New line boosts surface-mount capacity

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Sep 2, 2002

Speedboard has installed a new flexible Siemens surface mount line at its Windsor site to extend assembly capacity.

Speedboard has installed a new flexible Siemens surface mount line at its Windsor site to extend assembly capacity.

The investment comes at a time when other assembly manufacturers are experiencing a reduction in business and a squeeze on margins.

In contrast, Speedboard Managing Director Richard Watson is confident of his need for additional capability based on a comprehensive analysis of the future needs of his customer base.

"In fact, the new line is already operational assembling a new product for an existing customer", he notes.

The new SM line comprises one Siemens 80F and two SiPlace 80S flexible mounters, supported by a DEK 265 screen printer and an inline oven.

Capable of handling BGAs, 0402s and QFP devices up to 55mm2 in size, the line delivers a placement throughput of 50,000 components per hour.

In adding to the SM capability at Speedboard, it takes the total number of fully automated lines to five, using 12 SMD machines and giving a total placement capacity of 150,000 components per hour.

Speedboard is unusual as a CEM in having full PCB manufacturing capabilities.

Some customers use one service, others use both, but the advantage to Speedboard has less to do with offering a full service than the management visibility gained across the two sectors.

Watson explains: "While the two services operate as independent business units, the expertise and knowledge base is shared.

This allows us to tailor our resources and optimise our services.

For instance, a customer purchasing only PCBs from Speedboard receives a superior product that benefits from our knowledge of the requirements of the subsequent assembly process - even though we're not assembling it".

Such process visibility, coupled with close business relationships with customers, helps Watson to confidently drive Speedboard's commercial decisions - the latest manifestation being the investment in the new Siemens line to increase assembly capacity.