Southern show brings the mountain to Mohammed

On February 19th, when the doors open on the first ever Southern Electronics at Thorpe Park, it will be to an exhibition staged specifically for electronics manufacturers in the South of England.

On February 19th, when the doors open on the first ever Southern Electronics at Thorpe Park, it will be to an exhibition staged specifically for electronics manufacturers in the South of England.

Thorpe Park is the ideal venue for the show, it offers easy access to the M25 and ample free parking.

Visitors will see over 160 companies displaying products and services relevant to the electronics industry.

The three main planks of the industry will be represented - production machinery, components and contract assembly.

Two main factors underpin the decision to launch the new show.

First, the pressure on management and engineers' time has never been greater.

For many, the six hour round trip to a national event is no longer an option.

Yet, the fact remains that manufacturers need an exhibition more than ever.

In today's global electronics market competition is fierce - especially from the Far East.

Keeping abreast of new ideas and technology is essential for survival.

Only by applying the latest production and design concepts can a manufacturer hope to drive prices down in order to remain competitive in a world market.

The fact remains that there is simply no better alternative to assessing so many new products, ideas and innovations in so short a time as an exhibition.

If an exhibition is a crucial element in long-term survival, but the time is just not available to travel back and forth, then there is only one logical solution.

If the visitor can't go to the exhibition then the exhibition must go to the visitor.

And, that is the fundamental premise behind the new regional electronics exhibition.

The second crucial factor is determining a successful regional event is that there must be a "critical mass" in terms of visitors within one hours drive of the venue.

ETES, the exhibition organiser has 10 years experience of staging regional engineering events.

Visitor analysis shows that around 80% of visitors come from the one hour drive zone.

There's little virtue in having a regional show without a regional audience.

Undoubtedly, some visitors will travel further, but without that core market a regional show will not succeed.

The demographics of the electronics industry in the South show that the majority of companies, especially the M4 corridor, fall within that one-hour drive time of Thorpe Park.

For those electing to use public transport there is a free courtesy bus service from Staines station.

It's about 10 minutes to Thorpe Park.

Every supplier wants to offer "added value" to its customers.

Exhibition organisers are no exception.

Along side the new Southern Electronics will be the established Southern Manufacturing.

Here there will be many exhibitors also of interest to electronics companies.

There are many common denominators between all manufacturing plants whatever the end product be it electronics, aerospace components or food processing.

All factories need a secure structure, sealed floors, heating, utilities such as power and compressed air.

All factories need IT, logistics, materials handling, management and production control systems.

Most need some form of CAD/CAM and automation technology.

All of these and more will be found in Southern Manufacturing.

Next on the added value list is the Manufacturing Networking Conference organised by the Manufacturing Advisory Service and part-funded by DTI.

It will be the biggest event of its kind ever seen in the South East.

Finally there's the free technical seminar programme.

This has highly topical sessions directed at the electronics industry such as the thorny issue of European legislation on electronic recycling - and where the liability lies.

Other topics not directly electronics, but definitely worth finding out more about, include MIM or metal injection moulding.

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