PCB assembly houses in AUS/NZ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2018, 10:31:31 pm
content: I see there are a few stickied posts for enclosures & distributors, but does anyone have a list for PCB assembly houses in Australia?UPDATE: Here is what I found so far. Note some of these outsource work overseas, I know that QualiEco is in this boatACD Digital Systems ,http://www.acddigital.com.au/Agile Electronics ,https://agileelectronics.com.au/Alfatron ,http://www.alfatron.com.au/Artronic Productions ,http://www.ausmanufacturers.com.au/artronic/ASL ,https://www.asltd.nz/Circuit Solutions ,http://www.circuitsolutions.com.au/home.phpCLASSTEK ,http://www.classtek.com.au/services.htmlCNS Precision Assembly ,https://www.cns.org.au/Duet Electronics ,https://www.duet.com.au/Entech Electronics ,http://www.entechelectronics.com.au/Extel Technologies ,http://exteltechnologies.com/Fabtronics ,http://www.fabtronics.com.au/#single/nullGPC Electronics [Sydney, NZ],http://gpcelectronics.com.au/HETECH [Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth],http://www.hetech.com.au/Iconic PCB ,http://www.iconicpcb.com/INVISION ,http://www.invisionelectronicsolutions.com.au/Masters & Young ,https://www.masters-young.com.au/Nesstronics ,http://nesstronics.com/On-Track Technology ,http://www.on-track.com.au/Precision ,https://www.precisionet.com.au/Pritchard Electronics ,https://pritchardelectronics.com.au/QualiEco ,http://www.qualiecocircuits.com.au/Rapier Electronics ,http://www.rapierelectronics.com.au/RF Technologies ,http://rftech.com.au/Sniper Electronics ,http://www.sniperinvestments.com.au/SOLTRONICO ,http://www.soltronico.com.au/Main/Home.htmlSOURCEMAN ,http://www.sourceman.com.au/SRX Global ,https://www.srxglobal.com/TCM Electronics ,http://www.tcmelectronics.com.au/TRIODE ,http://www.triode.co.nz/Wavetronics ,https://www.wavetronics.com.au/

author: Ash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2018, 10:57:34 am
content: In Brisbane, I've used RF Technologies*, and I've visited Circuit Solutions and was quite impressed.http://rftech.com.au/http://www.circuitsolutions.com.au/I know there are some others in Sydney/Melbourne, but I'll leave it to those that have direct experience to name them.* full disclosure: I know the owners of RF Tech personally.

author: IconicPCB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 01:48:11 am
content: Hello Ash,Come and visit our assembly facility.full disclosure: I know Ash

author: mrpackethead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 02:04:54 am
content: @Antalife,I'm curious to know why you would like to use a local assembler rather than a chinese one? What do you think they will do better, becuase they will be more expensive.Full Disclosure: I run an assembly line, but we dont' do contract work, only our own. So, i'm not touting for business.

author: AgileE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 04:02:37 am
content: Quote from: mrpackethead on November 02, 2018, 02:04:54 amLocal is not always more expensive and can be a quicker turn-around for small projects. With full disclosure I admit that I do take on contract assembly work, but it's usually for prototypes and short runs (under 2000 typically), the end cost is not much different from sending it overseas, often cheaper with smaller quantities. My machines spend a fair amount of their time idle, so there is usually no waiting. There are also some side benefits, like being able to do a 'proof' board before committing to the run and being able to supply suggestions that can help improve any future designs for manufacturing. Quite a few customers don't have a lot of experience with manufacturing so they can get some 'hand-holding' to get them along the path and often save them considerable time and money by providing feedback on their designs.Not sure on the rules regarding 'blowing ones own horn' on these forums but for the sake of completeness on this list I'll put my hand uphttps://agileelectronics.com.au/

author: ludzinc
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 05:10:19 am
content: http://www.rapierelectronics.com.au/Based near Adelaide.

author: Ash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 10:57:07 am
content: Quote from: IconicPCB on November 02, 2018, 01:48:11 amHaha! For sure.I'll try to do that next time I have to make some stuff

author: Ash
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 02, 2018, 11:12:47 am
content: Quote from: AgileE on November 02, 2018, 04:02:37 amI agree - Local is great for small runs of product where you can work with the manufacturing engineers to make sure your design in manufacturable. If you are going to do this, talk to them before you start laying out boardsAlso sometimes products won't ever be large volume so the additional difficulties of contracting the work overseas just isn't worth it.In the end I normally run a small batch (1-5 panels worth) through to verify that everything is good on the design, PCB source and the manufacturing process parameters are good before committing to real production runs. This gives me a chance to catch design errors and the manufacturing engineers a chance the tweak the programs. This is more expensive in that I'll often have to pay machine setup time twice, but when it makes sense I do it.There are also reasons to do it locally where the equipment will fall under export control (ITAR etc).Ash.

author: ANTALIFE
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 05, 2018, 12:21:56 am
content: Thanks for everyone's input, I just wanted to know what was out here in AUS.As for why assemble here, as others have said it’s very valuable to proto here to work out the kinks before you go large volume. Being able to drive down to the factory where your board is being assembled is a very good visual aid, plus if you have any problems you can work them out right then and there rather than jumping into a long chain of emails (that might not get anywhere) with an overseas assemblerAlso will update my initial post with what I found

author: sean0118
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 13, 2020, 12:21:33 am
content: I know this is an old thread, but there's also Wavetronics in Sydney. I can't see them mentioned on the eevblog anywhere but they are actually moderate size, Dave should ask for a tour there.https://www.wavetronics.com.au/

author: NOON Design
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2020, 10:16:44 am
content: I've been browsing through a lot of these and most seem to only do assembly (as it says in the title) not PCB manufacture. I regularly need small PCBs for custom jobs. I do pro audio repair and custom designs, including things like restoring and racking up bits of older circuits. This often requires 'glue' PCBs with some ins and outs and switches etc or little bits of interface circuitry etc. Nothing demanding, usually double sided, chunky tracks, big holes etc and I do all the assembly.I've mostly been using the Chinese 'prototype' services where you get 10 boards of max 100 x 100mm for USD$5 + shipping but it would be great if I could find a local manufacturer who can do these kind of jobs without charging a fortune. Anyone know of any businesses that would be interested in this kind of work? I'm based in Melbourne.

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2020, 08:49:34 pm
content: Quote from: NOON Design on July 20, 2020, 10:16:44 amFrom what I've seen such a business simply doesn't exist. We were doing a rush project recently and my client's engineer phoned around to find a local source for boards on a rapid turnaround. There are only one or two companies still physically making boards here - all others outsource to China. The local pricing is completely mental. Ultimately, boards from China are cheap, good and fast (you will have them within a week). It's about the only time you can have all three parts of the quality triangle 😂

author: NOON Design
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 20, 2020, 11:05:11 pm
content: That's unfortunately what I expected. Turnaround time is not usually an issue for me. I can usually wait a couple of weeks or so, which is usually how long it takes unless I pay a chunk for express inernational shipping from China, which makes them less economical.

author: mairo
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 20, 2020, 11:09:50 pm
content: If anyone wants to support local assembly, look at these guys as well:https://www.cns.org.au/Also in Melbourne (Sydney?) there is SRX, which is on of the largest around:https://www.srxglobal.com/

author: Mangozac
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 12:13:03 am
content: Quote from: NOON Design on July 20, 2020, 11:05:11 pmLess economical sure, but trust me - still waaaay more economical than local fabrication!