News & Press Releases
01-11-2005
Meeting challenges
MRP Electronics PLC a Bedford based Contract Electronics Manufacturer has just completed their 18th year of trading.
For most organizations operating in the Contract Manufacturing Sector the last 12 months have been as challenging as any:
Advances in technology means PCBs are becoming more and more complex. Lead times are being squeezed all along the supply chain, particularly with NPI where time to market can be the difference between a successful product launch and an unsuccessful one. Globalization has continued to result in increased pressures on margins with low cost regions becoming more accessible than ever before. Add to this the imminent EU RoHS directive and life for the average UK CEM has never been so tough!
However, MRP Electronics is no average CEM, through its highly skilled labour force and as a result of a number of initiatives to improve their operational efficiency along with a continued strategic investment programme in leading edge SMT production and test equipment MRP Electronics are well placed to continue their growth.
Eighteen months ago MRP took the strategic decision and purchased an AX series Surface Mount pick and place machine from Assemblion. Since then MRP have upgraded the machine with additional robot heads, board loaders and un-loaders, and invested in extra feeders and feeder trolleys. This has been a significant investment for MRP but has certainly paid off with a dramatic increase in both SMT capacity and flexibility. The AX, in line with a Philips Emerald (which handles the odd forms), now regularly achieves a run rate of over 40,000 placements per hour, plus the extra feeders and trolleys enable off line set ups for the majority of PCBs manufactured - not only does this reduce the actual machine time required to manufacture a batch of PCBs but change over from one job to the next can be reduced to minutes rather than hours. This has proved so successful that this line is now used for prototypes as well as volume production runs and caters for the majority of PCB manufactured by MRP, with capacity to spare. What’s more as and when capacity becomes an issue the AX is easily upgrade with additional robot heads. An additional benefit of the AX is its placement accuracy. Specified to place 01005’s; the AX has enabled MRP to manufacture increasingly more complex PCBs. It is now routine for MRP to manufacture PCBs up to 20 layers with over 3500 SMD placements including 45 BGAs on a single board. The placement accuracy of the AX has also proved invaluable when manufacturing lead free PCBs, lead free alloys don’t flow as well as leaded paste which means components don’t self align during reflow, manufacturers with lower spec or older machines, risk facing a significant rise in manufacturing defects when they transfer to lead free production.
As well as investing in equipment MRP have also undertaken a number of initiatives to improve their operational efficiency, one project in particular (working in partnership with the Manufacturing Advisory Service, sponsored by the DTI) has proved particularly successful. The project, to implement lean manufacturing has resulted in a letter on thanks from one of our customers who have enjoyed a 60% reduction in inventory and an on time delivery of 99.7%.
Beds on Sunday
01-05-2004
Broadening UK CEM appeal
Change has been a prominent feature of the UK contract electronics manufacturing market in recent years. With high volume assembly moving off-shore, most surviving EMS providers have had to readdress the best way to serve their customers. For surface mount specialist, MRP Electronics, this has prompted a surprising move to tackle high volumes. Still a strong contender in new product introduction (NPI) as well as niche areas such as medical and military, MRP has extended its capabilities into the mid volume sector. As sales director, Nick Fairhead, explained to EMP, MRP has widened its window of opportunity for competitive UK manufacture and has even bought some work back from low cost Asian sub-contractors.
Boosting its throughput to deal with growth in telecoms, IT, medical instrumentation, telematics and other sectors, MRP Electronics has recently taken delivery of the first Assembléon A-series machine in the UK. Installed at the company’s 30,000ft² premises, the equipment is helping the company to deal with its current shift in assembly trends, with low-volume work gradually giving way to mid-volume manufacturing, with batch runs typically in the 1,500 to 2,000 range.
Sales director, Nick Fairhead, explained: “We have five production lines, four of them built around Philips placement products. To expand our production capacity in line with demand we were looking for higher throughput, but on a small footprint to make the best use of space. When we heard about the A-series we were interested as we have good experience of Philips and Assembléon products and service over the years. The A-series offered a solution meeting the demands of higher-volume production at lower cost.”
Based on a new generation of parallel placement technology, the A-series platform is designed to address the need for volume placement and application flexibility. The platform comprises two chip/IC placers, the AX-3 and AX-5, and the AQ-1 multifunctional placer, to provide a platform on which any application will run, at any volume, on the same footprint. Starting with a minimum 30,000cph configuration, capacity can be added in 5,000cph increments to 100,000cph. Robots are designed for quick exchange with no need for calibration, to meet the placement requirements of any component, from 0101 through flip-chips to odd form devices.
Increased capacity
Having selected an AX-5 chip/IC placer, MRP installed the equipment in-line with an existing Assembléon Emerald multifunctional placer in January 2004. Nick Fairhead continued: “During the installation we were under enormous pressure to keep production going and we really needed an instant capacity upgrade. Luckily the AX-5 was brought on line quickly and smoothly and with training from Assembléon, our operators adapted swiftly to the new technology. Within a few days we had doubled line capacity within our footprint constraints and we were able to move to three-shift working for the first time. With auto-correction for board width and thickness and quick-release change of placement heads, reconfiguration should be simple. If we have any problems with a robot we will be able to take it out of production and re-optimise the line in minutes. Uptime has been impressive and run rates are in line with predicted speeds.”
