Contract Electronics Manufacturing for The Drone & Robotics Industries

Offshore Electronics is a leading provider of Contract Electronics Manufacturing (CEM) services for the drone and robotics industries. Based in Guernsey, we offer comprehensive and cost-effective solutions to suit all your outsourcing needs, allowing OEMs to take advantage of our 30 years of manufacturing experience while concentrating on their core competencies and achieving faster times to market.

Contract Electronics Manufacturing for Unmanned Systems & Robotics

Our expert team of electronic and mechanical engineers are able to clearly understand the requirements of your business and the demands of complex unmanned systems and robotics. We can work with your designers to optimize and improve each project, paying detailed attention to crucial factors such as performance, reliability and SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost).

We are ISO 9001:2015 certified, produce UL listed and classified assemblies, and are RoHS compliant. All our staff are trained and certified to IPC-A-610 class 3, the highest IPC workmanship standard.

Reaping The Benefits Of Contract Manufacturing

A best practice guide to contract electronic manufacturing for small and medium sized enterprises

OEMs must comply with a wide range of product related manufacturing regulations, and this can be a huge challenge for a small design-led company. The advantage of using a CEM as a manufacturing partner is the ability to use their expertise to advise on design for manufacturing best practice and ensure that the product is manufactured correctly and efficiently using approved components and processes.

Prototyping & Pre-Production

We take the initial designs created by your engineers and turn them into prototype boards and sub-assemblies, optimizing for manufacturing cost and ease of production while maximizing reliability and operating life. In addition to prototyping, we also offer low-volume initial production run services with full electro-mechanical assembly and product build. This allows you to carry out comprehensive beta testing and to refine and adjust the product before entering full production.

We ensure that the same expert team works on your project throughout the entire process, resulting in consistency and reliability, quicker identification and correction of potential issues, and shorter time to market.

Learn more: Prototyping & Pre-Production Assembly

Electronics Manufacturing & PCB Assembly

Our purpose-built production facility is one of the best in Europe, covering over 2,000 square meters (20,000 square ft) and allowing us to provide cutting-edge surface mount and through-hole PCB and mechanical assembly services to the highest standards. The factory operates to ISO 9001:2015 standards and is controlled end-to-end via our MRP/ERP system.

Surface Mount PCB Assembly

Our surface mount PCB assembly capabilities feature three separate production lines with Yamaha and Philips machinery, with optimal data and tooling interchangeability engineered to maximize flexibility and minimize setup time. Equipment includes:

Yamaha YSM20R and YSM10 high speed precision placement line, with DEK neo horizon screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Yamaha YS12 and YS12F high speed precision placement line with YCP10 screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Yamaha/Philips Topaz and Emerald placement line with DEK 265 screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Two Mirtec Automatic Optical Inspection systems (one with side view capability)
BGA & SMT rework station with Vision Engineering and Blundell inspection equipment

Through-Hole PCB Assembly

We offer automated assembly of conventional through-hole, leaded axial, DIL and radial components, with all processes geared for maximum production flexibility. Populated PCBs undergo manual assembly and lead-free flow solder processes. Our state-of-the-art through-hole assembly equipment includes:

Southern Machinery S4040 axial insertion machine
Amistar AI6448 high speed axial component insertion machines
Universal Multi-mod 6772a automatic DIP insertion machine
Universal RAD5 automatic radial component insertion machine
Blundell CMS400LF ‘no clean’ lead-free (SnAgCu / RoHS compliant) flow soldering machine
3 Pillarhouse Jade lead-free selective soldering machines with nitrogen atmosphere

Mechanical Assembly

Mechanical assembly and instrument build processes are undertaken by our highly skilled and experienced production staff, who are all trained to IPC-A-610 standards. Supporting processes include Mixflow epoxy potting, Kerry automated solvent board washing and Asymtek automated conformal coating.

Learn more: Electronics Manufacturing & PCB Assembly

Testing & Validation

We strive to provide the utmost in quality control and product validation and to give you full confidence in our processes. We comply with a range of nationally and internationally recognised quality standards, and our dedicated team of quality inspectors and test engineers work closely with you to ensure that our procedures complement your own quality control systems.

Our test facilities are equipped with a range of state-of-the-art capabilities and regularly-calibrated equipment, ensuring that your products are thoroughly validated and meet or exceed all specifications. These include:

Automatic testing capabilities using Teradyne Z1888/Z1890 machines
On-board and pre-programming capability
JTAG and boundary scan test
Automated optical inspection (AOI)
Surface mount and BGA rework to IPC standards
Functional board and unit test and calibration including soak tests, result logging, safety flash testing
Design and manufacture of bespoke test rigs
Micro camera for inspecting the underside of BGAs and other surface mount devices

Learn more: Testing & Validation