Elonics is the manufacturing division of Pinetown Electronics - and by no means the 'new kid on the block' when it comes to contract electronics manufacturing.
Established in the early 1980s, KZN-based Pinetown Electronics is currently one of the strongest industrial electronics service-and-repair companies in the country, with automation and technology agencies such as LG Industrial Systems, Phasecon (KZN) and Semikron. The Elonics division has grown as a requirement of the mother company's product range of AC and DC drives, large digit displays, heater controllers, and others.
To accommodate its exceptional growth, the company has just moved into much larger premises in Mountain Ridge, right next to the New Germany Nature Reserve. The premises have been adapted to suit the company's unique requirements.
Current future outlook
Traditionally, the somewhat pesky favours requested, or the non-industrial product developments asked for, were politely rejected by Elonics - or came at a hefty price, it says. However, the company notes that in the world of electronics manufacturing, 'volume is king'. Hence, its direction of focus firmly lies in the development and manufacture of unique and specialised products. Some examples of these are security products, remote controls, aircon controllers, spa bath controllers, and also, typically 'gimmicky-type' products.
In terms of 'added value' Elonics says that where the average manufacturer may simply plop components onto a PCB and send it back to the customer, Elonics' people, as skilled electronics and design engineers, also provide added value to the client in the form of conceptualising products and ideas, testing and assembling, burn-in testing, and fault analysis and solution provision.
The company's manufacturing capacity ranges from large to small volumes. Elonics has an SMT pick-and-place machine with reflow oven and wave solder bath, capable of large volume production runs. However, prototype runs of 20s and 50s are always entertained.
Design
First-rate development is expensive and there are no shortcuts. It always helps when the client knows what he wants and supplies a detailed specification. However, adds Elonics, more common is the 'fly-by-night' customer who thinks he has discovered his goldmine but does not have a clue as to what is required to make it productive. Here the company offers advice that comes with years of experience. Design charges can also be defrayed over manufacturing, if the product is seen to be viable and feasible.
For more information contact Pinetown Electronics, 031 702 6242, [email protected], www.elonics.co.za
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