NEW 2012 Exhibition - South Africa
February 2012
Graphic PLC will again be exhibiting at the National Electronics Week show in Johannesburg. The exhibition, which runs from 13th to 14th March 2012, will be an ideal opportunity for Graphic to highlight new technologies such as RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification). Come visit us on Stand I3.
For further information and for your free entry ticket please visit:
http://www.nationalelectronicsweek.co.uk/SA2012default.asp
Southern Manufacturing Exhibition
February 2012
Graphic will be exhibiting at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Exhibition 2012 at FIVE, Farnborough, Hampshire, UK on February 15th and 16th. Please contact the Sales department for more details.
Soldermask developer
January 2012
Graphic PLC has recently completed the installation and commissioning of a new Soldermask Developer line purchased from Schmid GmbH. Fitted with the latest in automation, including dual dosing systems, automatic cleaning and re-filling cycles and the monitoring and recording of many processing parameters, this installation further enhances the capability of Graphic to produce high-resolution soldermask features with improved process control and traceability. Significant environmental improvements have also been achieved with the elimination of the need for antifoam and recycling of rinse water.
This installation concludes the enhancement to the soldermask process following the installation of double-sided screen printing, tack-drying and camera aligned collimated exposure equipment in 2011.
DSG passes National High-Tech Enterprise Certification
December 2011
DSG are proud to announce they have achieved the High-Tech Enterprise Certification. This achievement shows DSG's commitment to technology development and manufacturing excellence.
Graphic Plc achieves AS9100 revision C accreditation
October 2011
GRAPHIC PLC manufactures highly complex printed circuit boards at its site in Devon and has performed a successful transition from revision B to revision C of AS9100 with no non-conformities. Graphic PLC’s customers require high reliability PCB’s. Third Party assessed systems such as AS9100, NADCAP and MIL-PRF-31032 go a long way to ensuring quality products of the highest order.
‘Graphic PLC has always focused on customer satisfaction’ said Quality Manager Fran Blackman. ‘The primary differences between Rev C and the old Rev B are risk management and process effectiveness measurement’.
Graphic PLC has been in business for 43 years and remains the leading UK based specialist PCB electronics interconnect manufacturer.
Customer Questionnaire
October 2011
Just a short thank you for all those customers who took time to fill out this year's Customer Survey. We were delighted with the response and also the positive feedback which we received. This is a big opportunity for us to get both 'positive' and 'negative' feedback from our key customers; this then provides the opportunity to make improvements within our business.
We were very pleased to receive such positive feedback but also some opportunities for us to improve. These issues have been discussed internally and have now been included in our Continuous Sustainable Improvement Plan. Should you wish to see more detail please take the opportunity to review the CSIP on your next visit to Graphic.
Once again thanks to all those who took part.
Trevor Sanders
Sales & Marketing Director
IPCA India
July 2011
Graphic will be exhibiting at the IPCA (Indian Printed Circuit Association) Expo in Bangalore between 3rd and 5th August 2011.
Having appointed an Indian agent at the start of the year, it will be an ideal opportunity for the company to showcase new technologies at the event. This is part of Graphic's strategy to promote their HDI facilities in both the UK and China.
For more information about the show please visit:
We hope to see you there.
Another Award for Graphic
June 2011
Graphic plc are pleased to announce they have received a special 'suppler recognition award' from BAE systems. The award recognizes Graphic's on time Delivery, Quality and Support performance for the past 12 months to BAE Systems. This is the third such award received from Graphic's major OEM customers in the past 6 months and shows their commitment to world class manufacturing performance at the highest level. Graphic plc is involved with the SC21 program and has achieved AS9100 and NADCAP amongst other International Business Quality awards.
New soldermask facility
January 2011
In line with the Graphic policy of continuous improvement, a quality objective for Graphic in 2010 was to improve all aspects of the solder mask process - including quality, efficiency and delivery. This resulted in a project that involved re-building the solder mask processing area and installing new application, drying and exposure equipment. During the Christmas shut down, Graphic Plc was busy totally rebuilding its soldermask application and imaging department to the class 1000 cleanroom standard.