Technical capability
The A-series equipment currently installed at MRP is only partially populated, with three out of the five robot banks currently delivering MRP’s required throughput. To achieve the required feeder count, MRP has installed three out of a possible five feeder trolleys.
MRP technical director, Andy Roberts, takes up the story: “The feeding improvements on the new machine means that the system looks for the position of the feeders and auto-corrects for pick positions and pick-up heights. As a result, we experienced improved pick rates and we expect to install set-up verification software soon, making full use of the intelligence in the feeders and trolleys.
“The AX-5 is currently placing packages up to S08, leaving the Emerald to deal with remaining components including larger IC’s, uBGA and odd form devices. The AX-5 has improved yields and difficult boards are now showing fewer defects with improved 0402 alignment.”
Laser alignment enables the AX machines to place components up to 17.5 by 17.5mm. The AX can help to reduce the load on the multifunctional placer for higher throughput, with quality assured by a range of features including automatic pick correction, zero-touch component pick, continuous component check, board warpage correction and artwork alignment for each robot.
Installing the A-series technology also offers MRP opportunities for future growth as throughput can be increased in small steps, with no footprint penalty. MRP may also acquire an additional set of feeders so that batches can be configured off-line, with set-up verification to speed product changeovers.
Looking to the future, ageing Philips machines on MRP’s other lines will probably be replaced by AX-5 equipment, giving MRP the flexibility to move robots from line to line to meet capacity and application requirements. The option to employ the AQ-1 to replace the Emerald as a multifunctional placer will also be considered, depending on the placement requirements of future contracts. With linear-motor closed-loop control of Z-forces, the AQ-1 is capable of placing odd-form components such as screening cans, 0101 devices large and connectors.
Nick Fairhead concluded: “The A-series suits our business model, giving us the speed, footprint and capacity we need now and options for the future. Assuming this flexibility continues to be supported by uptime and yields, the new Assembléon products will play an important part in building our business.
Broadening UK CEM appeal
Designed to offer fast flexible chip and IC placement, investing in Assembléon AX-5 technology enabled MRP to broaden its client base, as well as offering enhanced service to existing customers.
Technical director, Andy Roberts, explained: “The core of our business has traditionally been in the high value, low volume area and we will continue to serve these industries. For example, we have worked closely with a communications test technology specialist, handling both NPI and mainstream manufacture of complex products. Assemblies such as this would predominantly be handled on our Mimot Advantage III.
“Moving to our latest investment, the Assembléon AX-5 system is ideal for mid volume assemblies with a higher percentage of discrete components such as passives.”
Sales director, Nick Fairhead, continued: “Not only does the Assembléon system offer increased capacity, we have also noticed that placement rates are very close to predicted pick and place speeds. This makes scheduling and costing jobs easier and more accurate. As a result we have opted to build an increasing number of customers’ product on the AX-5.
The AX-5 has also increased MRP’s ability to compete with offshore contract manufacturers. When making the move from low volume NPI to product roll out and ramp up to volume, MRP offers a cost-effective solution for clients operating just below consumer volumes.
Andy Roberts explained: “ We have a number of customers in the banking security area. The pin and pad secure credit card payment units that we currently manufacture here could be deployed across Europe, necessitating fairly high build volumes. This is exactly the kind of product where we can compete with the Far East, particularly when language and travel barriers presented by Asian manufacture are taken into consideration.
“This capability is combined with complex technology and test expertise. One of the first products to be built on the AX-5 was a telecomms infrastructure device; a mini base station for cellular networks. The unit requires complex shielding and sophisticated EMC test, which we carry out on-site, but demand is expected to be high and volume manufacture is already under-way. With our manufacturing capability and expertise, backed by the AX-5, we are probably one of just a few UK CEM’s who can meet this demand.”
EMP
01-08-2003
Investing in integrated SMT solutions
Offering customers a range of services from batch build to complete turnkey solutions, including box-assembly and distribution where necessary, contract electronics manufacturer, MRP Electronics, has assembled the ideal facilities to meet the demands of customers in the high value mid-volume markets. Since coverage in EMP's March 2003 contract electronics manufacturing focus, the company has expanded as well as making a series of investments to provide the service and quality that its growing customer base demands
As Sales Director Nick Fairhead explained, investment has been necessary to cope with a significant level of growth since the start of 2003. Bringing readers an exclusive update on MRP’s capabilities. Nick said "Over the past seven months the number of actual SMD placements has doubled from an average of three millions to six millions a month. This has been a result of a general up turn in our existing customer’s markets and also the acquisition of several new customers and contracts.
