Solving challenges, big and small

Wilson Process Systems prides itself on solving customers’ production challenges with versatile support – an approach which has seen it supply some of the smallest, and the largest, PCBAs in the UK. From bare PCB manufacture through to full subcontract services, Wilson Process Systems has seen its core competence develop significantly over the last 30 years. Throughout, it has maintained an emphasis on automating processes wherever possible, while still retaining its hand assembly personnel and technicians as the business grows. This approach has seen it emerge as one of Hasting’s largest employers with over 100 staff, in facilities situated over two sites covering 30,000ft². Sales manager, Steve Cooke, commented: “Wilson Process Systems is a family business with a philosophy of continuing investment in the latest and best equipment in order to deliver optimum quality product to the customer, whether they are large or small. We also strive to offer a flexible, competitive service, that is dynamic and that can adapt to customers’ individual needs. Customer service is the single most important factor for us and we are always mindful that we are just a cog in our customer’s wheel; we are told that this sometimes gets overlooked by some of our competitors.” Flexible support One of the areas in which Wilson aims to excel is support. The company prides itself in being able to offer solutions to solve customers’ problems, whether it be at component or PCB level, the manufacturing process or the finish that’s required to meet the demands of the environment in which the electronics will operate. Steve continued: “Our investment program this year has so far led us to be able to supply some of the smallest, as well as some of the largest, PCBAs currently available in the UK to our customers. With over 200,000 49-VFBGA very fine pitch ball grid array components placed and 1,300mm long lighting boards coming off the lines, we think that this illustrates our ability to provide the most versatile services, going from one extreme to another.” The company also boasts great success in new product introduction (NPI) with new and existing clients, where Wilson’s input has paid dividends in getting products to market on time and to budget. Positive outlook In conclusion, Steve said: “With strong indications of business continuing to return from China to the UK, and having enjoyed considerable success in ensuring this is favourable for customers, we’ve also noticed an unpredictable trend of enquiries coming from Scandinavia, of all places. We have just picked up three new customers in this region in as many months, which helps to keep our horizons broad. The majority of our UK customer base also looks very positive for the rest of this year and into the future. “The challenge for us, and I suspect many other contract electronics manufacturers (CEMs), will be concerned with the continuity of supply of components later this year. We’ve recently paid special attention to making sure strategic parts have been buffered where necessary to ensure continued production schedules and to give our customers every opportunity to capitalise on the upturn in the economy.”