ACW Technology announces the launch of its new special business services (SBS) group. Through the SBS group, ACW will offer customers access to a full range of added value services covering pre-production, new product development and post-manufacturing support. ACW has invested 300k in setting up a dedicated SBS manufacturing line at its Southampton headquarters and recruited a highly skilled, specialist team focused on providing fast, flexible and attentive service. During the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase, the SBS team will look to forge very close links with customers and their design teams to pass on the benefit of ACWs 20 year manufacturing pedigree and help ensure product designs are optimised for fast, cost effective manufacture. ACWs expertise spans both mechanical design, e.g. mouldings, castings and fixings, as well as PCB assembly. Through its design for manufacture (DFM) services the SBS group offers customers consultancy and practical guidelines, which could help them identify ways to streamline the product. ACW also provides test design & support services covering ICT test analysis, boundary scanning as well as both board and unit level functional testing.
Rapid prototyping is also another of the SBS groups core offerings. The team is able to work pro-actively with customers ensuring efficient purchase, components and build via dedicated people, equipment and stock. The team also provides valuable design feedback to the customers engineers to allow a smoother and more effective transfer to volume manufacturing.
Other services in this area include mechanical development, PCB layout and material selection/sourcing. Where appropriate, the SBS group also support customers in the fast and risk free transfer of manufacturing to ACWs wholly owned factory in Zhuhai, China.
Post manufacture, the SBS group provides more value added services including post warranty repair via a team of 15 dedicated engineers, as well as upgrade programmes, obsolescence management, design and supply of custom packaging solutions and long term kitting.
Dave Taylor, Head of Special Business Services at ACW Technology comments: SBS provides customers with a range of engineering led services. Working closely with customers design and development personnel, weve put together a dedicated team and invested in new equipment so that new products can go through the necessary processes of design, material purchase/benchmarking, build, test and ship (including all the fault-finding, re-work and upgrades), in preparation for a seamless move to volume production, at the best possible price and in the shortest possible time.
He continues: The launch of the SBS group is an exciting time for the company and part of ACWs clear strategy for growth both horizontally, by capturing more business from our competitors, as well as driving vertical growth by helping customers to realise the added value they can gain from outsourcing more of the work they do in house.