Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Micam
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 23 May 2002
Irish manufacturer bucks Far East trend
One of the leading European manufacturers of printed circuit boards and specialist laminates Micam is based in Ireland, employs 80 people and had a turnover of Eur 8 million in 2001.
One of the leading European manufacturers of printed circuit boards and specialist laminates Micam is based in Ireland, employs 80 people and had a turnover of Eur 8 million in 2001 Products manufactured by the company are supplied to customers throughout the world
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 10 Apr 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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Against a trend of product outsourcing to the Far East within the printed circuit board industry, the company has made significant investment in screen printed circuit board manufacturing.
This technology is targeted at medium to high volume single and double sided circuits for consumer applications where a combination of quality and cost are vital as well as the ability to respond very rapidly to changing demand.
The strategy adopted by Micam was to gain competitive advantage against Far East competition via investment in automation and lean manufacturing techniques.
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Through a combination of competitiveness and flexibility Micam is currently persuading customers to reverse their previous decisions to source printed circuit boards outside Europe.
Micam has the ability to manufacture PCBs with fine track and gap details as a result of investment in automatic screen-printing flow-line technology.
The key design features that ensure accuracy, quality, efficiency, and consistency throughout the manufacturing system are automatic optical registration of prints and the controlled cleanroom environment of the flow-line that eliminates handling throughout the print operations.
High volume production generally involves punching and Micam uses an advanced fine piercing system based on Japanese technology.
This system allows close pitch holes to be punched and ensures consistent hole to conductor pattern alignment.
For sample quantities, or lower volume orders, drilling/routing is normally the preferred manufacturing method.
A CNC drill and rout facility enables the company to provide a fast service in this area.
Any design changes can be rapidly incorporated.
Micam's quality systems are subject to frequent and stringent internal audits, customer audits and third party audits as part of the company approval to quality standards.
Product reliability is checked at each process.
Automatic electrical testing means that product reliability can be assured which enables customers to adopt a ship-to-line policy with confidence.
This strategy to supply the market requirement for cost effective products without loss of service has been implemented by Kevin O'Connor, Micam's Operations Director who was previously employed by Sony and Mark Westaway, Manufacturing Manager ex Philips, at one stage Europe's largest manufacturer of circuits.
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