Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, the UK's premier annual trade fair serving both the mechanical and electronic engineering sectors, returns to the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre from 3rd to 5th February 2026. The show attracted 10,204 visitors last time, marking a 14% increase compared to 2024, while the exhibitor count grew by an impressive 12% to 535 companies. Celebrating its 28th anniversary this year, the international expo is on course to see even stronger visitor attendance and exhibitor participation, according to Easyfairs, the owner and organiser of the event.
For mechanical engineers, Southern is one of the year’s most important showcases of high technology for the shop floor. Machine tool companies and providers of tooling and quick-change workholding solutions will be present in force, along with suppliers of solutions for additive manufacturing, inspection and measurement, and automation. The presence of equipment for component finishing, cleaning and surface treatment will allow visitors to research an entire production process, from beginning to end. There will be subcontract service suppliers around the hall offering everything from sheet metalworking and fabrication, to metal cutting and plastic machining, to 3D printing and metrology.
For electronic engineers, the show is packed with practical, production-ready solutions, offering a rare chance to investigate the journey from bare printed circuit board to finished product under one roof. Visitors will find that surface mount technology specialists will be bringing modular platforms designed for high-mix, medium-volume work and the systems will feature both high throughput and agility. With these modern cells, the emphasis is on reducing set-up times and allowing operators to manage more machines simultaneously. The exhibition also accommodates a huge array of electronic components, electro-mechanical assemblies, design and box build services, and more.
While the event maintains a core focus on mechanical and electrical/electronic engineering, it also features the wider industrial support sector. Companies will be offering manufacturing and business software, flooring, guarding and workstations, consumables and packaging. Suppliers of generic products like plastic injection and rubber mouldings will be in attendance alongside companies specialising in a huge variety of controls, displays, HMIs, data acquisition systems, sensors, drives, encoders, fasteners, pressings, wire forms, springs and gaskets. Attendees will also find exhibitors providing financial advice, legal services and business consultancy.
Central to the show's offering is its free CPD-accredited seminar programmes, with sessions taking place throughout the three days. Additionally, integrated into Southern Manufacturing & Electronics is AutoAero, a specialised segment focusing on suppliers to the UK’s aerospace and automotive engineering sectors.
Doors open daily at 9:30 am and close at 4.30 pm, although there is an earlier finish at 4.00 pm on the final day. There is ample free car parking and a regular, complimentary bus service running between the showground and the two local railway stations, Farnborough Main and North Camp. Admission to the exhibition is also free; register today for your pass