The new equipment is:
Circuit Automation DP1500-2X Double Sided Screen Printer
Installed as an alternative application method to the previous air spray, the DP1500-2X is an innovative and efficient system for coating double-sided solder mask. It can handle tasks impossible to achieve using conventional equipment and offers a much higher level of control and versatility for a variety of panel sizes, thicknesses and coating requirements.
CMP Vertitherm Conveyorised Oven
This improves drying which in turn assists in improving the cosmetic appearance and resolution of the cured ink deposit.
Olec Accutray ATH30-800-CL Hybrid Collimation Exposure System with 4 camera alignment.
This improves the registration of the soldermask image and assists with resolution / cosmetic appearance.
The soldermask ink used will remain as Electra EMP 110.
David Pike the Managing Director said, “The new clean room and soldermask equipment will enable us to further improve our already high standard of product with improved registration, finer geometries and enhanced cosmetics”.
Hi-Pot Tester
November 2010
Graphic has installed a Clare H101 Hi-Pot Tester. This will enable insulation tests to be performed at up to 5kV AC and 6kV DC. PCBs for use in high voltage applications will benefit from this test capability and dielectric breakdown testing of thin dielectrics is now possible.
NADCAP Certification
June 2010
NADCAP AC 7119 1 & 2 Certification for Graphic
Graphic plc, the leading UK based specialist PCB Electronics Interconnect Manufacturer with 42 years in the business, adds NADCAP to its supreme portfolio of manufacturing approvals.
Existing accreditations include:
MIL-PRF-5510 (Types 1-3)
MIL-P-50884 (Types 1-5)
MIL-PRF-31032
BSEN 123000
IPC 6012/ 6013
UL796 for systems
BSEN (AS) 9100
ISO 9001
ISO 14000/1
OHSAS 18001
Graphic maintains preferred supplier category ONE for most leading QEM’s and ESM’s worldwide for PCB’s used in formula one to Eurofighter Typhoon.
Graphic’s high technology PCB’s are also available from its 50% joint venture advanced technology manufacturing facility Dongguan Somacis Graphic PCB Co Ltd based in Dongguan, China which also carries manufacturing approvals to ISO 90001, ISO 140001, ISO / TS 16949, UL, AS 9100 and NADCAP imminent.
Graphic is a one source approved manufacturer of all available types of PCB’s from quick turnaround to scheduled volume production to the world. Graphic are members of IPC, Intellect, ECCA, EIPC, CBI, The Air League and Associate of the UK Parliamentary Aerospace Group.
AS-9100 approval
Dec 2009
Graphic Plc is the original pioneering Electronic Interconnect Manufacturer in the UK with roots to the Inventor of the Printed Circuit Dr Paul Eisler. It is currently celebrating 42 years in the business.
The AS9100 approval demonstrates Graphic’s commitment to meeting the high demands of the technology and safety critical markets we work in. The award also recognizes the commitment of its employees and the high level of quality control practiced throughout the company.
Graphic’s approvals for its products are legendary, including:
- ISO14001
- OHSAS 18001
- MIL-55110 GF/GI
- MIL-P-50884
- MIL-PRF-31032
- AS 9100 (100% pass received in the last quarter of 2009)
- NADCAP approval imminent.
Graphic also owns 50% of Somacis Graphic in Dongguan, China where 60% of its complex high technology PCB’s are shipped within China and the other 40% throughout the world.
70% of its UK turnover is military and aerospace and the rest is for special applications from Formula One to Medical and Marine products.
In the third quarter turnover increased by 15%; in the last quarter turnover was up by 15.6% compared to the previous year.
Production in the Chinese facility commenced in 2008 at the height of the worst recession in known times but has progressively gathered momentum and is now showing exceptional growth.