"Our choice of equipment was important: not only did we need to gain extra capacity to cope with a fairly sudden and unprecedented influx of orders but more importantly at a strategic level we wanted to be more competitive with higher volume production runs but still retain the flexibility, which is so important to our customers. For this reason the pick and place equipment is still predominantly Philips, not only because of common feeders but also because of our considerable experience in using this equipment"
Recent investment in capital equipment includes two Topaz and an Emerald pick and place machine, representing a total of nine machines and the addition of a fifth production line to MRP's manufacturing capabilities Since the installation of this equipment, MRP has also identified the need for another Philips Topaz pick and place machine, which will take the total up to 11 machines
Nick continued "This currently means that two of our five lines are dedicated to higher volume production runs with the remaining three lines dedicated to fulfil our existing customer requirements for low to medium production runs and prototype builds, which have been and will continue to be our core business. The two high volume lines are fully automated and each has three Philips machines, two Topaz and an Emerald. This gives a massive but flexible placement capability, which can be resourced with one skilled operator. On these lines we have also integrated AO1 into the manufacturing process"
In order to integrate automated Optical and x-ray inspection into the manufacturing environment smoothly, MRP purchased three Mirtec AOI machines plus an x-ray inspection system for BGA components, which were chose because of their ease of use and programming coupled with system performance.
Focussing on its test capability, Nick continued: "Integrating AOI into the manufacturing process offers several benefits. We can continuously monitor the process and provide instantaneous feedback to the operators on any issues. This is critical for high volume production. We can also relieve the current inspection resource from the traditional inspection operators allowing them greater flexibility to focus their efforts where needed. This means extra focus can be given to low/medium production runs”
Nick concluded: "The manufacturing strategy that we have put in place is proving successful because we have been able to retain our small/medium CEM culture offering the high levels of flexibility and service our customers expect. Following our expansion, however we can now cope with high volume production runs that previously could only be entertained by the larger tier one CEMs.”
EMP
01-04-2003
MRP orders top £1.6m in March
MRP Electronics enjoyed a record-breaking month in March.
The Bedford based company received orders in excess of £1.6million.
In line with its commitment to provide the best service and quality, MRP has announced considerable investment in its manufacturing capabilities and accreditation to the latest ISO 9001-2000 quality award.
Recent investment in capital equipment includes two Topaz and an Emerald Pick and Place machines, representing a total of nine machines and the addition of a fifth production line. To ensure that quality is maintained, MRP has also purchased a Mirtech automated Optical Inspection system.
To meet this increased demand and expansion, a further 15 jobs are being generated at MRP’s plant in Brunel Road and advertised in Bedfordshire on Sunday today. The contract electronics manufacturer has enjoyed dramatic growth over recent years, providing the grounds for a strong investment programme in capital equipment and training.
The premises now occupy over 30,000 sq ft of shop floor space, necessary to accommodate the new manufacturing capability.
MRP offers its customers a full range of services from batch build to complete turnkey solutions, including box-assembly and distribution where necessary, allowing it to be competitive in the high value mid-volume markets.
The latest ISO 9001-2000 certificate has been awarded to MRP in recognition of its commitment to customer satisfaction achieved through quality in both product manufacture and personnel training.
Nick Fairhead, sales director for MRP, said: “This is an exciting time for MRP, even though the prevailing market conditions are not conducive to an industry upturn as a whole.
“Our focused approach to customer requirements has created a strong foundation, giving us excellent scope for continued growth”.
Beds on Sunday
01-03-2003
Niche NPI and beyond
As EMP’s annual contract electronics manufacturing report in January highlighted, many of today’s successful CEMs are focussing their services on niche market areas. With greater emphasis on design capability, new product introduction facilities and increasingly complex production expertise, many Cems are tackling industries such as medical equipment, defence and industrial instrumentation – industries with high reliability requirements. This month EMP offers a snapshot of one such company, surface mount specialist MRP Electronics Plc, and the close relationship that it has built up with one of its customers, communications test technology specialist, Anritsu. EMP’s Amy Faulkner visited both companies to find out more about the match between CEM expertise and customer product portfolio.
With more than 20years design expertise in the world of telecommunications test equipment, the Stevenage-based European Measurement Division (EMD) of Anritsu has stringent demands when it comes to CEM selection. Manufacturing a range of products for applications such as Internet communications, mobile communications, telecommunications infrastructure and wireless communications, its product portfolio naturally contains a high proportion of complex electronics assemblies.
Manufacturing manager, Anritsu EMD, David Leishman, explained: “We initially enlisted the services of MRP in 1994 and the company now handles the majority of our assembly and manufacturing requirements. This means that MRP manufactures our extended portfolio of instrumentation products as well as supporting us throughout the new product introduction (NPI) process.
“For those products designed in the UK, NPI is a relatively simple process, however for products designed in Japan it can be quite difficult to resolve design and manufacturing queries. With design transfers making up roughly 50 per cent of our workload, MRP offers us the flexibility to work round these teething problems in the early stages of product introduction.”
Close communication
It is essential to discuss products as early as possible in the design cycle and the two companies meet regularly to maintain a close and responsive relationship. Meeting two to three times a year facilitates resource planning and enables a symbiotic development of Oem requirements and CEM capabilities.
