Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026 to build on a record-breaking year

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, the UK’s premier annual trade fair serving both the mechanical and electronic engineering sectors equally, concluded its most successful show to date in early February 2025. Celebrating its 28th anniversary in 2026, the international event is set to see equally strong visitor attendance and exhibitor participation, solidifying its position as a vital business hub for industry professionals.

The number of attendees at the last show reached 10,204, marking a 14% increase compared to 2024, with more than 72% of visitors having purchasing influence, underlining the event’s importance as a platform for business growth. The exhibitor count also grew, by an impressive 12%, with 535 companies breaking the notional 500 barrier for the first time. The new owner of the event, Easyfairs, says that the momentum continues as Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026 returns to the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre on 3-5 February.

For mechanical engineers, Southern is one of the year’s most important showcases of shop-floor technology, distinguished by its emphasis on tangible, near-term solutions. The exhibition concentrates on presenting practical, workshop-ready technologies such as collaborative robots (cobots) that can be ordered and installed quickly by small and mid-sized firms to automate component loading and unloading.

Machine tool companies and providers of quick-change workholding solutions will be
present in force, the latter demonstrating hydraulic and pneumatic clamping systems designed to minimise set-up times. For subcontractors running short batches, the ability to swap fixtures in minutes rather than hours can dramatically transform productivity, while the repeatability of the systems supports reliable lights-out running.

Inspection and metrology equipment will be a major focus. Suppliers will showcase new ways to integrate measurement into a manufacturing workflow, ranging from highly automated inline CMMs to manually-operated portable measuring arms suitable for use on the shop floor. The continued presence of component finishing, cleaning and surface
treatment specialists allows visitors to research the entire production process from
start to finish.

For electronic engineers, the show is packed with practical, production-ready solutions, offering a rare chance to investigate the journey from bare printed circuit board (PCB) to finished system within a single hall. Visitors will find that major surface mount technology (SMT) placement specialists will be bringing modular platforms designed for high-mix, medium-volume work and the systems on offer will feature both throughput and agility. The emphasis for modern SMT cells is on reducing set-up times and allowing operators to manage more machines simultaneously.

Test and quality control equipment providers will take centre stage, with live demonstrations of automated optical inspection and X-ray inspection systems that offer high resolution and excellent integration with factory data systems. The exhibition also accommodates a complete electronic ecosystem from passive and electro-mechanical components to PCBs and design services, allowing an engineer to compare multiple suppliers for every stage of assembly in a single visit.

Central to the show’s offering is its CPD-accredited seminar programme, free to all attendees, which features two dedicated theatres focusing on mechanical engineering and electronics/electrical engineering respectively. A full programme of sessions will take place throughout the three days.

For machinists, presentations will cover topics such as lean manufacturing, energy efficiency and how to strengthen digital capabilities, providing a significant bonus for engineers balancing daily production demands with the need to upskill. Electronics engineers can listen in to talks on CE compliance, testing strategies, additive manufacturing or business management for electronic manufacturing services firms. For younger engineers, the talks provide an accessible way to keep skills current. For senior decision-makers, they offer strategic insight into emerging trends.

Doors open daily at 09:30 and close at 16.30, although there is an earlier finish at 16:00 on Thursday 5 February. For UK engineering professionals under pressure to increase throughput, meet compliance obligations and raise productivity, this opportunity to evaluate a vast array of different technologies in a single trip is highly valuable, confirming Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026’s role as the essential meeting place and one of the most effective platforms for sourcing innovation in the UK.

There is free and ample car parking at the Farnborough site, which is well served by road and public transport links. A regular, complementary bus service runs between the two local railway stations and the showground.