Africa’s manufacturing conference and expo returns to Sandton, Johannesburg on 13–14 July 2027 for two days of industrial policy, technology and B2B dealmaking.
Dates
13–14 Jul 2027
City / country
Johannesburg, South Africa
Venue
Sandton Convention Centre
Event overview
Manufacturing Indaba 2027 brings Africa’s manufacturers, policymakers, investors and technology suppliers to the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg for two days of conference debate and exhibition. The 14th edition focuses on localisation, industrial policy, AI and automation, green manufacturing and trade under AfCFTA.
Buyers can meet component makers, machinery suppliers and industrial service firms, while exhibitors reach decision-makers from South African corporates, development agencies and government. A free visitor pass covers the exhibition and workshops; conference delegates add the full programme and B2B Connect meetings.
TL;DR
Visit to compare production technology, meet African component and service suppliers, and hear how policy, energy and trade rules are shifting. The free exhibition pass suits procurement and plant teams; conference delegates get structured B2B meetings and direct access to government and industry leaders.
Exhibit to reach manufacturers, industrial buyers, financiers and public-sector decision-makers in one Sandton venue. The show’s B2B Connect programme creates pre-arranged meetings, and the conference audience spans plant managers, procurement leads, investors and policymakers evaluating localisation and automation.
Attendees, exhibitors & solutions
Visitor profile
Typical attendee groups you can expect to meet.
Exhibitor profile
Main supplier and exhibitor segments present at the show.
Product categories
Key solution areas showcased across the event.
Location & Facilities
Sandton Convention Centre, 161 Maude Street, Sandown, Sandton, 2196, Johannesburg, South Africa
Entrances & gates
Maude Street main entrance
Primary visitor and delegate entrance; have registration confirmation ready.
Food options
On-site café and coffee outlets, Sandton City dining district
On-site diningParking: Use the Sandton City and convention-centre parking decks; enter from Maude Street or the Sandton City precinct and allow 10 minutes to walk to the main entrance. Parking is pay-on-foot.
Gate: The main entrance is on Maude Street; delegates should follow signage to the registration concourse on the lower level.
Attend
Exhibition visitor pass
Free entry to the exhibition and exhibition workshops; registration required.
Ticket info
Badge collection
Bring the registration confirmation and a photo ID to the visitor registration desk on the lower concourse.
Ticket notes
Exhibition visitor registration is free and required. Conference delegate registration is separate and paid; 2027 application forms open soon.
What's on
How the last edition performed
Last edition
2026
Edition #: 13
This edition
2027
Visitors: 6,118
Exhibitors: 163
Next edition
2028
No 2028 edition has been announced. The annual July cycle points to a return to the Sandton Convention Centre in mid-July 2028.
Edition recap
The 13th Manufacturing Indaba concluded at the Sandton Convention Centre after two days of conference sessions, exhibition activity and B2B meetings under the theme “Made in Africa: Scaling Growth and Shaping Trade”.
Impact
Manufacturing Indaba matters because it puts industrial buyers, plant operators and policymakers in one venue while South Africa debates localisation, energy security and AfCFTA implementation. For a supplier, two days in Sandton can compress months of relationship-building with manufacturers, development agencies and financiers. For a buyer, the exhibition is a compact scan of machinery, automation and service options rather than a continent-wide search.
Audience quality
The audience is senior and purpose-driven: manufacturers, procurement and supply-chain leads, investors, government officials and technology providers. The free exhibition pass widens the top of the funnel, while paid conference registration and B2B Connect concentrate serious buyers. Expect a South African core with African development-agency and regional trade participation; non-African visitors are a smaller but strategic segment.
Exhibitor outcomes
ROI depends on meeting quality rather than raw footfall. Exhibitors selling machinery, automation, energy or industrial services should pre-book B2B Connect meetings and target plant-level buyers; a 9 sqm stand is enough to test the market, while 18–36 sqm suits live equipment. Track meetings, quotes and pipeline, not badge scans alone, and follow up within five working days.
Intelligence
Key market insights, trends, news and related events to help you understand the bigger picture.
Why it matters
South Africa anchors African manufacturing, and Johannesburg concentrates its corporate headquarters, industrial suppliers, banks and policy bodies. The indaba connects that base to the rest of the continent at a moment when localisation, energy security and AfCFTA implementation are reshaping supply chains.
Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.
Localisation and resilient regional supply chains
Manufacturers are being pushed to source more components locally and regionally, reducing exposure to import delays and currency swings while meeting public procurement expectations.
What it changes: Suppliers with verified local content and reliable delivery can win contracts previously filled by imports.
AI, automation and the smart factory
Robotics, machine vision, digital twins and AI-assisted planning are moving from pilot projects into mainstream plant operations, including mid-sized manufacturers.