With a variety of products in the Anritsu portfolio, each comprising several complex PCB assemblies, this feedback has enabled MRP to plan for the future and to tailor its production facilities and working practises accordingly.
MRP sales director, Nick Fairhead, said: “One of the most important investments we have made in recent times is the purchase of a Mimot Advantage III pick and place machine. This is an extremely versatile placement system, which can handle components from 0201 through to BGA packages. With over 300 intelligent feeders, which can be changed even while the machine is running, the system enables rapid set up and change over of complex assemblies. With a common set up for a variety of boards in one product family we have been able to significantly reduce set up and run times.
For example, one of Anritu’s latest products, the MT8820A radio communications analyser incorporates around 30 separate PCB assemblies in a 5U rack-mount enclosure. Designed to test 2 and 3G mobile handsets, the MT8820A unit uses a PCI-bus structure to connect a variety of PCB cards, including application specific cards designed to test to various telecommunication standards, such as GSM and CDMA. We used to run the boards sequentially, resulting in a lead-time of around 12 to 16-weeks. With a common set up for all types of board, change over time is reduced and we can handle smaller batches. This has reduced the lead-time for this product to just six weeks.”
Completing the Mimot surface mount machine, MRP’s 30,000ft² open plan facility hosts a variety of additional production equipment, including eight Philips component placement machines, several Dek automated screen-printing machines, plus Heller, SMT and ABW ovens.
Nick explained: “In total we run five automated surface mount lines, incorporating a total of nine pick and pace machines. The lines are automated and conveyorised meaning we can split PCBs across more than one machine, therefore optimising placement rates by only putting fine pitch devices on higher specification, slower machines – the majority of the other components are then placed using the other machines in the line. The advantage of the Mimot is that it can cope with a range of device types; its benefit is not placement speed but flexibility and generally we don’t use this machine in a line with others. However a key point is that we still have the flexibility to select placement systems to match different customer requirements.”
Complex capabilities
This well-structured and equipped production facility, accompanied by extensive manufacturing expertise, has enabled MRP to work with Anritsu on some of its most complex products.
Anritsu EMD’s manufacturing manager, David Leishman, said: “Around two years ago we began working with MRP on the MT8850A Bluetooth test unit. Aimed at Bluetooth module manufacturers, this standalone unit is dominated by a high technology PCB, approximately 40 x 30cm. This densely populated, double sided assembly incorporates a receiver on the topside and a transmitter on the underside of the PCB. The assembly also includes sensitive radio frequency circuit design, some of which is incorporated into the PCB itself. Hence both sides of the board carry a substantial amount of interference protection in the form of metal screening cans.
“Due to the complex production requirements of the screening cans, we had to work closely with MRP to resolve any problems. For example, once manufacturing is complete, the metal screening can is fitted with a lid. This is attached to each wall of the can structure in a single process using a silicon based metal loaded compound. In order to ensure that this seal is made, it was essential to ensure the coplanarity of the shielding can with the board.”
Nick Fairhead took up the story saying: “MRP tackled the product by assembling the cans in two stages, first placing and soldering the topside can, then repeating the process for the underside can. One of the most difficult problems was re-flowing large metal cans without raising the temperature of the PCB too high, such that damage occurred to the bare board or surface mount components. This was achieved using a large five-zone ABW oven and custom made re-flow fixtures designed and produced by MRP incorporating a plimsoll line to stop solder running down the screen.
Reliable test techniques
With a customer base covering market areas such as military and medical electronics, as well as telecommunications test, MRP supplements its production capabilities with a comprehensive test department. Encompassing in-circuit test (ICT) using Teradyne combinational test equipment, Spea flying probe automated test equipment and boundary scan test where appropriate, MRP can cater for most test requirements.
Nick explained: “Our test capability is constantly expanding and we are currently in the process of purchasing an automated optical inspection (AOI) unit. To ensure that products are manufactured to the highest quality our capabilities range from under BGA vision, in the form of the Ersascope to bespoke PC driven functional test. Working with the customer we can create repeatable, reliable test using our in-house functional test design service.
“In order to test in-car traffic monitoring equipment for our client TrafficMaster we use a system designed to simulate the interaction of the vehicle and module as accurately as possible. Having built up a close relationship with this customer over nine years, we also build and test products for use in the infrastructure of the traffic monitoring system.”
Utilising the facilities described above, MRP is able to provide a variety of services to its customers, including turnkey manufacture complete product build and test. Once a product is established, MRP can become an entirely invisible part of the supply chain delivering fully assembled, tested and packaged direct to the end customer.
Nick explained: “One client to make full use of this service is Initial Electronic Security Systems, a division of the Rentokil group. Following design advice on the real estate and reliability benefits of a move to surface mount technology, we were able to bring this product back to the UK from Korea where it was previously being manufactured. Even the plastic enclosures are now specified from a manufacturer in the UK.
“Now we provide the client with SMT PCB assembly and final box build services, including cabling. Each manual assembly operator is provided with diagrams and build instructions, ready for direct delivery.”
