Global demand for precision metal parts prompts US expansion

Citation

Kochan, A. (2004), "Global demand for precision metal parts prompts US expansion", Assembly Automation, Vol. 24 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2004.03324dab.004

Global demand for precision metal parts prompts US expansion

Global demand for precision metal parts prompts US expansion

Keywords: Precision, Metals

Headquartered in the UK and established across the globe over the last three decades, high- precision metal part and tooling specialist, Tecan has opened the doors to its new sales and technical support facility in California in order to ensure the best local support for its increasing customer bases in the US and rapidly emerging markets of Mexico and Asia.

The company offers single-source high- precision metal part and tooling solutions, for present-day and next-generation contract manufacturing requirements. Comprehensively, the service spans technology development, through to rapid prototyping and volume production, supported by fully-traceable QA systems (Plate 2).

Technological innovation and expertise form the basis of the company's ongoing success, and have provided the platform for the development of several core competences in process technologies which include photo-chemical machining (PCM), photo electroforming (PEF), precision photolithography, precision electroplating and metal finishing.

Plate 2 Headquartered in the UK and established across the globe over the last three decades, high-precision metal part and tooling specialist, Tecan has opened the doors to its new scales and technical support facility in California

“Our business in the US and Asia has grown substantially over the past 4 to 5 years and as a result we have decided to invest in permanent facilities based in Rancho Santa Margarita, California,” said Noel Cherowbrier, Tecan's VP International Development. “From this dedicated new facility we will support our existing US and Asian customer base, as well as develop new R&D projects and business with some of the world's leading technology companies. Furthermore, the move allows us to enhance support to our existing agency and distribution networks.”

The company's established markets include CEM, automotive, defence, industrial, medical, aerospace and telecommunications. Typical products include encoder discs, leadframes, hybrid lids, deposition masks, meshes/sieves, microreplication tools and RFI/EMC screening cans and labyrinths.

In the case of microparts – micro-photo electroformed metal parts fabricated to previously unheard of levels of accuracy and resolution – the company reports growth across a raft of new- generation application arenas, where revolutionary concepts have become reality. These micro- applications include sensors, actuators, hearing aids, medical devices, optical instruments, micro-lenses, meshes, masks, displays and micro-fluidic devices. Microparts can be manufactured to extremely small scale, with features, such as apertures, fluidic channels or raised lands, down to 2 microns – with tolerances at sub-micron levels. Similarly, the company can produce larger parts, up to 600 mm × 765 mm, with equally fine resolutions.

For further information, please contact: Noel Cherowbrier, VP International Development, Tecan, 30021 Thomas Street, Suite 300, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688, USA. Tel: 1-877-998-3226 (toll free); Fax: 1-877-990- 4700 (toll free); E-mail: sales@tecan-inc.com; Web site: www.tecan-inc.com