Since 1994, Beta LAYOUT’s PCB-POOL concept has been the leading online printed circuit board (PCB) solution, specialising in fast turnaround prototype quantities and pre-production batches.
However, the company is quick to point out that it is more than just a one-trick pony. While it specialises in prototypes, it is also able to produce medium-volume runs at its Cape Town facility.
For those unfamiliar with the PCB-POOL concept, it is based on creating multi customer panels, allowing them to share the tooling charges and thereby save money. Prospective customers need simply send an e-mail to sales@beta-layout.co.za with their requirements or fill out the price enquiry form on the website (www.beta-layout.co.za) and await a quote.
In those cases where orders do not fit the cost-saving criteria or where medium volumes are required, customers will be quoted on an order by order basis. As these orders are not combined with other orders when panellised, standard tooling and photo plotting charges will apply.
Beta LAYOUT offers various PCB and copper thicknesses, different solder mask and legend colours etc. With no minimum quantity requirement, no tooling or setup charges and full design rule checks included on all orders, PCB-POOL offers lead times from three days, with a two-day service in the pipeline.
Ian Fennell, plant manager at Beta LAYOUTs Cape Town facility, outlines what he believes is the company’s winning formula: “First and foremost, our customers are central to everything we do. The experience when ordering and, more importantly, the after-care service must be second to none.
“While I must admit that we have had some hiccups along the way, we most certainly do listen to customer feedback, most of which is received through our order evaluation facility.”
What exactly is order evaluation? “Well,” Fennell continues, “when one places an order online an automatic evaluation number is generated. This number can be entered when customers receive their boards and allows them to rate the service from both a quality and delivery perspective.
“When they have completed five online evaluations, customers will receive a discount number entitling them to a discount of 10% off their next PCB-POOL order, as a way of encouraging customers to evaluate and provide feedback on their service with Beta LAYOUT. “
Capital investment
With regards to capital investment, Fennell believes that “one cannot stand still in business, especially in the rapidly changing electronics sector. Our policy on capital investment has been to continuously look at each department and determine what works and where can we improve on our quality, delivery and service. As such, some of our more recent investments include but are not limited to:
“MX1 drill/routing and metal cutting machine from Schmoll Maschinen GmbH – see accompanying photograph. This is the ideal machine for prototyping as it is a kind of all-in-one. Due to its versatility, this machine fits seamlessly with our core business of PCB prototype fabrication. While it is a state of the art CNC drilling machine with CCD technology for inner-layer registration, it can also rout and cut precision aluminium front panels with intricate commands such as engraving, countersink, control depth milling and even hole threading.
“Chemcut Sigma Alkaline etch line. This machine greatly improves the etching process and permits fine line tracks and gaps.
“State of the art ORC water-cooled exposing machines, especially effective on our solder mask finish. It eliminates the dull appearance that one gets from the heat generated through standard UV exposure.
“Both Emma from Microcraft and Loc8 from Mania flying probe testing machines, with another Loc8 machine in transit, meaning theta electrical testing is no longer the bottleneck it once was.
“Automatic electroless and electrolytic plating line. Again this provides redundancy and expands our throughput in the galvanic plating department.
“The introduction of our ENIG (electroless nickel and immersion gold) service finish complements our other finishes which are hot air solder level (HASL – both leaded and lead-free available) and hard gold plated finishes.
“The most recent installation is a Printar LGP-509 legend printing machine from the Israeli company Camtek. This machine prints directly onto the PCB production panel and obviates the need to plot films and create silkscreen, thus saving time which is critical for quick-turn prototype production.”
With these installations in place, at the time of this writing Beta LAYOUT expects to be able to deliver a two-day PCB turnaround service via PCB-POOL by the beginning of September.
Diversification
In recent years Beta LAYOUT has diversified its product range, and now produces both etched and laser-cut stainless steel stencils via the Laser-Stencil shop. The company also offers tools, accessories and aids for prototype SMD assembly at its Beta eStore shop. These products allow users to solder SMD circuits to near-industrial quality.
The company also produces aluminium/acrylic precision-cut front panels for electronic equipment (for 19” racks etc.).
The latest innovation from Beta LAYOUT is in the RFID field, through its partnership with Murata, the developer of the RFID chip in question and the starter kit based on MAGICSTRAP UHF passive RFID devices. The basic UHF RFID starter kit is available for purchase from Beta LAYOUT.
Aimed at engineers and developers wishing to quickly learn about and incorporate RFID into their electronics design, the kit comprises a reader/writer board, communication software, two reader antennas and four different kinds of MAGICSTRAP RFID tag modules.
One reader antenna is designed for standard applications where the detection range is up to several metres. The loop antenna is provided for use in hidden applications such as for anti-counterfeiting and brand protection.
Communication over short distances for individual tag connections can be experienced, as well as bulk reading of MAGICSTRAP-based PCB tags as necessary in logistics processes. Typical applications for the RFID solution include any type of electronics application such as mobile phones, industrial control, consumer electronics and test and measurement equipment.
According to Arne Hofmann, CEO of Beta LAYOUT: “Finally it is possible to use RFID on and in a PCB. Our solution to embed the MAGICSTRAP in a PCB (patent pending) is not something far away in the future but available here and now.
“Aside from selling it as a service and product to our customers, we will also use it to improve our own processes. We are just at the beginning of a very exciting cooperation.”
For more information contact Ian Fennell, Beta LAYOUT, +27 (0)21 691 7499, ian.fennell@beta-layout.co.za, www.beta-layout.co.za
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