As this example indicates, customer support clearly lies at the heart of MRP’s service portfolio. From new product introduction, which includes a detailed engineering report for each new product manufactured, through to turnkey production and complete product build, the aim of the company is to build close customer relationships. How else could the company have developed its portfolio of longstanding clients working in complex technology areas, including telecommunications test specialist Anritsu, one of MRP’s first customers.
01-07-2002
Secure future as manufacturing returns to the UK
While representing only around 3% of its turnover, Initial Electronic Security's interests in the community care business still represents a healthy £4m a year and is an important and profitable part of the Group's business. An important reason why it finds itself in such a healthy state is because it changed its outsourcing strategy to using a UK contract manufacturer rather than its existing one in Asia.
This is obviously a surprising strategy as the majority of the western electronics manufacturing community believe the reverse to be true. But, according to Initial's Head of Procurement Eugene O’Hara, the assumption that savings will be made by outsourcing to the Far East has been incorrectly adopted as accepted wisdom. "I do think there is a pomposity about manufacturing in the Far East. If there was an honest calculation by other companies with a similar volume of product then I think many of them would return to the UK."
Reaching this conclusion was the result of detailed calculation and experience of manufacturing in both geographies. Initial's core product has been around for around twelve years, originally under BET's ownership. In the early 90's BET was lured to the East by the potential cost savings of manufacturing over there. BET was then bought by Rentokil in 1996 and the ‘Initial’ brand was adopted.
The unit sits by, or under, the telephone and when an alarm is received, triggered by a button carried by the owner, it sends an alarm to a central control centre. The system is typically used in community care projects, sheltered housing etc. An enhanced version of the product offers further facilities, for example voice messaging and monitoring of the environment around the unit (for such things hypothermia testing). Other units are available for export markets.
At the time when BET first started outsourcing to Korea then volumes were in the region of 7-8000 a year - this is now nearer 12-15,000.
Having fundamentally one core product was part of the Initial’s problem. "What people sometimes fail to recognise is the resource required to manage at arms length," explained O'Hara: “And if there is only one product then it has all the costs placed on it. It is much the same cost for 15,000 boards as it is for 500,000.
“The sort of costs I am talking about are those involved in sending our people over there, managing the supplier, freight, import duties, testing, managing failures and many more. What is more that most of these costs come at the GEM from different places. It is easy to see a headline assembly cost in Asia and see that it compares favourably to the same job in the UK, but this headline cost is meaningless without collecting together all the other costs from their disparate sources and considering them as a whole."
Some of these costs are often overlooked. For example, Initial now occasionally sample tests the incoming assembled boards it receives from MRP Electronics Plc, its EMS partner for the community care products. By having involvement in MRP's testing regime, and increasing confidence in its output, Initial is moving towards not having to do any testing at all.
This compares with the 100% test strategy that was in place when outsourcing to Korea.
Another example is in failed boards. If there is a high volume of failed boards it is worth returning them to the factory where they have come from, although this has its time penalties But if there are small volumes this becomes a less attractive option, and so a further cost of repairing locally or internally is created. And each failure needs to be managed by someone at Initial. Both this case and that of testing are two examples of hidden costs, O'Hara argues, and these costs are rarely considered when looking at the quoted costs for a contract.
O’Hara stresses that there was never any issue with the quality of work from its Korean contract manufacturing outfit. "The Koreans did a hard-working job for us, but that was never the issue. It was a business, logistics and money." However, a further factor emerged as O’Hara was increasingly recognising many of the issues raised above. When he started to look at UK-based contract manufacturers all those he approached agreed that the board in question needed to be redesigned (from conventional products to surface mount) if it was to be made profitably. The company who won the contract, MRP went further by offering to do the conversion itself. It became clear that the 'sold cost' offered by MRP was similar to that in Korea, but had further advantages of being easier to manage, more responsive and a common language.
Having redesigned the board in the initial product, MRP has been heavily involved in the latest version of the product (called Intellilink), which is the fourth iteration of the product. .'We try to keep families of products together with one contract manufacturer. It helps their understanding of the products and their development of them. In the new design, for example, MRP were involved in such things as component availability. The way the whole unit fits together [MRP assembles the unit as well as the board], design for manufacture and test - all factors that help us reduce costs. In fact they have influenced the product more than they appreciate -their comments have become part of the design process.”
MRP itself has been through a period of strong growth. Its turnover has doubled year on year to its current £8M. Over the past few years it has invested in a new 30,000sq m factory with new production and test equipment. Its main problem, like so many others over recent years has been in finding suitably qualified staff. MRP’s way of getting round this has been to develop an in house IPC training capability so that it can take on staff at a lower skill level and then train them up.
MRP’s Nick Fairhead commented: “We concede that by the time we get to certain volumes we will start to lose business to the Far East and Eastern Europe, although it has only happened to us once.
However, by the time this happens, the customer will be developing and ramping up its next project, which is where we come in and it is why building relationships is so important. There is a good group of EMS companies like us in the UK who can occupy this middle ground."
