February 2022

12 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk February 2022 Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Preview B ouncing back strongly from its Covid-induced hiatus last year, the 2022 show will host a wide exhibitor list covering the complete spectrum of industrial manufacturing, from high-tech machine tools and automation to components, workshop equipment, management software and subcontract services. Firms from across the UK will take part, along with a significant number of international visitors from continental Europe and beyond. In total, almost 20,000m? of floor space at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre in Hampshire will be occupied by hundreds of vendors, large and small, delivering a good opportunity to get up to speed with all the latest developments. Many of the show’s regular participants have emerged unscathed from the difficulties of the last 20 months. Some well-known names returning for 2022 include Brady, Faro, Guhring, Mitutoyo (UK), Laser Lines, Boxford, Loctite-Henkel, Leybold, Nikon Metrology plus many others. There is also a wide selection of machinery vendors giving live demonstrations, among them Haas Automation, C. Dugard, Hurco, Mills CNC and XYZ Machine Tools. Of particular note this year is the growing emphasis on automation and collaborative working. Design & Automation Solutions will be demonstrating an example of human-machine collaborative working on its stand at Southern 2022, using a MELFA ‘Assista’ Collaborative Robot, supplied by Mitsubishi Electric Automation Systems UK. Another robotic specialist exhibiting this year is ICS, an independent integrator, with a wealth of knowledge that covers all makes of robots, including Panasonic, KUKA, ABB, Fanuc, Kawasaki and Yaskawa. The firm provides a turnkey service, from design and simulation through manufacturing to installation, training and lifetime support. The selection of components on show will also cover many applications. AS Controls is the sole UK representative for Spohn & Burkhardt controls, NBB radio remote controls, Sitec safety switches and Koduct Cable Chains in the UK & Ireland. The firm supplies a wide variety of control system components, from joystick controllers to complete operator console units and control stations tailored to each individual requirement. Among the highlights of the range of relays, displays and cable assemblies by RJS Electronics, visitors can see the RJS107 high current contact, and anti-vandal switches. Available in 16, 19, 22 and 25mm versions, they are IP67-rated at 20A with single/bi- colour and RGB LED illumination, which can be a ring or power symbol. Visitors will also be able to see the RJS1N1LP series of low profile switches with a total height of 14mm (max). They are available in 12 to 30mm options with LED options including the RGB IP67/IP68 rated model. The show is also an ideal place to see plant equipment, particularly that delivering greater operational efficiency in areas such as handling, storage and packaging systems. HSM (UK) will showcase options for waste management, demonstrating how one of its vertical baling presses can reduce the volume of waste by up to 95%, saving valuable space but generating a secondary and valuable raw material. Also exhibited will be its packaging machine, ProfiPack, which generates universally usable packaging from used cardboard. Workplace storage equipment manufacturer, Bott, will showcase a professional storage system, created from products in its cubio range. Ergonomically designed, the modular system is configurable to suit individual processes and adaptable to expand with a business. Seminar programme The ever-popular free seminar programme also returns for 2022 in a socially distanced format. With UK business now operating in a post- covid, post-Brexit world, keeping abreast of the latest legislation and management strategies has never been more important. This year, among the topics discussed, Paul Grabham looks at the impacts of post Brexit and Covid-19 on HMRC R&D Tax Credits. Tim Scurlock of Applied Lean Consulting gives some ideas on how to drive continuous improvement in your business; Graham Cooper offers tips on energy usage reduction in manufacturing and Nick Aitken and Dr Alex Martin give advice on how to handle a product safety incident. Sessions run over all three days and a full list is available on the show’s website at www.industrysouth.co.uk The show also offers plenty of options when it comes to management tools, including resource monitoring and planning, and time management systems. T Cards Direct highlights the latest release of its visual time management tool, which includes new admin pages, simple to follow setup and a clear editable framework. The management tool allocates, tracks and improves efficiency, says the company. The system is adaptable and customisable for workplaces which have their own specific requirements for a planning system to improve business. Also returning for 2022, MIETrak Pro is an industry specific, complete ERP software solution for all manufacturing industries designed to streamline operations across the entire workflow process and provide maximum efficiency and an immediate ROI. For further information and to register please visit: www.industrysouth.co.uk Southern Manufacturing & Electronics makes its return to Farnborough from 8 -10 February. PWE looks at the forthcoming event. Southern Manufacturing returns