2010 is an exciting year for Startronics as
we open our new manufacturing facility in Malaysia and rebrand to SRXGlobal
Startronics Announces New Manufacturing Facility in Johor Bahru - Malaysia
Monday 31st August 2009
SYDNEY AUSTRALIA -- (For Immediate Release)-Startronics Pty Ltd (Startronics) today announced
that it has established a regional office in Singapore with manufacturing operations in Malaysia
for the production of electronic printed circuit board assemblies; subassemblies; and full systems
assemblies. This operation compliments Startronics existing Australasian facilities, and follows
an extensive search in the Southern Asia region for a suitable footprint and is in line with its
earlier stated strategy to expand its business into a lower cost manufacturing region twelve
months after establishing its Central Procurement Office for the group in Malaysia.
Startronics' purpose built facility has been specifically designed to meet the exacting needs
of complex electronic production requirements. The facility is located in Johor Bahru,
Malaysia, approximately 40km from Singapore CBD. Startronics is developing the site to
accommodate future expansion of the facility to meet the growing needs of its customers
operating in the global marketplace and will commence production from September 2009.
Startronics merges with Sanmina in Australia 6 August 2007
Startronics Pty Ltd (“Startronics”)
today announced that a merger with Sanmina’s
Australian operations had been successfully
completed. Startronics is owned and
controlled by Pacific Equity Partners
and Allen Capital Private Equity, and
is the market
leader in electronics manufacturing in
Australia. Sanmina is a global electronics
manufacturer listed on the NASDAQ.
The merged entity will trade under the
name of Startronics. This deal is significant
as it will form the largest electronics
manufacturing services company in Australia
by combining the local market leader with
the largest offshore player operating
in the
region.
As a result of the merger, Startronics
will be able to provide its clients with
global sourcing of products and components
at internationally competitive prices.
Startronics clients will also benefit
from an expanding geographical footprint
of high quality facilities across Australia
and New Zealand. This will enhance opportunities
for working closely with clients to optimise
design, minimise turnaround times and
inventory holdings on a
globally cost competitive basis.
Startronics new CEO Paul Appleby said
Sanmina’s Australian operations
complemented theStartronics business and
would enhance services for clients of
the electronic manufacturing and repairs
business.
“The merger of Startronics with
Sanmina’s Australian operations
will allow us to take
advantage of economies of scale and benefit
from the global network Sanmina brings,”
said Mr Appleby.
“We are growing our presence with
operations in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth
and Wellington and we will also have opportunities
to facilitate high-volume, low-cost manufacturing
through Sanmina’s Asian facilities
where appropriate.”
Startronics Group Director Sales &
Marketing, Jeff Thomas, who is joining
Startronics following ten years with Sanmina
in Australia, agreed that the merger was
a win for existing and potential clients.
“The merged company will be well
positioned to serve client needs with
a presence in New Zealand and on the Australian
eastern and western seaboards,”
said Mr Thomas. “We can therefore
be in close and regular contact with our
customers, no matter where they are located
allowing more scope for hands on design
modification, quick turnaround and speedy
delivery.”
STARTRONICS
New Zealand
Based in Wellington, the 1,200
square metre facility reaffirms
Startronics’ commitment
towards the New Zealand market.
With a 35% growth over the
past 12 months, the New Zealand
facility holds a strong and
well respected position in
the local electronics market.
The Wellington-based facility
is confident to continue this
growth trend for the foreseeable
future as it has the capability
of building almost all electronic
products from the most modern
multilayer double-sided PCBs
to the oldest design through-hole
products for large and small
scale production.
Traditionally one of the
main hurdles for customers has been the
cost of test equipment relative to the
product’s annual volume. With this
in mind Startronics New Zealand recently
installed a software-based functional
test station – programmable to test
most product functions without the need
for costly dedicated equipment.
Startronics New Zealand is complementing
its RoHS capability investment with the
installation of new processes specifically
to ensure any product or component changes
that are implemented conform to RoHS requirements.
The newest addition to our client base
is Tekron International – renowned
for its power station monitoring equipment.
