Electronic Assembly Services Ltd – A Leading Provider of Electronic Manufacturing Services

Introduction

Electronic Assembly Services Ltd (EASL) is a leading electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider based in the United Kingdom. The company specializes in providing end-to-end manufacturing solutions for electronic products and assemblies across various industries including automotive, medical devices, industrial equipment and consumer electronics.

With over 30 years of experience, EASL has established itself as a trusted partner for many leading OEMs and technology companies in Europe. The company’s comprehensive solutions, engineering expertise and focus on quality have enabled it to cater to the evolving needs of its customers.

In this article, we will take a closer look at EASL, its range of services, capabilities, quality certifications and discuss why it makes for an ideal EMS partner for companies looking to outsource their electronic manufacturing needs.

Overview of Electronic Assembly Services Ltd

EASL was founded in 1989 in Reading, UK and has grown steadily over the decades to become one of the leading mid-sized EMS companies in Europe. The company operates a 70,000 sq. ft. facility housing advanced SMT lines, through-hole assembly, box build and testing capabilities.

Some key facts about EASL:

• Expertise in assembling PCBAs, sub-assemblies, full box-build assemblies and after sales services.
• Leading capabilities in SMT, through-hole and mixed technology PCB assemblies.
• Rigorous quality control with ISO 9001, ISO 13485, ISO 14001 certifications.
• End-to-end solutions covering design, engineering, prototyping, testing, manufacturing and aftermarket services.
• High mix low to medium volume production. Capable of ramping up volumes flexibly.
• Experience serving defense, medical, industrial, telecoms and other high reliability sectors.
• Customer base comprising large OEMs and blue-chip technology companies.
• Strong track record of on-time deliveries and first pass yields.

Range of Assembly and Manufacturing Services

EASL offers an extensive range of electronic manufacturing services required to take a product from design to post-production support. Their services include:

Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA)

• SMT assembly – accurate, high speed surface mount technology assembly with 01005 components capability.
• High complexity mixed technology assembly.
• Flexible and rigid-flex PCB assemblies.
• Lead-free soldering (RoHS compliant).
• Conformal coating, potting and encapsulation.
• Design for Manufacturing (DFM) reviews.

Box Build and System Integration

• Sub-assembly and module build
• Full system assembly, integration and test
• Rack mounting of PCBs and wiring
• Custom cabling and wire harnessing
• Burn-in testing
• Build to order and configure to order

New Product Introduction (NPI)

• Design review assistance
• Rapid prototyping
• Supply chain management
• 0 and low volume quick-turn assembly
• Seamless transfer to volume production

Aftermarket Services

• Repairs and refurbishment
• Upgrades and obsolescence management
• Warranty services
• Spare parts management
• Direct order fulfillment

Engineering Capabilities

EASL employs a team of over 50 highly skilled engineers covering all key disciplines required for electronic product realization.

These include:

• PCB Layout: High speed digital, RF and flex-rigid boards
• Embedded Systems: Firmware, drivers, application code
• Mechanical: Structural, thermal design, tooling
• Test Engineering: Designing fixture and scripts for electrical, functional and environmental test
• New Product Introduction: DFM, prototyping, pre-production ramp up
• Process Engineering: Optimization of SMT, thru-hole and box build assembly
• Sustainability: Design for environmental compliance and recycling

The wide expertise and experience enables EASL to take on projects involving complex circuit design, densely packed PCBAs, small components, BGAs and other advanced packaging, high speed digital, sensitive analog/RF and more.

Production Capabilities Overview

EASL’s 70,000 sq. ft. facility in Reading houses advanced equipment and technologies for SMT, thru-hole and box build assembly catering to low, medium and some high volume requirements.

SMT Lines

Fully automated SMT lines from Fuji and ASM Siplace with:

• High speed chip shooters capable of 01005 components
• Advanced inspection technologies – 2D and 3D AOI, SPI, Axis Scan
• Three zone reflow ovens supporting lead-free soldering
• Flexible lines scalable for high mix low volume

Through Hole Assembly

• Selective and wave soldering processes
• Automated and manual insertion of components
• Conformal coating and potting

Testing and Inspection

• Flying probe electrical test (ICT)
• Boundary scan test
• Burn-in test facility
• X-Ray inspection
• Functional test set ups
• Final QC checks

Assembly and Integration

• Comprehensive box build, panel assembly and rack integration
• Extensive tooling and fixturing for system assembly
• Functional test systems with environmental stress screening
• Cables, wiring, harnessing and electromechanical assembly

Facility Highlights

• ESD control throughout manufacturing floor
• Lean manufacturing layout and workflows
• Paperless production environment
• Ambient controlled production areas
• Reduced changeover times for high mix
• Kanban inventory management

This wide range of capabilities makes EASL suitable for full-system realization of electronic products – from PCB fabrication to integrated product testing.

