News Items from The Institute of Circuit Technology

Industry News July 2024

Hannah Whitmore, EHS & Sustainability Manager at Amphenol Invotec collects Award in recognition for our excellence in water consumption reduction across our UK sites in Telford and Tamworth.

By the end of this year we will have reduced our usage by 17.7%. It is thanks to the hard work and collaboration of our staff we have achieved this goal in 2 years and we are proud to have received this sustainability award.

Electra Invests in new soldermask Lab Equipment!

We're thrilled to announce our latest investment in inkjet-related laboratory equipment! This game-changing technology will empower Electra to push the boundaries of thermal storage and thermal cycling for Inkjet soldermask, taking our innovation to new heights!
With the newly installed equipment, we are now equipped to conduct rigorous testing for reliability, ensuring best in class performance and quality. Our commitment to excellence drives us to explore new possibilities and set industry standards.

We are pleased to announce that our sister company TWM Technology have joined the EPIC Centre in Torbay, Devon.

The EPIC Centre is home to the Torbay Hi-tech cluster and is a regular host of IMAPS events. This purpose-built centre has been designed to accommodate Tech Companies in the Torbay area. These companies have been collaborating together and also with technical colleges and universities in the Southwest and further afield. This has had a positive impact on promoting sectors within the high growth area of technology, photonics, RF and Microwave. This includes education and helping to sustain the historical presence and importance of this part of the country in cutting edge technologies, both now and for many years to come.

We are really looking forward to getting involved with the rest of the tenants at the EPIC centre and with the local business community.

From the group’s point of view, we are gaining access to some cutting-edge technology and equipment including a Class 7 cleanroom and some state-of-the-art inspection and analysis equipment. We look forward to further developing and perfecting our void free soldering processes and sharing ideas, expertise, inspiration, and experience.

GSPK Circuits' Chairman and Directors celebrated a significant milestone in the company's history as a market-leading PCB manufacturer and technology innovator.

Back row left to right: Martyn Gibson, Operations Director; Steve Lloyd, Managing Director; Andrew Grisbooke, Chairman; and Ian Kenyon, Sales Director.

From left to right, the front row is Jonathan Calver, Technical Director; Brent Pemberton, Financial Director; and Anthony Lloyd, Supply Chain Director.

Merlin Flex has installed & commissioned a UV laser cutting machine from Beyond Laser. This new investment, supplied via Technic in the UK, has a twin bed which significantly increases capacity plus provides additional capability of laser cutting long flex up to 1.4M in a single length.

Mark Merifield, Merlin Flex MD, says “the new laser machine has been a great addition to our existing laser department and I would like to thank the management and engineers of both Technic and Beyond Laser for their great support and work on getting this machine installed and fully running in mainstream production on all of our flex & flex/rigid products”.

This new Beyond Laser machine is the 3rd UV laser machine at Merlin Flex and sits alongside it’s 2 existing Schmoll UV Laser Flex machines.

Merlin Circuit Technology Limited is pleased to announce they have been awarded Nadcap Merit status. Matthew Beadel (MD) stated this is a great achievement by all of our staff and demonstrates Merlin’s ongoing commitment to produce PCB’s to the highest quality levels for all of our current and future customers.

Jack Herring Chief Product officer of Jiva Materials and Paul Goodfellow, Managing Director of Minnitron Ltd sign the Preferred Partnership Agreement.

Today (22/05/2024) Jiva materials and Minnitron Ltd signed a Preferred Partnership Agreement for the manufacture of Soluboard – the worlds’s first fully recyclable Printed Circuit Board laminate.

Jack Herring the inventor of Soluboard signed an historic agreement with Minnitron Ltd. This agreement solidifies the agreement that the two companies have been enjoying over the last four years for Minnitron to be the preferred manufacturing partner for the Soluboard recyclable PCB laminate.

Paul Goodfellow said “This agreement allows both companies to really push forward the development and commercial viability of Soluboard and we look forward to working with Jack and Jiva for many years to come”.

Our wet processing and administration extension is gathering pace. For those of you who like watching buildings go up, here is today’s picture of the start of the cladding installation. The cladding panels are 125mm thick double sided metal cladded foam. Next week, the solar panels get installed.