"People have the rose-tinted view that the Far East is cheap," concluded O'Hara. "I thought I could save 15% in total by bringing it back to this country and it has ended up nearer 10%. But if we had not taken this step we would not be in the market now. We were not making a margin on the product before, and now we have not only continued with the old product but been able to develop the new one as well. "
EMP
01-03-2002
Expansion means a new home
Dramatic growth has led to a Bedford electronics manufacturer moving to new premises.
MRP Electronics plc expects to sign contracts soon which could lead to an extra 20 jobs being created.
And, despite the downturn that has hit manufacturing, the firm is forecasting a 20 per cent increase in business this year.
The move to more than 29,000 sq ft in Brunel Road, Bedford, is MRP’s fourth since it was founded in 1987.
Sales director Nick Fairhead said: “The additional shop floor space and recent state of the art surface mount assembly, inspection and test equipment will stand us in good stead to achieve our plans for future growth.”
MRP was ranked 25th this year in the Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 rankings for the East of England’s fastest-growing technology companies.
Business to Business
01-02-2002
MRP still growing
MRP Electronics has just completed its fourth move to larger premises since the Bedford company was founded in 1987.
The new site in Brunel Road is double the size of the previous one with more than 29,000 sq ft of shop floor space.
The move was necessary because of the company’s dramatic growth. Turnover has increased four fold over as many years.
Sales director Nick Fairhead said: “The additional shop floor space and recent investment in new state of the art surface mount assembly, inspection and test equipment will stand us in good stead to achieve our plans for future growth.
“Despite the general slow down in the electronics sector we are forecasting an increase in business of approximately 20 per cent again this year and we expect to sign new contracts in the summer which could lead to as many as 20 job vacancies.
MRP has received its second award from Deloitte and Touche ranking it the 25th fastest growing technology company in the eastern region.
The award specifically for technology companies ranks them in order of growth over the past three years trading’ and MRP has moved up three positions since 1999.
“It shows that despite the manufacturing recession, MRP has been doing the right stuff,” said Mr Fairhead.
Beds on Sunday
01-10-2001
MRP on the move again
MRP Electronics is a Bedford based Contract Electronics Manufacturer and since being established in 1987 has grown to become one of the country’s leading suppliers within the industry.
MRP provides a range of manufacturing services including procurement of materials, Printed circuit board assembly, functional testing and complete product build.
MRP feels that the key has been its commitment to putting the customer first and delivering customer satisfaction – an ethos that is prevalent throughout the entire business.
It is this approach, coupled with MRPs commitment to teamwork and keenness to work in partnership, which has led to long-standing relationships with many Blue Chip customers.
MRP is particularly proud that its very first customer still accounts for a significant proportion of its business, a relationship that has grown along with MRPs capabilities.
However MRP doesn’t credit all its success to simply an approach to doing business. This has been supported by continual investment in state-of-the-art automatic production and test equipment needed to cope with ever increasing demands on electronics manufacturers to produce smaller, lighter and lower power products.
This strategy has obviously worked well as MRP has just finished another outstanding financial year with a turnover of £8m and approximately 100 employees.
The trend is set to continue as the company is now planning its third move to larger premises at Christmas.
This will provide the space the company needs to cope with future growth.
Business Weekly
01-05-2001
MRP Sales hit record levels
Sales forecasts for MRP Electronics this year are put at more than £8.5million.
That represents a 40 per cent increase on last year for the Bedford contract electronics manufacturer.
Recent multi-million pound orders from TrafficMaster and Schlumberger and expected future orders with two significant new customers has led to MRP planning another move to larger premises by the end of the year.
The company has recently bought a state of the art ‘flying probe’ test system to cope with the increased volume of complex circuit boards that are now being produced by its five automatic assembly lines. The new work will mean the investment in a sixth assembly line and further automatic test systems.
MRP is hoping to recruit 20 new employees between now and December taking the work force to more than 120, although the difficulty in finding skilled labour has been one of the firm’s biggest headaches.
Managing director Mike Perry said: “This and other problems the company has had to manage, which include a wide range shortage of electronic components brought about by a high demand for mobile phones during 2000, makes our performance all the more impressive.”
MRP has been operating for 13 years and it puts its success down to a strategy of focusing on a relatively small number of key customers from a range of electronics industry sectors.
“This has allowed us to build long term partnerships with such names TrafficMaster, Schlumberger, Anritsu, Initial Security Systems, Domino and 3m.” said Mr Perry.
“In many cases, MRP not only assembles the customer’s products, it works as part of the customers’ design team advising on manufacturing issues for new product development.”
Contract electronics manufacturing is an industry that has seen dramatic growth over the past decade and MRP has benefited as more and more original equipment manufacturers focus on their core activities such as research and development and marketing and look for a partner to take on the electronic assembly of their products.
Beds on Sunday
01-10-1999
New Contract creates 20 jobs
MRP Electronics, a Bedford-based contract manufacturer, says order from TrafficMaster and Schlumberger will lead to the creation of 20 jobs.
Electronic Times
01-10-1999
MRP wins contracts worth £1.7m
MRP Electronics has won contracts worth £1.7m from the TrafficMaster group in Milton Keynes and multi national organisation Schlumberger.
