Fundamental to every electronic device from the simplest to the most complex is the printed circuit board (PCB), and technology advances here have been dramatic in the past decade. As with the electronic components industry in general, the technology, high capital investment and the need for large economies of scale has resulted in the disappearance of most local production capability. Now an entrepreneurial company Cirtech (which previously traded as JDS Electronics Supplies) has taken the opportunity to service our electronic industry's need for all types of PCBs, using offshore specialised producers, but providing the added value services that you could expect with a manufacturer right on your doorstep.
Stephen Sher founded Cirtech in Cape Town during 1995 and the sole focus has been the supply of PCBs and associated services. Strategic supply agreements are now in place with world-leading suppliers including Pentex (Singapore), Carven Circuits (Hong Kong), Draco (Thailand) and Microline (China). All of these companies operate certified ISO 9000 and QS 9000 quality management systems, the QS certification being particularly important following the boom in the export of right-hand-drive vehicles from the local German manufacturers. While some overlap in capability exists between these supply sources Cirtech uses this to its advantage, ensuring that local customers get the most attractive pricing and best value for money in terms of the required board specification. Despite being a relatively small company itself, Cirtech is well on the route to implementation of a quality management system and hopes to achieve certification to ISO 9000 early in 2001.
While the initial CAD design for the board will come from the customer, Cirtech can often provide input such as how to improve on the manufacturability of the board, reminding designers of cost drivers, for example via hole sizes and other features that are often unimportant to the designer but can influence the final cost. Another service offered is advice on the step and repeat process used so as to maximise the utilisation of material.
The best proof of the value of service offered by Cirtech probably comes from the fact that the company is already involved in the export business, most notably to Canada. The reason is that engineers and buyers who have used Cirtech in South Africa have emigrated to Canada and even in that industrially developed market have found that the local company offers a very competitive and reliable service. In the case of overseas customers, Cirtech arranges shipments direct from the suppliers so that costs associated with importation into and re-export from South Africa are not incurred. Within the near future the company intends to expand its business into Europe.
Although their headquarters are in Cape Town (an office was recently opened in Sandton), Stephen Sher does not see that as a disadvantage with the city being well connected with flights to all other major centres. All the product comes initially into Cape Town on flights from Singapore, so avoiding additional internal shipment costs. Cirtech carries out its own quality control on the incoming product before repackaging it to customer requirements and onward shipment. For many customers Cirtech supports such deliveries on a Just in Time (JIT) basis, holding stock under the required environmental and other conditions.
In terms of market presence, by region the biggest customer of Cirtech is KwaZulu-Natal, probably a reflection of the fact that the largest industry segment serviced is automotive. Other major market segments with regard to sales include instrumentation (prepayment meters in particular) and consumer electronics, whilst the company is seeing significant growth in the telecommunications and security sectors.
Cirtech provides a single source for all types of PCB requirements, from single side to multilayer, and from prototype requirements to large volume production. PCBs are offered in a wide range of surface finishes varying from organic surface protection (popular as a low cost, high volume solution) through to immersion nickel gold which is used for many high technology products. Finishes include several different gold processes, which are not available from other local PCB suppliers.
Cirtech is in the process of compiling a guide for PCB designers which will include tips on how boards should be designed to minimise production cost. This manual will also provide descriptions of the various types of PCB on offer and where they are most applicable. At the planning stage is an e-commerce solution for the company's customer base. Intended to be operational within the next twelve months clients will be able to check on-line regarding the status of the inventory held for them by Cirtech, or the expected delivery of existing orders. The ability to order on-line will be available although Stephen Sher himself believes that the Internet will not replace personal interaction between the staff of Cirtech and their customers.
For further information contact Cirtech Electronics, Cape Town (021) 761 8622, or in Gauteng (011) 883 7165, or e-mail: [email protected]
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