Southern Manufacturing and Electronics exhibition preview

Recent data from the UK Purchasing Managers Index' shows UK manufacturing is rebounding strongly from the effects of recession. Record breaking preregistrations and stand sales at this year's Southern Electronics Show appear to show tangible evidence of growing confidence in the UK's electronics sector. Show director Phil Valentine said the level of interest in the 2011 show had taken the organiser by surprise. "We were hopeful of another successful year," he said, "but the level of interest has been unprecedented, forcing us to add more floor area for 2011." The number of exhibitors for the combined Southern Manufacturing and Electronics shows is set to exceed 600 for the first time. Valentine noted: "Overall, the 2011 show will be the largest ever staged and, with around 50% more exhibitors at Southern Electronics, a large percentage of that increase has come from electronics related suppliers." Colocation with Southern Manufacturing and with specialist precision engineering show Auto Aero means visitors can meet a wide range of suppliers in a short time. Together, the shows cover the spectrum of design and production: from the simplest connector to the most sophisticated machine tools. Southern Electronics also provides an opportunity for visitors to broaden their knowledge via its free technical seminar programme. Running over two days, the seminar programme will addresses a variety of topics. For example, Bob Willis of the SMART Group will host a session looking at the design, assembly and rework of land grid arrayquad flat no lead components, while Peter Grundy – also from SMART Group –will examine how electronics businesses can employ lean techniques effectively to improve efficiency. Experts from the Manufacturing Advisory Service will present sessions on successful product development and improving teamwork within your operation. For 2011, there is a feature on emerging technologies, highlighting areas where the UK's expertise in the field of advanced semiconductors is leading the world in marine, medical, computing, communications and the aerospace/defence sectors. Many of these applications will be on display and visitors to the area will be welcomed by The Robot Thespian – a humanoid robot presenter and highly appropriate host. Southern Manufacturing & Electronics takes place at FIVE Farnborough on 16 and 17 February. To register, visit www.industry.co.uk or call 01784 880 890. You can also keep track of all the latest announcements from the show by following the official blog at blog.industrysouth.co.uk Portable memory tokens from Nexus GB allow embedded system designers to incorporate memory devices into their designs. They differ in form factor from SD cards and USB flash drives. This means tokens can't plug into an unadapted pc or system, protecting data on the token, nor can consumer devices plug into the OEM system, reducing unauthorised accesses. Nexus: visit www.nexusgb.co.uk Stand 341 DEM Manufacturing has designed a series of aluminium enclosures that can withstand prolonged immersion in water. Units conform to IP68 and can be immersed at 5m for one hour. They are ideal for marine, transport, leisure andindustrial food preparation, where they meet the 'washdown' requirements. DEM Manufacturing: visit www.dem-uk.com Stand 328 Eurocircuits will launch two machines intended for prototype and small batch pcb production. Together, they are said to open the door to high quality soldering of surface mount assemblies without the need for any major investment. The first machine, for fast solder paste printing, uses Eurocircuit's low cost laser cut stainless stencils. Magnetic location, combined with supports, makes it possible to print on the second side of a board that already carries components. The second device is a reflow soldering machine. Eurocircuits: visit www.eurocircuits.com stand H29 ETA Circuit Breakers says if you can't find exactly the circuit breaker you want for your application, then it can design and manufacture bespoke systems. Standard unit range in size from units to protect sensitive electronic equipment to major units built into power distribution grids. Products are approved to national and international standards by leading test authorities, including VDE, UL, CSA and CCC. ETA Circuit Breakers: visit www.e-t-a.co.uk Stand 336 A range of connectors for use in Zone 2 and Zone 22 hazardous environments will be unveiled by Bulgin Components. The parts are manufactured from a tough polycarbonate material and sealed to IP68, providing protection from the most severe dust and water borne conditions. Seal to IP 68 standards is achieved as soon as the locking ring is tightened, with no supplementary sealing being required. The connectors are available in 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10 pole variants. Four body styles can be specified: cable; in line cable; panel; and flange fixing. Bulgin: visit www.bulgin.co.uk Stand D37 The latest addition to Harting's range are space saving pcb connectors intended for use in a wide range of board to board and board to cable applications. In addition to straight connector models, the product family also includes compatible insulation displacement connectors, along with angled models. Harting: visit www.harting.com Stand C72 Controlled Speed will be exhibiting what it claims to be the first fully dimmable led lighting driver. Previously, led lighting could only be dimmed flicker free to 10%, which precluded the solution being used in many applications. This technology has been taken from concept to delivery in three months, conceived as part of a drive to develop energy efficient and environmentally friendly lighting. Controlled Speed: visit www.controlledspeed.co.uk Stand D1 EAO is introducing CAN bus keypads for vehicle and engine monitoring systems as part of its 2011 product expansion. The range includes a micro display sealed to 1P67 which is suitable for use as a virtual gauge, a vehicle diagnostics display or a service indicator. Also new are 25.5 mm diameter back lit stop switches. Only 18.9mm deep, the parts are said to be suited to applications where space is limited. In addition, there are control panel cooling systems that offer higher static pressure and airflow, lower noise levels combined with up to 30% less power consumption. EAO: visit www.eao.com Stand H25 If you need expert advice on protecting intellectual property (IP) rights, brand or product designs, then help is available from RGC Jenkins, a UK and European patent and trademark attorney and a certified patent, trademark and design litigator. The company has experience in manufacturing, electronics, telecoms, aviation, pharmaceuticals and medical, as well as consumer goods. All aspects of IP protection are covered, including the maintenance and enforcement of IP assets in the UK and internationally. RGC Jenkins: visit www.jenkins.eu Stand N2 Components Bureau will be supporting its supplier Iskra. "We enjoy a very productive relationship with Iskra and feel Southern Manufacturing presents a superb opportunity for our existing and potential customers to see the company at first hand," explains Components Bureau's commercial manager Andrew Ferrier. "Iskra has a well deserved reputation for quality and efficiency and we have worked hard together to deliver on capacitor lead times." Based in Slovenia, Iskra will be a familiar name to many in the electronics industry; the brand having been in existence for more than 50 years. Components Bureau sources, coordinates and manages production of components and products for all sectors of the UK electronics industry. Iskra/Components Bureau: visit www.iskra-mis.si