 868/915Mhz LoRa transceiver is a cost-effective radio module, featuring Semtech SX1262 LoRa, for a range of over 20km. Coilcraft supplies critical-grade magnetics for RF and power applications. Amongst other products, the firm will be showing the AExxxRBA family of moulded, space-grade chip inductors from its Critical Products & Services group. Available in standard 0603 and 0805 footprints, they meet NASA low outgassing requirements (ASTM E595) and are resistant to harsh-chemical/high-PSI washes.
Production and test hardware on show this year includes five new machines from Automated Cable Solutions, including the Carpenter cut and strip machine, PP3+ stripper crimper, a multi-core wire stripper and digital microscope. Visitors will be able to see hand tools, mini-applicators, crimping presses, wire pull testers, cable feeders and a whole fleet of machines for cutting cable and tubing. Meanwhile, Hakko launches a thermal wire stripper, as an alternative to mechanical strippers and hand tools. The FT-802 satisfies the demands of the military, medical and aerospace industries. It ensures the precise, clean-cut removal of wire insulation, even through highly heat-resistant PTFE, says the company, and improved flexibility allows for tangle-free operation. It can also be used for the stripping of insulation from single core wires.
Instrumentation, electronics and software design specialists, Beam will be presenting its new BMeasure-125i data acquisition, logging and control IoT product, a flexible and powerful system for data capture, data logging and control. Applications include scientific/engineering research, industrial measurements, vibration measurements and remote sensing.
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Subcontract production services are another key feature of the show, with a wide range of companies offering an equally wide range of services, from design and test through to PCB production and full contract manufacturing. Regular exhibitors returning for 2020 include the award-winning Bytesnap Design, JJS Manufacturing, Selwyn Electronics, K Lacey Cables and Hammond Manufacturing, among many others. Offshore manufacturers represented include Shenzhen X-Mulong Circuit, Volburg, Chinasavvy Manufacturing, Eurokubas Custom Cables and MV Circuit Technology.
In addition to the exhibition and demonstration areas, the free seminar programme is another feature of the show, tremendously popular with electronics and manufacturing professionals. Two programmes run in tandem in two theatres over three days, devoted to manufacturing and electronics respectively. Topics tackled include technology, innovation, business management, marketing, and a review of ongoing industrial law and regulations. Free access to this variety of high-calibre industry and business knowledge provides a further compelling reason for manufacturing professionals to attend the exhibition.
Farnborough International Conference & 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 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
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