The two Trafficmaster contracts are for the production of the ‘in car’ electronics for BMW 7 and 5 series cars, providing continuous and live traffic information, and the production of transceiver modules for the UHF Beacon system currently being installed in Germany.
The Schlumberger contract is for the production of a state of the art sensor, allowing remote monitoring and data collection.
“With the popular perception being that UK manufacturing is uncompetitive and dying, it is good to see a Bedford company excelling,” said sales manager Nick Fairhead.
The Bedford firm’s continued growth has led to the creation of 20 new jobs and the installation of a mezzanine floor.
Bedfordshire on Sunday
01-09-1999
MRP takes on staff to meet contracts
MRP Electronics, a contract manufacturer based in Bedford, is taking on 20 new staff after receiving several large contracts. The contracts include work for TrafficMasters in-car electronics for the BMW’s 7 and 5 series cars and remote monitoring sensors for Schlumberger. The company said it expects growth of 50 per cent next year.
Electronics Weekly
01-01-1999
Winning Through...
Bedford contract manufacturer MRP Electronics has won a £2m contract from Initial Shorrock Systems in the face of competition from manufacturers in Korea. “This is a major contract for us to win and at the same time fly the flag for British electronics expertise,” said Mike Perry managing director of MRP. The company will assemble and test Initial’s Carelink Excel product, which is a personal alarm safety unit for the elderly or infirm. It is a two-year contract which is expected to create new manufacturing jobs. MRP has supported the contract with the recent installation of a surface mount assembly system at a cost of £400,000.
Electronics Weekly
01-11-1998
Booming Marvellous!
Business continues to boom for MRP Electronics, now officially recognised as the fastest growing technology company in the area.
The contract electronics manufacturer, which recently moved to new premises in Hudson Road, Bedford, finished in the top 30 of 1,200 firms which entered the Deloitte & Touche and Nat West Bank Fast 50 awards for the East of England.
Founder and managing director Mike Perry said: “We celebrated our tenth anniversary last year so we are pleased to be recognised as a fast growing yet solidly established company in our field.
“Business has been booming at MRP, contrary to national stories of doom and gloom. We like to think it is down to teamwork and keeping our customers happy.”
MRP has also been nominated for the Arthur Andersen 1998 East of England Corporate Growth Awards. The firm has recently installed two additional Philips ‘surface mount placement’ machines at a cost of £400,000 to help meet new orders.
Nick Fairhead, 34, has just been appointed sales manager of the company. He started his career at Marconi Avionics before spending a year in design and development. He moved on to Cambridge Instruments as a test engineer and the GEC Alsthom, now Alstom.
Bedfordshire on Sunday
01-10-1998
MRP wins contract with Anritsu
Bedford contract electronics manufacturer MRP Electronics has won work worth more than £1m with global giant Anritsu. MRP has been working with Anritsu for a number of years and the new contracts are to produce the motherboard for a new power meter and all the printed circuit boards for microwave telephone test systems.
Anritsu’s general manager, John Pink, said: “When it came to recent contract awards we had no hesitation in choosing MRP. The company has a proven track record working with us over the last seven years. From prototype through to volume product we have found a partner that is able to handle all aspects of engineering advice, material procurement and final testing.”
MRP has also won work worth more than £500,000 with TrafficMaster of Milton Keynes. The contract is to produce the PTFM TX Controller Modules for the A-road infrastructure of the UK plus the in-car electronic monitors for the BMW 7 series.
MRP’s managing director, Mike Perry, commented: “Thanks to these contracts which add up to £1.5m we are going to need 30 new people to add to our existing staff.
EMP
01-08-1998
Doubled Up over Bonanza
Bedford’s MRP Electronics, which only moved into new premises in Hudson Road at Christmas, is planning to virtually double its operation after picking up bumper orders from the TrafficMaster group in Milton Keynes and the Japanese Anritsu organisation.
The group says it aims to take on another 30 people to add to its existing staff of 45 and is splashing out £500,00 in new equipment to cope with the extra work after picking up new order worth £1.5million.
The group, started 10 years ago by former Randalls Electronics director Mike Perry, specialises in fiddly electronics work such as printed ciruit boards and achieved £3million sales last year.
Already commercial estate agents in the town are looking forward to some hefty commission when the business has to move to larger premises in the not-so-distant future.
Business on Sunday
01-07-1998
Jobs Boom thanks to £1m Contract
A Bedford firm has won contracts in excess of £1million from a multi-national company, which will boost jobs in the town.
MRP Electronics, which is based in Hudson Road, has been working for a number of years with global giant the Japanese Anritsu Corporation, which has a European measurement division based in Stevenage.
Anritsu is currently undergoing massive expansion in Europe.
The new contracts will be for MRP to produce the motherboard for a new power meter and all the printed ciruit boards for microwave telephone test systems.
MRP has also won work worth more than £500,000 with TrafficMaster of Milton Keynes.
MRP was set up about ten years ago by Michael Richard Perry – hence the name of the company. There is currently a workforce of 45.
