TEST & MEASUREMENT Where technology met real-world manufacturing
From 3 - 5 February 2026, Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026 returned to Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre for its best-attended edition in its 29-year history
T
he show welcomed 10,722 visitors and 571 exhibitors, representing a 5.6 per cent year-on-year increase in visitor
attendance. And some great Irish brands were in attendance, discussing knowledge and innovations in the Irish manufacturing sector. To mark the opening of the exhibition, address from Chris McDonald, Minister for Industry in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT). McDonald discussed the importance of manufacturing and engineering to the UK economy, as well as the role of innovation in driving future growth. This set the tone for the event, with visitors
able to engage directly with exhibitors and assess options for future investment. Several exhibitors exhibitor MPE Electronics, which showcased its high-reliability contract electronics manufacturing services across PCB assembly and full box build. Newbury Electronics also attracted strong interest by demonstrating its fully in-house, end-to-end electronics manufacturing capability, showing how integrated design, fabrication, assembly and testing supports requirements across multiple sectors. Alongside this, major names including Sony, Panasonic, Matsuura and Mazak were also on the
attracted a number of attendees, featuring a full schedule of free-to-attend, CPD-accredited sessions delivered across two theatres. Sessions explored topics including digital transformation, supply chain resilience, sustainability, process optimisation and advanced manufacturing, with an emphasis on practical insight and real-world implementation. Among the speakers was Stephen Phipson, CEO of Make UK, who delivered an overview of the manufacturing landscape. His presentation examined the pressures facing UK manufacturers, alongside the opportunities available to SMEs through innovation and long-term investment. Over the three days, visitors also heard from
and helped to position Southern Manufacturing as the go-to meeting place for the UK’s manufacturing and engineering community. Visitor Andre Oliveira, from McLaren Automotive, said, “I’ve had some really good conversations, I managed to get what I needed by speaking directly with suppliers and seeing their capabilities. Trade shows are important, because there’s sometimes a gap in know-how when it comes to properly transferring knowledge and information.” “We’re currently looking at a revamp of our tool room, so I attended the show to see what new machining platforms are available,” commented another visitor Jarrett Cowell, Manufacturing Services Manager at Rolls-Royce “Trade shows are a good opportunity to see all of these companies in one place, otherwise doing it throughout the year would be really heavy on us.”
What’s more, the seminar programme 38 January/February 2026 Irish Manufacturing
speakers representing leading organisations including Siemens, Rolls-Royce, Renishaw, Airbus and Sourceability, alongside a range of technical specialists and solution providers. “This year’s event really showed the appetite across the industry for practical, solutions-focused Director at Easyfairs, the organiser of Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2026. “Our aim has always been to create an event that delivers genuine value, whether that’s through hands-on access to suppliers, expert insight from the seminar programme or the opportunity to assess new solutions in one place. The feedback we received over the three days shows that Southern Manufacturing & Electronics supports informed decision-making across the sector.”
https://www.southern-
manufacturing-electronics.com/en/
www.irish-manufacturing.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40