Full scale production in Wellington begins
early April, 2007.
For more information see article New Product
Introduction – Tekron International.
For any enquiries, please contact our
NZ office: +64 4566 3427
RoHS:
THE HIDDEN COSTS
Ignoring RoHS compliance regulations
and industry standards may
severely impact your business.
Non Compliance
If you currently or plan to sell your products in the European Union and haven’t
designed them as lead free you run serious risk of lost sales and or prosecution.
Some products are exempt but don’t take the risk, there is no such thing
as nearly compliant.
Missed Market
Opportunities
Business opportunities may be
lost if you’re not RoHS compliant. Be informed
in advance, all new products should be designed lead free and have completed
plans in place to replace old non compliant products.
End of life for
non-RoHS Parts
Most suppliers are now stating
that non-RoHS parts are non-returnable
and many customers are finding
that soon after designing new
products the parts are
replaced by lead-free versions leaving them with expensive redesign costs.
Work closely
with your supply chain or through your account manager as you require advice
to procure your specific components.
Redundant Parts,
Counterfeit Parts
There are countless counterfeit
components in circulation which
unfortunately are sold as genuine
parts. Trouble is you may not
find out until these items
are loaded on your product. This is good reason to let an organisation
like Startronics who specialises
in supply-chain sourcing with
reputable suppliers
manage your
component sourcing.
Fast Track Redesign
Redesigning products because
of components becoming obsolete
is a common occurrence. Startronics
specialises in taking customers
existing leaded
boards and providing
a robust Design For Manufacture (DFM) service that helps you avoid the
fragility of any redesign requirements.
Manufacturing
Equipment Replacement
If you manufacture your own products
the requirements of RoHS alloys
could be very harsh on any current manufacturing equipment, i.e.: higher
temperatures
are required for RoHS processing. Consider carefully if you feel your
production equipment is able to fully control this new manufacturing
process environment.
Self Converting
of your RoHS Compliant BOM Structure
Expect a large task to complete
if you require your design engineering
staff to convert your products, item by item, to RoHS compliant BOMs.
Trying
to be a ‘would-be’ expert
This is a very dangerous practice
unless you have the required
expertise in all aspects relating
to RoHS compliance. Startronics
has experts
dedicated to this
task.
Legal Battles
and Confiscated Goods
If you follow the RoHS Guide
Lines featured in the summer
2007 edition of The Star (RoHS:
Top Ten Tips), the likelihood
is that
you will
not have any
serious
issues or suffer the consequences of legalities.
For more information
or a customised presentation on key
issues
concerning the RoHS and WEEE
directives, contact Startronics’ RoHS
Product Manager on (02) 9748
6626 or
email rohs@startronics.com.au
RoHS: TOP TEN TIPS
Optimise your resources and extend
the long-term reliability of your
electronic products with 10 effective
tips encompassing simplicity and
industry know-how.
Do not assume anything relating
to the Restrictions on
Hazardous Substances as well
as the
Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment directives.
Know the RoHS & WEEE
directives and legislation
in the countries
or member states to which
your product is sold.
Know what category
your product fits into.
If you are unsure
if your product is exempt of
the legislation compliance,
obtain a high level opinion
to confirm the product status.
Make a list of the
product components that are ‘most
at risk’ of
RoHS non-compliance.
Note: Do not overlook
cables and
metalwork.
Complete a detailed
RoHS assessment of your product
with an intensive
review of the articles
on your ‘most
at risk’ list.
Keep a complete
history of compliance and traceability
for each component
that is part of your product.
Keep in constant
communication with your Manufacturing
Partner regarding the ‘Processing’ of
your product.
Ensure your manufacturing
drawings reference
the requirement for RoHS
compliance and your
suppliers are fully conversant
with
the requirement.
Ensure any product
or component changes
that are implemented conform
to RoHS requirements
are thoroughly documented as
to changes which
are activated, plus the implementation
date of any material change.