Quality and Compliance

EASL follows rigorous quality management practices and is certified to the latest ISO standards:

• ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System certification
• ISO 14001:2015 – Environmental Management System certification
• ISO 13485:2016 – Medical devices quality management

The ISO certifications demonstrate the company’s commitment to quality, environmental sustainability and safety of medical devices.

Beyond ISO standards, EASL ensures compliance with all major industry norms and regulations including:

• IPC standards – IPC-A-610, IPC-J-STD-001 etc.
• RoHS – Restriction on use of hazardous substances
• REACH – Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
• Conflict minerals policy

Extensive testing and inspection regimes are implemented at every stage of the assembly process to ensure products are built right the first time and with highest reliability.

Key Industries Served

With its diverse capabilities and quality focus, EASL serves a range of high reliability industries:

Medical Devices – Diagnostic equipment, imaging systems, surgical instruments, implants, monitors etc. requiring fail-safe manufacturing.

Industrial – Monitoring and control equipment for factory automation, motor drives, power supplies, test instrumentation etc.

Automotive – Navigation systems, telematics, engine control units, sensors and electronics requiring AEC-Q100 qualification.

Communications – Base stations, routers, switches, network security appliances for telecom infrastructure and enterprise networks.

Aerospace and Defense – Avionics systems, ground control equipment, weapon systems etc for the defense industry.

EASL has the expertise to manufacture highly complex electronic assemblies meeting stringent quality and documentation needs of these sectors. The company is accustomed to working on programs requiring long product life cycles, obsolescence management and aftermarket support.

Why Choose Electronic Assembly Services Ltd?

There are several compelling reasons OEMs and technology companies choose EASL as their trusted EMS partner:

One-stop shop – Offering end-to-end manufacturing solutions from product design through post-delivery support.

Engineering expertise – In-house engineering across all disciplines to collaborate on product development and sustainment.

Quality focus – Stringent quality control with ISO certified processes.

Long experience – Proven track record delivering complex, high mix and regulated products since 1989.

Flexibility – Scalable capacity from prototype builds to ramped up volumes.

Customer focus – Strong customer partnerships and commitment to performance.

Cost efficiency – Competitive pricing combined with excellent quality and yields.

Responsive – Fast turnaround on prototypes, new product introductions and ramp up.

Choosing EASL provides access to world-class manufacturing capabilities, quality and responsiveness enabling customers to get products to market faster and achieve rapid scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about EASL’s services:

Q: What is the typical production volume range handled by EASL?

A: EASL specializes in mid to high mix, low to medium volume production typically ranging from a few hundred to around 20,000 boards per year. The company can flexibly accommodate prototypes builds through scaled up production.

Q: What Industries does EASL cater to?

A: Key industries served include medical, industrial equipment, automation, aerospace, defense, automotive and communications infrastructure.

Q: Does EASL offer design services or only manufacturing?

A: EASL provides complete end-to-end services. This includes design support through DFM analysis, rapid prototyping to quickly realize designs, and transition to volume manufacturing – all from a single expert team.

Q: What certifications does EASL have for its management systems?

A: EASL follows ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and ISO 14001 international standards for quality, environmental and medical devices manufacturing.

Q: Does EASL have in-house engineering capabilities?

A: Yes, EASL employs over 50 engineers covering PCB layout, embedded systems, mechanical design, tooling/fixturing, test system design and more. This enables collaborating closely on product engineering and manufacturing.

Conclusion

EASL’s comprehensive solutions spanning design, new product introduction, volume manufacturing and aftermarket services makes it an ideal partner for OEMs seeking true design-to-sustainment support. The company’s engineering expertise combined with its quality focus, certifications and long track record give customers confidence that their products will be manufactured right the first time.

For companies seeking an expert EMS provider able to assemble advanced electronics reliably, achieve rapid scale and deliver long life-cycle support, Electronic Assembly Services Ltd is an optimal choice.