With just two clients to its name but fuelled by no shortage of energy and self belief, North Bridge Technologies (NBT) was founded in 2001 by Wynand Weyers and Riaan Bosch. With a focus on the aerospace and industrial monitoring and control markets, the company provides a turnkey service for the design, development and manufacture of electronic products, including requirements analysis and specification, qualification as well as industrialisation.
According to Weyers, the company was started as a result of its founders’ frustration at the slow decision making endemic to the corporate environment in which they found themselves. “A desire to be more responsive and getting products into the market quicker, led to the start of North Bridge,” he explains. As to the principles that have guided its course throughout, “North Bridge’s commitment to excellent product quality and reliability is not negotiable,” he says. “Our well established processes ensure repeatable product quality.”
NBT’s first project was an asset management system using RFID technology, for which Weyers and Bosch developed the hardware and software according to the client’s requirements. “The asset management system was installed at various sites and operated successfully, but due to the business case not performing to expectation, the product faded away,” says Weyers. “We got involved in access control and later in environmental monitoring, which grew the company significantly and still forms a big part of the business. When the company was started we had vast experience in the aerospace industry and it was quite easy to apply this knowledge and supply products to meet customer requirements.”
With a target market comprising OEMs looking for end-to-end custom electronic solutions, the company has developed excellent long-term relationships with its customers, supplying equipment which requires a wide spectrum of complexity and technology. The following testimonial statement from one of its clients vouches for the strength of these business relationships: “North Bridge appeals to us due to the fact that they are professional enough to produce products according to internationally recognised standards, yet small enough to give personal attention to clients. We trust them to have open and honest discussions with us with regard to development and production costs, and fast turnaround times when there are problems.”
Explaining the reasons behind the high esteem in which NBT’s clients hold it, Weyers believes it comes as a result of the company’s passion for engineering development, application of sound engineering principles to the problem, and providing a solid solution for the customer. “The people working at North Bridge share these values, and it is great to work as a team in achieving our goals. It is very satisfying to see people grow and how excited they are about where we came from and where we are going,” he explains. “We place a very high value on our integrity, therefore if people can remember North Bridge as a trustworthy and reliable supplier we will be satisfied.”
As to what the future holds, Weyers says that growing the company in terms of products and clients is one of its prime objectives. “With the people working at North Bridge and the experience gained over the past 15 years, this is definitely possible,” he concludes.
For more information contact Wynand Weyers, North Bridge Technologies, +27 (0)12 667 4655, [email protected], www.northbridge.co.za
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