For more information
or a customised
presentation on key issues concerning
the RoHS and WEEE directives, contact
Startronics’ RoHS Product Manager
on (02) 9748 6626 or email
rohs@startronics.com.au
Your
RoHS Compliance Partner
Never
has the electronics industry faced a
bigger challenge than it does today with
the
transition to be compliant with the European
Union’s Restrictions on Hazardous
Substances (RoHS). Lead (Pb), among other
substances in electronic products, has
come under regulatory scrutiny which instigated
these regulations as well as the Waste
Electrical & Electronic Equipment
(WEEE) directives. Both regulations have
now expanded on an international scale.
The accelerating pace of technological
change and the volatility of market behaviour
validate the requirement to
become RoHS complaint. Component suppliers
are leading the way in this transition
with a wholesale commitment of component
conversion to a RoHS compliant status.
Companies marketing goods into
areas requiring RoHS and
WEEE compliance will need to demonstrate
an appropriate ‘due diligence’
review to verify RoHS compliance of
their products. Non-compliant goods will
incur penalties varying from fines to
possible revoking of import licence
status. In real terms, the increasing
non-availability of Sn/Pb components will
drive products to RoHS compliant
conversion.
Startronics has proven expertise with
many successful projects addressing
the
complex criteria to be RoHS compliant.
We invested heavily in new equipment
to
facilitate the requirements of RoHS compliant
manufacturing.
The company selected SAC 305 as our Pb-Free
solder of choice – a eutectic solder
having a melting point
of 217¡C. As such, we now have a
soldering temperature that is 30¡C
higher than the previous Sn/Pb process.
This has significantly diminished our
available ‘process window’
which emphasises the requirement of the
Design for Manufacture (DFM) review process.
Startronics draws upon its experience
in a structured DFM review process to
create a strong foundation for
a robust and long-term product. During
this process, issues affecting all the
requirements for
defect-free manufacturing are objectively
evaluated. This process will significantly
extend the long-term reliability
of our customers’ electronic products.
Startronics
welcomes you to our practical RoHS
presentation addressing key issues
such as:
Pb-Free
Manufacturing with Hybrid components
Design for Manufacture
Robust PWA Outcomes
Startronics
implements world class Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) System
On
completion of the merger in
August 2004,
Startronics decided to make
the largest investment in the company’s
history by investing in a global
tier1 Electronic Resource Planning
(ERP) system MOVEX. This Swedish
system is designed specifically
for complex multi Stock Keeping
Units (SKU) manufacturing companies
and is used by many global companies
such as Alfa Laval, Assa Abloy,
Boeing, Ricoh, SMC, to name a
few.
This infrastructure investment
is designed for optimal operational
and performance reporting solution
to serve the new combined entity
and the company’s customers.
With more than 75,000 SKUs accross
a multi-site, labour-intensive
and
often complex manufacturing process,
the challenge was providing clarity
and well supported metrics aligned
to the new, improved structure.
With this objective and the vision
of providing Virtual Technology
Manufacturing (VTM) to the market,
the CEO commissioned the Reporting
Project which has now been completed.
This
integrated solution covers
all areas
of sales, engineering, purchasing,
manufacturing, inventory management
and service. Startronics’
staff can now monitor key areas
of our business with the ability
to drill-down on developing or predicted
issues as they are highlighted.
Key performance measures are available
graphically and in real-time on
the company’s intranet with
optional analysis by customer,
facility,
customer manager, buyer, product
and assembly-process element (workstation).
Similarly, historical trends and
performance against plans are also
available online. Using
industry-standard Microsoft Office
tools, sections of the Reports
Suite
have been provided via direct integration
of these tools with production
MRP
data and systems. Automated workbooks
draw real-time demand, pricing
and
item usage data from MRP for planning,
purchasing and engineering. These ‘smart workbooks’ assist
Startronics’ staff with up-to-date
spreadsheets and in the least time
possible.
MEETS YOUR
DEMANDS
As
new customers bring new unique
requirements,
we can now prototype new solutions
and implement with them. New developments
for HPM & Vision Fire and Security
are already underway. Similarly,
we will be strengthening our VTM
offering through increased systems
integration with our supply chain
partners.
