Are two heads really better than one?

Bela Electronics has long been known for its flexible, responsive service, and has consequently built an extensive and loyal customer base, which has become accustomed to the personal approach and guaranteed performance offered by the Bedford-based team.

Mike Lafratta, Managing Director, looking back on the history of Bela comments, "When we formed the company in 1984, I had never envisaged that we would grow in the way we have. We have no intention of being a ‘tier 1' contract manufacturer where cost per placement is the dominant business driver; we have always striven to provide our customers with a quick and reliable service, regardless of the size of the batch required."

One of the keys to Bela's continuing success in the UK's flexible CEM market has been the surface mount department. Two individual pick-and-place machines have been in use, allowing for parallel processing of products and, therefore , offering a certain level of manufacturing flexibility.

However, recently, Mike and the team decided to look at increasing both the capacity and capability of their SMT machines.

The preferred route for Bela was to replace its Europlacer Access 4 machines. "The Access 4 machines have been great for us over the years, but it was clear that they were showing their age in terms of placement speed and technical capability, and with the greater demands from our clients, we clearly needed to invest in newer technology," Mike commented. "We decided to look at the SMT equipment market and evaluate a replacement machine to suit current and future business requirements. We considered two options. First, we could replace one of the machines with a Japanese platform, which would require significant additional investment in feeders. Alternatively, we could look at Europlacer's single machine solution, with high feeder count, extensive component range and feeder compatibility".

Mike, true to the philosophy of the company, suggested that two members of his team made the evaluations, and was prepared to back their decision. "I wanted Scott, who runs the current equipment, and Michael, who is responsible for selling capacity on the line, to be 100 percent happy with the equipment, and so suggested that they prepare the evaluations and attend the demonstrations of the machines."

Michael Knight (Sales Development and Operations) commented on the trials, "The tests on the Japanese solution went well; the system can build SMT circuit boards perfectly well but offers limited additional capacity or the desired capability enhancements. We may even have required a second such machine within one year! In addition, 50 percent of our investment would be on feeders, etc. as opposed to investing in machine technology. However, we were astonished by the flexibility that the single Europlacer machine scenario would offer us. Having a single machine with over 260 x 8mm feeder slots, the ability to place from 01005 devices through to ultra fine pitch, and being able to accept loose fed devices or strips of tape gives us superb flexibility and allows us to improve our five-day ‘ReAct' service we are already offering. Additionally, the continuity offered in operational systems and feeder requirements ensures 100 percent of our investment is spent on machine technology."

So, Bela is rewriting the old adage, and it now reads, ‘one head is better than two!'

http://www.bela.co.uk/