Product category:
Electronics Manufacturing Services
News Release from: Gemini Group
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 21 December 2005
Board maker returns to business after
fire
Gemini Circuits is recovering from a devastating fire at its Aldershot PCB production facility.
It was 0400 GMT in Aldershot on Monday 25th November What should have been an ordinary nightshift at the Gemini Circuits PCB production facility turned out to be anything but
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 8 Nov 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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The shift ended abruptly, and dramatically, when a production operator discovered a chemical fire.
The alarm was sounded.
But the blaze spread quickly and fire soon engulfed the whole factory as well as threatening the neighbouring CEM facility.
Soon fire crews arrived at the scene.
Some 45 firefighters with eight appliances worked for hours to bring the blaze under control.
Even so, the local industrial estate was evacuated for the whole morning, until a change in wind direction helped in making the area safe for businesses again.
And the two companies' contingency planning paid off handsomely.
Despite the significant scale of the disruption, IT, communications and engineering systems were back, up and running the next working day, at a remote facility and production deliveries were being made within 72 hours of the fire.
Sales Manager, Adam Harsant, praised the emergency services.
"In many ways we were lucky".
"Nobody was hurt in the fire and the emergency services fought hard to contain the blaze".
"What's more our suppliers and strategic partners have swung in to action as planned meaning that most customers will not even be aware that there has been a problem".
"Where some slight effect has been experienced, these customers' supplies will be back to normal within 2 weeks at the most".
The two factories housing Gemini Circuits and Gemini Technologies were on a 24/7 shift pattern following wins of substantial new business and a growth in business levels.
Managing Director, David Harsant, was upbeat: "We are committed to rebuilding our operation, but taking advantage of the opportunity to do so employing even higher levels of technology and sophistication than before".
"We would like to stay in the area, because this is where we have grown up as a business over the last 30 years".
"However, much depends upon the availability of a suitable location for our new factory, which we are already planning".
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