What it changes: Technology vendors can position modular, payback-driven systems rather than large upfront transformations.
Energy security and green manufacturing
Electricity reliability, on-site generation, energy efficiency and lower-carbon production dominate boardroom decisions and export compliance planning.
What it changes: Energy and sustainability solutions have a direct cost and market-access case for African manufacturers.
A compact southern African circuit for manufacturers, energy suppliers and infrastructure buyers around the Johannesburg show.
Automation Day 2026
Johannesburg, South Africa
Held the day after Manufacturing Indaba 2026 at the same venue; 2027 date not announced.
websiteAfrica Energy Indaba 2027
Cape Town, South Africa
Indicative dates from the annual March cycle; confirm before booking.
websiteInfrastructure Africa 2027
Cape Town, South Africa
Indicative June dates from the annual cycle; confirm before booking.
websiteQ1 energy
Cape Town, March.
Q2 infrastructure
Cape Town, June.
Q3 manufacturing
Johannesburg, July.
Circuit dates are indicative annual-cycle estimates; only Manufacturing Indaba dates were confirmed on the official site.
Plan your trip
Choose from the following airports, with convenient access to the event and venue.
O. R. Tambo International Airport
Main international gateway; Gautrain connects the airport to Sandton station.
about 30 km
to venue
30–45 minutes
by car
Lanseria International Airport
Smaller alternative for some domestic and regional flights; allow extra road time.
about 45 km
to venue
50–70 minutes
by car
A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.
USD 55–85 / night
Clean business hotels a short ride or 15–25 minute walk from the venue; rates are estimates for July 2027.
USD 100–160 / night
Connected to or beside Sandton City and within walking distance of the convention centre.
USD 180–300 / night
Five-star and upper-upscale options near the Gautrain station and Maude Street.
Get around the city with these convenient transport options.
Gautrain
Fastest fixed-rail option; Sandton station is a 5–10 minute walk from the venue.
Ride-hail
Uber and Bolt are widely used; short CBD trips are inexpensive outside peak traffic.
Plan your trip
Check the latest visa requirements and entry guidelines before travelling.
Many UK, EU, US, Canadian and Australian passport holders can enter South Africa visa-free for short business visits, but rules change by nationality. Check the Department of Home Affairs list before booking and carry proof of purpose, accommodation and onward travel.
A valid ATA carnet can simplify temporary import of exhibition goods; confirm the South African customs procedure with the freight forwarder.
Official visa pageWeather
July is mid-winter in Johannesburg: dry, sunny days around 18–21°C but cold mornings and evenings near 3–6°C. Low rainfall; the Highveld air is dry.
Plan for the climate
Check temperatures and pack accordingly
Venue connectivity
Mobile data is widely available; buy a local prepaid SIM or eSIM. The venue and major hotels provide Wi-Fi, but exhibition Wi-Fi can be congested.
Ride-hailing
Taxis
Public transit
Car rentals
Useful information to help you have a smooth and respectful visit.
Greetings and pace
A handshake and a few minutes of personal greeting are normal in South African business meetings; rushing straight to the agenda can feel abrupt.
Tipping and payments
Tip 10–15% in restaurants and add a small amount for porters. Card payments are common in Sandton, but keep some rand for tips and informal transport.
Practical guides
Everything needed to arrive prepared, navigate the event, and make the visit productive.
Destination: JNB — O. R. Tambo International Airport
Book 8–12 weeks ahead for July school holidays. Allow 90 minutes for immigration and baggage, then 30–45 minutes by road or the Gautrain to Sandton.
Book flightsVisa rules depend on nationality. Many Western and Southern African passport holders enter visa-free for short business visits; others need a visitor visa before travel.
Estimated cost: USD 40–90 if a visa is required
Processing: Typically 10–20 working days
Apply before booking non-refundable travel. Carry an invitation letter, hotel confirmation and return ticket.
OfficialPartnerGet to the venue and around the city with these options.
Airport → venue: Gautrain from O. R. Tambo to Sandton station, then a 5–10 minute walk or short ride-hail; taxi 30–45 minutes.
Hotel → venue: Most Sandton CBD hotels are a 5–20 minute walk; use ride-hail after dark.
Ride-hail: Uber and Bolt operate across Johannesburg; airport pickups use the designated ride-hail zone.
Public transit: Gautrain connects the airport, Sandton, Rosebank and central Johannesburg; buses and minibus taxis cover local routes but are less convenient for visitors.
Parking: Paid parking in the Sandton City and convention-centre decks; pre-book hotel parking if driving.
Plan and pack for the event climate.
Month: July
Temperature: 3–21°C
Seasonality: Dry winter with low rainfall; cold mornings and evenings.
