RFQ portal simplifies CEM sourcing
Now in its 40th year, Wilson Process Systems continues to invest in growth with a simpler way to request contract manufacturing quotes and new assembly equipment.
Having returned a 10 per cent upturn in business in the past 12 months, WPS is pleased to report that its tried and tested strategies have helped the company perform well in a challenging marketplace. And the team are not short of new ideas to capitalise on this growth.
WPS sales manager, Steve Cooke, identified a gap in the CEM market, drawing on his experience in the component distribution market where on-line portals enable customers to make enquiries for costs and component availability without the need for personal interaction.
Simple CEM quotation
His intention was to make a similar system available to CEM customers to simplify the PCB assembly quotation process and make it as straightforward as possible.
Steve commented: “I had a vision of a user-friendly RFQ portal where, in just a few clicks, OEMs, engineers and purchasers can provide basic information and upload files to obtain a no obligation quote for PCB assemblies and box-builds.”
WPS appreciates that subcontractor selection is based on several key areas set by the client to establish whether the contract manufacturer will be ‘fit for purpose’. This added value service is without obligation and the company acknowledges that quoting is a vital step on the road to any engagement between customer and supplier.
WPS materials manager, Nigel Starkey, added: “I believe this is great news for buyers, simplifying benchmarking and sourcing activities. With the added confidence that WPS’ experienced quotation team will always ensure best value and that fully franchised, high quality materials are being used.”
The new 'Get a Quote' service is now live on the WPS website and is already getting a good reception.
To find out more about the company, potential clients can also find WPS at one of several exhibitions, with the company increasing its presence in 2020. New and existing clients can engage face-to-face at Southern Manufacturing in February, PCB Design and Manufacture Live in March and SUBCON in June.
Investing in odd-form placement
One principle which has underpinned the company since its inception is continued investment in the latest technology plant and equipment and 2020 is no exception to this. Tim and Nick Wilson visited the 2019 Productronica Exhibition in Munich in November with manufacturing director, Steve Russell, and their attention was taken by a Universal Fuzion OF1-11 odd-form assembly machine.
Steve Russel commented: “The new machine is a great upgrade for our surface mount facility, but the added ability to machine place a full array of through-hole components including connectors, sockets, transformers heatsinks and many other components, as a fully automated process is a huge bonus in adding repeatability and assured quality for our customers.”
The new machine was delivered early in 2020 together with a Soltec 7038 reflow oven and an EKRA X4 SI IPAC enabled solder paste printer, which adds a fifth line to the company's surface mount facility and increases its surface mount capacity to almost a quarter of a million placements per hour.
