Northern Manufacturing & Electronics 2015

Northern Manufacturing & Electronics returns to EventCity, Manchester from September 30th to October 1st 2015. Judging by the impressive exhibitor list for this year”s show, visitors seem to be set for another busy couple of days.

The show, the partner event to the well-established Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, has rapidly established itself as the number one event in the North for industrial technology. The quantity and variety of electronics vendors taking part this year results in an extremely wide appeal and makes it possible for visitors to address a wide variety of production issues in one visit. Within one show, it’s possible to find PCB makers, component distributors, enclosure specialists, CEMS, test equipment manufacturers, designers and even patent lawyers amidst many others. This opportunity to cover a lot of ground with extreme efficiency is one of its greatest attractions. Its location near to the heart of Manchester renders it easily accessible by public transport, road or air and in easy reach of a huge swathe of electronics companies across the North, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Eire.

A brand new feature for Northern Manufacturing & Electronics 2015, RoadRailAir, will emphasise the region’s significant supply chain strengths in the automotive, public transport and aerospace manufacturing sectors. The aerospace industry in the North West alone contributes over £7bn to the UK economy annually. But this is only one aspect of the North’s very dynamic manufacturing sector; a sector that also boasts some of the most innovative electronics firms in the land.

As a marketplace for components and OEM parts of all kinds, Northern Manufacturing & Electronics is unequalled in the region. The variety of products on show is massive. Some of the noteworthy names include LCL Electronics, Lemo, BAE Systems, European Circuits, Henkel, MagDev and PACE Europe. However, components are just part of a much more substantial event. As well as an extensive cross-section of the UK Electronics sector, there is a wide selection of associated products and services from general industry, such as sheet metal work, consumables and production equipment. This gives the show a distinctive profile and helps ensure visitors a productive and rewarding day. In total, around 250 firms are expected to participate, ranging from major global manufacturers to regional specialists.

Some of the other popular attractions include robotics & automation, sensors, enclosures, 3D printing, test equipment, optical inspection, hand tools, storage and lots of others. Technology trails guide visitors around the event, making it possible for them to make the most effective use of time at the show. Subcontract services presented include PCB makers, electronic assembly, sub-contract manufacturing, tool making and production equipment. The show also features numerous big-name machinery manufacturers such as Amada, Bystronic, Trumpf and Haas Automation giving live demonstrations throughout the two-day event.

With just about every facet of manufacturing and industrial technology on show, the event offers the perfect setting for a wide-ranging series of seminars delivered by noted industry figures. Each free, hour-long workshop gives attendees a opportunity to hear experts examine concepts and ideologies encompassing a broad variety of manufacturing, electronics and business-relevant topics.

The North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) is the key group for the aerospace manufacturing sector in the North West, and its Chief Executive, Dr. David Bailey, will introduce one of the keynote sessions of the 2015 programme, entitled Technology Opportunities and Challenges in the Aerospace Supply Chain.

Wayne Kite of Stanford Marsh will deliver an outline of the emerging innovation of 3D Printing plus some case studies illustrating practical ideas on how it could be implemented in virtually boundless applications in production. Alistair Williamson of Lucid Innovation will examine how additive manufacturing is quite literally forming the long-term future of manufacturing across a broad array of industries, from food & drink, to aerospace and medical technology.

Originality is fundamental in manufacturing industry. Alistair Williamson holds a second session evaluating the development process, from spotting opportunity and market analysis all the way through to effectual prototyping and design. Peter Roberts, a Chartered Patent Attorney with Marks & Clerk LLP, will identify the right way to increase revenue on R&D investment by harvesting and defending product designs.

Ailsa Kaye of Onsite Insights offers a closer view at best practice in manufacturing, illustrating principles in invention, design, cost-efficiency and realisation from world-class businesses, showing practical ideas on how these are able to be utilised in any firm to boost competitive advantage. Tim Scurlock of Automotive Lean Consulting will take a realistic look at how Lean methods can be exercised to strengthen manufacturing efficiency. Mike Foster of the CE Marking Association looks at the latest legal environment impacting manufacturers.

The Salford and Trafford Engineering Group Training Association, STEGTA, has been helping businesses and young people into apprenticeship programmes since 1966 and is recognised by Ofsted as one of the leading education providers in the country. John Whitby and Ian Parker of STEGTA will explain how apprentice schemes are able to support your business and provide an synopsis of government-endorsed training schemes.

Entrance to Northern Manufacturing & Electronics 2015 is free to business visitors, and EventCity provides 3000 free on-site car parking spaces, with easy accessibility by road or public transport. To register online for free tickets, simply visit www.industrynorth.co.uk  Visitors can follow all the latest news from the show on Twitter by following @industry_co_uk #northmanf, or on its blog page at http://blog.industrynorth.co.uk