Packing: Bring a warm jacket, layers for cold mornings and comfortable shoes for the exhibition floor; daytime sun can still be strong.
Plan your trip
Best day to visit: Day 1 — Tuesday 13 July 2027
The opening day carries the keynote and policy panels, when senior buyers and officials are most likely to be present. Day 2 is better for repeat stand visits and quieter supplier discussions.
Book flights and confirm visa or entry requirements — Use JNB and allow a buffer before the opening day.
Reserve a Sandton hotel and airport transfer — Sandton CBD hotels fill for July; choose a cancellable rate.
Register for the free exhibition pass — Print or save the confirmation and carry photo ID.
Shortlist exhibitors and request B2B meetings — Prioritise six stands and two conference sessions.
Check the programme, weather and route to the venue — Layers for cold mornings; Gautrain or ride-hail to Sandton station.
Registration and coffee in the exhibition concourse
Sandton Convention Centre main entranceConference keynote and policy panel
Main conference hallSupplier meetings on automation and components
Exhibition floorB2B Connect meetings and follow-up calls
B2B Connect loungeSoweto and Apartheid Museum
Half-Day Cultural History
About 45–60 minutes from Sandton
Understand South Africa’s industrial and political history with a guided visit.
Cradle of Humankind
Full-Day UNESCO Site
About 1.5 hours from Sandton
A easy add-on for first-time visitors with a free day.
B2B Connect lounge
Official matchmaking
Best for pre-arranged buyer meetings; bring a charged phone and cards.
Sandton City rooftop restaurants
Evening networking
Walkable from the venue and convenient for small group dinners.
Manufacturing sales cycles are long and multi-stakeholder. Fast, specific follow-up keeps the show conversation alive after the delegate returns to the plant.
Budget
Shell scheme
ZAR 3800–5500 / m²
Raw space
ZAR 2200–3500 / m²
Standard booth
9 m²
No 2027 tariff was published. Bands are estimates based on comparable South African industrial exhibitions and exclude VAT, furniture hire and electrical extras.
sourceAdjust the inputs below to create a directional event budget.
This is a directional estimate. Please verify live rates before booking.
Official cost items and estimated ranges for exhibitors.
shell_scheme
exhibitor · standard
USD 1800–2700 / per sqm
hotel
visitor · mid
USD 100–160 / per night
| Item | For | Tier | Estimated range | Status | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| shell_scheme | exhibitor | standard | USD 1800–2700 / per sqm | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
| hotel | visitor | mid | USD 100–160 / per night | estimate | 2026-10-31 |
Decision
Six quick questions to choose between visiting, exhibiting or skipping Manufacturing Indaba 2027.
QUESTION 1 OF 6
Which best describes your organisation?
Compare participation options side by side to choose the best fit for your objectives.
visit
You have specific supplier categories to compare and can attend at least one full day.
Best for
Manufacturers and procurement teams sourcing equipment, components or services
Min. budget
$1,500.00
Timeline
2–4 weeks
Risks
Crowded programme
Travel cost
exhibit
You can pre-book B2B meetings and staff the stand with decision-makers.
Best for
Suppliers with a defined African pipeline and a stand budget
Min. budget
$12,000.00
Timeline
3–6 months
Risks
Stand and freight cost
Long sales cycle
skip
Your sector is unrelated and you cannot act on leads within six months.
Best for
Buyers with no manufacturing remit or no capacity to follow up
Timeline
Not applicable
Risks
Missing policy signals
Book with
Sandton Convention Centre
Johannesburg’s principal convention and exhibition venue, hosting the conference and expo in Sandton.
Venue named on the official event site; not presented as a sponsor.
South African Airways
National carrier with domestic and regional connections through Johannesburg.
Useful travel provider for route planning; not an announced event partner.
Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry
Business chamber representing Johannesburg companies and connecting them to trade and investment networks.
Relevant local business body; partnership not confirmed.
The Manufacturing Circle
South African manufacturing industry body that engages on industrial policy and competitiveness.
Relevant industry association; partnership not confirmed.
Recommended providers
Check South African visa requirements by nationality before applying.
Filter for Sandton CBD and free cancellation.
Book JNB flights 8–12 weeks ahead; compare Gulf and African carriers.
Use a customs broker for temporary import and ATA carnet handling.
Arrange business travel and public liability cover; confirm exhibition cover.
Book Soweto or Cradle of Humankind tours with a reputable operator.
Export leads to CSV and record consent for POPIA compliance.
FAQs & glossary
Frequently asked
Glossary
Also known as
Alternate names and search phrases for this event.
6 more alternate names hidden
Trust footer
5
References
2
Publishers
5
Date checked
Manufacturing Indaba
African News Agency
Display a free company card at your booth, or share your professional card on the show floor.
