Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2019, held last month, achieved a new record attendance according to figures recently released by the organisers.

The show received a total of 8,644 visitors — an increase of around 13% on the previous year — and around 800 companies took part, occupying all the available exhibition space in the recently opened 20,000m2 Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

The show is billed as the “most comprehensive annual industrial exhibition in the UK”; it is a major showcase for new technology in machinery, production equipment, electronic production and assembly, tooling and components, as well as sub-contract services across a wide range of industrial sectors.

Visitor statistics revealed a significant increase this year in the number of visitors from the medical-equipment, pharmaceutical and metal-processing sectors, although the largest increase was in visitors from the rail and public transport sector, which leapt tenfold compared to 2018.

Among the exhibiting firms, bookings from non-UK companies increased by 26% over 2018, indicating continued confidence in the UK manufacturing sector, despite the current uncertainties.

Exit polls revealed that visitor interests remained broadly consistent with previous years, but with interest in assembly systems, automation and robotics, machine tools, tooling and inspection systems all showing positive growth.

There was also heightened interest in the full range of sub-contract services present at the show, including contract electronics manufacturing, fabrication, machining, laser processing and plastics.

Southern Manufacturing & Electronics 2020 will take place at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre from 11 to 13 February next year, and admission to the show is free.

More information can be found at the Web site (www.industrysouth.co.uk).