Prototypes

Benefits

Our focus on the Prototype stage of the project development brings added value benefits, including:

• Prove various stages of the design
• Visual and physical example of what the product will look like
• Evaluation of the product assembly techniques required at an early stage to assist with volume production costings
• Produce DFM (Design for Manufacture) and DFA (Design for Assembly) feedback.
• Possible reduction in project tooling charges later if prototype tooling and stencils etc have been created with production quantities in mind.
• Investment in the latest technology assembly equipment
• Latest technology in cleaning facilities
• A highly skilled IPC certified workforce
• A fully air conditioned ESD controlled and certified factory
• Experienced planning team to set up, control, monitor and validate your product manufacture.
• Serial number control and traceability
• ERP Database Control
• IPC certified RoHS and NON RoHS rework facilities

If G&B have been involved in the design then additional benefits would also include:-

• Improved communication between design and production resulting in a faster turnaround and lower margin for error.
• None of your time is spent going between your design and production houses passing queries and solutions back and fourth.
• We would have looked at designing in our standard ranges of components so you won’t have to pay for MOQ or handle excess unused components
• Use of our standard range of components will mean we can build more of the PCB automatically this will result in faster turnaround time and improved quality.

Capabilities

The capability to operate the most efficient systems and processes effectively is assured by our experience and resources across:

• Fast turnaround
• SMT Assembly - hand build / semi automatic build / fully automatic build
• Mixed Technology PCB assembly - hand build / semi automatic build / fully automatic build
• BGA and µBGA Assembly - semi automatic build / fully automatic build
• PTH/Conventional/Leaded Assembly hand build
• RoHS and Non RoHS processes
• Smallest component 01005’s
• Smallest pitch 30 microns
• Placement of all fine-pitch QFP, BGA, µBGA, CSP packages
• PCB size capability from 50 x 50mm to 460 x 440mm
• Cleaning Facilities
• Conformal Coating
• Labelling / traceability / serial number control
• Samples
• Label sets,
• SLA’s
• Metalwork
• Cables
• Box Builds
• Sub Assemblies
• Prototype Review Reports
• Production Data Validation Reports
• Rework

Quality

Quality is paramount in manufacturing and G&B have undertaken the following to ensure that their process control and product quality is at the top of its game, of which our standards include:

• ISO 9001:2015
• IPC-A-610D (Inspection)
• IPC J-STD-001D (Assembly)
• IPC 7711/7721A (Rework)
• ISO 14001 (environmental) final stages ­ pre audit.
• BS EN 61340-5-1/2 (ESD)

In addition to these standards we also have the following Medical quality standards enabling us to CE Mark medical product on behalf of our customers:-

• FDA Registered and Inspected
• Directive 93/42/EEC for Medical Devices Annex II (3),
• Certification for the accreditation of foreign manufacturing in Japan

General:

• All assembly and rework equipment is regularly serviced under maintenance contracts
• All equipment is regularly calibrated
• All processes and procedures are regularly audited both internally and externally.
• We maintain full operator to serial number traceability.

Reports

If required G&B and provide a Process Validation Prototype Manufacturing Report to support your prototype for evaluation by your development team the report includes review of the following:

• Reported results / issues.
• Purchasing:
• Production:
• Inspection records:
• Test records / specification:
• Drawing package:
• Conclusion:

Plant List

At G&B we use a variety of prototype design and production methods:

• IPC certified hand-placed techniques for SMT and conventional components, suitable for low-volume, fast-turnaround prototypes
• BGA assembly, inspection and rework, using our Ersa scope optical alignment system
• Fritsch semi automatic pick and place machines for SMT placement