Editor's Choice


Circor Solutions: Pioneering thick film circuit manufacturer in SA

31 July 2024 Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

After spending ten years as an electronics technician in the South African Navy, Vernon Norton left to become involved with thick film hybrids, occupying various positions. Circor Solutions was started in 2005 when Norton bought out the Thick Film Hybrid division from 2C Solutions. Originally employed by 2C Solutions, he seized the opportunity when it was offered to him.

The company started out with a staff complement of six in an extended garage occupying a floor space of only 100 m2. The company continued growing from strength to strength, moving into larger premises in 2015, and then adding 300 m2 in August 2023 to the existing 260 m2, while increasing its staff count to the current 18, consisting of highly motivated team members.


Circor Solutions’ ethos is based on five pillars:

• Respect – between all customers and staff members.

• Trust – taking its responsibility seriously in its obligations to customers.

• Accountability – to remain accountable to all its stakeholders.

• Humility – to remain grounded, acknowledging any failings and striving to improve its processes.

• Communication – to realise that efficient and friendly interaction with stakeholders and within the company is vital to a successful company.


Circor Solutions is the last remaining thick film circuit manufacturer in South Africa, and provides electronics for military applications and precision electronic circuitry. As a PCB contract manufacturer, the company provides turnkey solutions for telecommunications, networking, electronic components, and industrial and consumer electronics. It offers design capabilities, with a high level of expertise, for the assembly of both conventional leaded and SMT hybrids and PCBs.

Circor does not compare themselves to the competition but rather focusses on the individual needs and demands of its customers. Its small team offers a hands-on approach, with innovative solutions to complex customer challenges encouraged and strived for, and its customers appreciate the strategic partnerships that unfold from that.

Originally starting out by providing manufacturing services driven by customer inputs and demands, Circor has since become more proactive in delivering customer-based products. Its business assists with new design ideas, and also provides software and firmware support. Over the past two years, the company has provided turnkey solutions that enable its customers to focus on their core strengths, while taking care of the product innovation and manufacturing.


Increasingly, Circor is seeing local design engineers and businesses seeking local manufacturing opportunities for their products. Despite local component supply and logistic challenges, the company remains encouraged to show its in-house depth of skill and experience in design and manufacturing, thereby keeping its customers from looking abroad.

Circor Solutions believes that with the rate at which smart devices and electronics are being added to the everyday lifestyle, more local electronics manufacturing should be encouraged, and that this is a prime opportunity for local investment by both government and the private sector.


For more information contact Circor Solutions, +27 83 293 4606, vnorton@circor.co.za, www.circor.co.za





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

EMC limits and levels
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Circuit & System Protection
As soon as electronics and electrical systems started interfering with each other, the world had to come to some consensus. Considering physics is universal and does not care about what country electrical/electronic products are used in, it should be the same everywhere, right? It is nearly there, but not quite.

Read more...
Sigfox SA powers smart connectivity
Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
Sigfox South Africa is carving out a unique role, delivering low-power, wide-area network connectivity designed specifically for Internet of Things applications.

Read more...
Seeing through the noise
RF Design Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
How Adaptive Long Coherent Integration (ALCI) delivers superior measurement and positioning performance where conventional receivers fall short.

Read more...
Case Study: Turning data into insight
Hamamatsu Photonics UK Editor's Choice Opto-Electronics
Hamamatsu Photonics’ InGaAs PIN photodiode detector has proven consistent, reliable, and robust for more than a decade, helping Axetris to deliver stable, repeatable measurements.

Read more...
Photonics solutions for manufacturing excellence
Hamamatsu Photonics UK Editor's Choice
Hamamatsu Photonics is a global leader in photonics technology, offering cutting-edge light-based solutions that transform not only industrial manufacturing, but also diverse sectors such as healthcare, scientific research, and environmental monitoring.

Read more...
Designing with PCIe
Spectrum Concepts Editor's Choice Interconnection
PCI Express has become the backbone of modern high-performance systems with each new generation promising higher bandwidth, but that performance comes with a cost.

Read more...
Understanding two key tools for cleaner serial data
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Analogue, Mixed Signal, LSI
Understanding how pre-emphasis and equalisation works, and when to use one over the other, is critical when designing reliable high-speed systems.

Read more...
Connected without limits: An engineering perspective on Altron Arrow’s wireless ecosystem
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Design Automation
Wireless connectivity is no longer a supporting technology, but rather, a core design consideration that underpins modern electronic systems across industries.

Read more...
Telemetry powering South Africa’s industry
Interlynx-SA Editor's Choice
As South Africa’s economy evolves, industries are under increasing pressure to improve operational efficiency and cut costs. Telemetry is becoming a vital component of industrial strategy, allowing companies to harness real-time data to optimise processes and reduce waste.

Read more...
From the editor's desk: How electronics and AI are transforming the battlefield
Technews Publishing Editor's Choice
The current war in Iran has highlighted one critical observation: electronic engineers are shaping the future of defence and in modern warfare, superiority is no longer measured in firepower, but rather in processing power.

Read more...









While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements and company contact details are published as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material.




© Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd | All Rights Reserved