PENANG, MALAYSIA & APPLETON, WI, USA — ESCATEC, the EMS innovator, has joined forces with Surface Mount Technology Corporation (SMT). This strategic alliance means Escatec and SMT can provide customers in the US and Europe with local support and manufacturing close to customers' design team locations and finished goods delivery locations. At the same time, Escatec's Malaysian offshore mass-manufacturing capabilities allow for improved cost-management. Experienced Program Managers within ESCATEC and SMT Corp. will continue to ensure the high levels of quality support and manufacturing service that both companies are known for as this alliance continues to grow.

 

"Customers increasingly need Just in Time delivery close to their end markets," explained Markus Walther, Chief Executive Officer of ESCATEC. "ESCATEC already has low to medium volume manufacturing capabilities in the heart of Europe at Heerbrugg, Switzerland which acts as a gateway to our low cost, high volume manufacturing facilities in Asia. SMT Corporation fits in by offering manufacturing in North America, as well as becoming a second gateway for American companies to reach reliable offshore mass production. Together ESCATEC and SMT can provide R&D and customer support wherever the customer is located, backed by manufacturing in the most appropriate location, closest to the end market, with optimal delivery time and costs."

 

Chris Sumnicht, CEO at SMT Corp., added, "It is very important for SMT to team up with a company that shares our business practices of providing customers with the highest level of quality, contract R&D services, design capabilities and world-class manufacturing so that we can give customers the best possible service.   For example, SMT's ITAR registration gives the company the ability to design and manufacture military products. ESCATEC has also invested in qualifications that enable manufacturing to very high standards such as the ISO13485 quality management standards for the manufacture of medical devices, and the ATEX directives for intrinsically safe products to be used in hazardous environments."

 

SMT Corp manufacturing facility in Appleton

 

SMT Corp. already has several customers who are interested in having products made in Europe in order to shorten delivery times and reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, ESCATEC's high volume Asian manufacturing facilities provide economies of scale and the ability to run high volume production in a cost effective manner.

 

SMT Corp. serves the Industrial Controls, Military (High Reliability), Medical and Automotive markets by providing integrated electronic product development and manufacturing services and solutions to improve product time to market. SMT Corp. offers a complete menu of services including product design, assembly, prototyping, higher level assembly, test solutions, and continuing product support.