The new work will require more experienced assembly operators to undertake the delicate soldering work required.
Most of the work is carried out by state-of-the-art equipment, but some requires the human touch.
Mike Perry, managing director of MRP, told Business Times: “Thanks to these contracts, which add up to £1.5million, we are going to need 30 new people before the autumn to add to our existing staff.”
Mr Perry was for 12 years a director at Randall Electronics, while the operations director, Andrew Roberts, had ten years’ experience in surface mount technology before joining MRP.
The company, which moved to larger premises in Hudson Road, plans to invest around £500,000 in new equipment.
Last year MRP hit a turnover of £3million and its future looks very bright.
Times and Citizen
01-07-1998
Jobs Fuelled by Japanese
Bedford contract electronic manufacturer, MRP, has won work worth more than £1m with global giant Anritsu.
The Japanese corporation is undergoing massive expansion in Europe and needs MRP to make the motherboard for a new power meter and all the printed circuit boards for microwave telephone test systems.
MRP Electronics has also won work worth more than £500,000 with TrafficMaster in Milton Keynes to produce controller modules for the company’s A-road infrastructure across Britain and in-car electronic monitors for the BMW 7 series.
Managing director, Mike Perry said MRP would need to take on 30 more people before the autumn.
01-07-1998
Done Deal!
MRP Electronics, a contract electronics manufacturer, has won a £1m deal with Anritsu. MRP will produce the motherboard for a new Anritsu power meter and for printed circuit boards for microwave telephone test systems. There was other good news for the company, which has recently secured a £500,000 contract from TrafficMaster to produce controller modules for the A-road infrastructure of the UK.
01-10-1995
Export sucess leads to second Philips order in 3 months
One UK company enjoying the challenge of meeting a continuing export-led sales boom is Bedford based electronics surface mount specialist sub-contractor MRP Electronics Ltd who have recently completed a major £500,000 expansion programme which increases production capability several fold.
Following the successful installation of its first high speed vision-based placement machine from Philips only 3 months ago, the company has already ordered a second virtually identical SCM Comet machine to boost output capacity even further to meet the production requirements of major new contracts recently won from Belgium, in addition to existing contracts from the USA. Both vision-based machines will help boost MRP’s exports to around 18 per cent of total sales. The company has also just won several other large UK contracts due to begin production in January 1996.
According to MRP’s managing director Mike Perry, the company continues to enjoy a year on year sales growth over 40 per cent and in his opinion the UK is increasingly becoming a major worldwide centre for high quality manufacture, especially of SMD products where costs are usually extremely critical.
For example, one of the large export orders calls for the ability to mount a very wide range of components from tiny 0603 chips to large surface-mount switches and connectors on the same small PCB. “The Philips Comet can mount all these components in a single pass which helps make production process extremely efficient” he says. “After only 3 months, our experience with the first Comet placement machine in terms of reliability, accuracy and flexibility convinced us our initial decision to go with Philips was the right one – it had all the features needed to give us the technical and competitive edge we need to meet our major new contract wins.”
Overall, MRP’s recent investment of around £500,000 has considerably increased their ability to quoted and win major new business from both the UK and overseas.
According to Philips EMT’s Paul Bouttell “Philips has already had several repeat orders for Comet before, but the speed of this one took us by surprise. The Comet’s 15000 component/hour capacity and wide component handling capability are ideal for the type of flexible volume batch production required by MRP and we are delighted they have again chosen Philips as their technology partner.”
01-10-1995
Export-led sales boom sparks big expansion
The on-going export-led sales boom being enjoyed by a Bedford-based electronics company has sparked a half million pound expansion programme.
MRP Electronics Limited, an electronics surface mount specialist sub contractor, which is based in Caxton Park on the Elms Industrial Estate, has increased its production capacity several fold.
Three months ago MRP installed its first high speed vision based placement machine by Philips. This has been followed up with a second virtually identical SCM Comet machine to boost output capacity even further in order to meet the requirements of major new contracts recently won from Belgium, in addition to existing contracts from the USA.
Both vision-based machines will help boost MRP’s exports to around 18 per cent of total sales.
In addition to the export sales, the company has also landed several other large UK contracts due to begin production in January next year.
According to MRP’s managing director Mike Perry, the company continues to enjoy a year on year sales’ growth of more than 40 per cent.
“I believe a lot of MRP’s success is due to our building up a reputation for quality, particularly in a niche of the industry which is showing particularly strong growth, with so many electronic equipment manufacturers deciding to finally use surface mount technology.” explained Mike.
The company was set up by Mike in 1987 following is resignation from what was then, Randall Electronics.
During his 12years as a production manager at Randalls, he was responsible for the production of surface mount technology – an automated method of producing printed ciruit board assemblies, which enables the finished product to be miniaturised.
MRP started life in a 1,500 sq ft unit in Barker’s Lane with one second-hand machine. But by 1993 the site became too small so the company moved to a new 9,000 sq ft factory in Caxton Park.
The company has continued to grow by constant re-investment in new and up-to-date equipment, and today employs 30 staff.
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