Gen3 Systems acquires PSP and quadruples size of its UK and Ireland distributed range
FARNBOROUGH, UK – February 7, 2008 – Gen3 Systems Limited today announces its acquisition of Process Support Products (PSP) whose founder, Peter Marshall, will now bring his significant industry experience and expertise to Gen3 Systems by spearheading the company’s entire UK and Ireland business development with Gen3’s existing domestic sales team.
Gen3 Systems MD Graham Naisbitt (left) with PSP Founder Peter Marshall
Marshall previously held senior management positions within KSM International (based in Glasgow, Scotland); DEK Printing Machines (for DEK Albany division, based in Weymouth, Dorset), and Surf Systems (based in Leicester, East Midlands).
PSP exclusively distributes a market leading range of process solutions to support SMT assembly. This range complements Gen3 Systems’ range of existing UK manufactured test and measurement systems that are sold globally, and related equipment ranges that Gen3 distributes exclusively within the UK and Ireland.
The PSP merger will now bring around 15 new product families to Gen3 Systems for exclusive distribution within the UK and Ireland, including:
- Automatic optical inspection (AOI) machines from the global leading supplier Marantz that automate the inspection process, available in either desktop or in-line formats.
- Selective soldering machines from the world’s fast growing selective soldering specialist, US manufacturer ACE Production Technologies, that allow the automated soldering of through-hole electronic components onto PCBs.
- Powerful and highly effective portable ultrasonic stencil cleaning machines from Japanese specialist SAWA Corporation.
- Reusable (patent-pending) universal custom tooling supports – called VacuNest – that mould to the shape of any complex device to provide safe underside support during assembly, from French specialist Novatec.
- Unique and patented jet wave soldering machines from Kirsten that can solder both conventional and surface mount components using an extremely flexible, single, hollow jet wave that delivers a level of precision beyond that achievable by any other mass soldering method.
“PSP draws together a select range of smart process solutions designed to fine tune the assembly process window and ensure robust, reliable, dependable and controlled manufacturing,” explains PSP Managing Director, Peter Marshall. “When combined with Gen3’s equipment ranges we will now be able to address quite a wide range or process and quality control issues due to the broad range of solutions we are now able to draw upon.”
“All the PSP products perfectly complement our existing engineering reliability test and production equipment lines,” explains Gen3 Systems Managing Director, Graham Naisbitt.
“Although this merger will strictly be limited to the UK and Ireland, it must be remembered that the UK alone remains the fifth largest global market for electronics worth an estimated £55 billion1, and second only to Germany in Europe.
“Since the significant migration of large volume electronics production out of the UK, many – if not most – have ignored this fact yet the size and significance of the UK market should not be so quickly underestimated. Gen3 Systems is proud to be a UK-based global manufacturer and now with this merger, the UK/Ireland distributor of a total of 20 specialist engineering, assembly and reliability testing product categories.”
(1) Source UK Trade & Investment.
About Process Support Products
All production engineers know that reducing PPM (parts per million) end of line defects to the minimum is an absolute priority. Optimising your SMT assembly to improve process yield is a “right of way” to achieve the least possible PPM defects. Process Support Products draws together a select range of smart process solutions to fine tune the SMT process window. This will ensure robust, reliable, dependable and controlled manufacturing. 25 years involvement with SMT manufacturing has qualified our company to have made the right definitive choices with regard to the products and services we are able to offer.
About Gen3 Systems
Gen3 Systems is dedicated to tackling the demanding electronics reliability challenges of lead-free assembly and further electronics miniaturisation. The company is a specialist manufacturer of test and measurement equipment used to predict the reliability of electronic circuits and systems in the field. In addition, the company designs and manufactures conformal coating process equipment in both in-line and bench-top formats.
Gen3 Systems’ Managing Director Graham Naisbitt is a member of the IEC’s TC91 WG3, the working group that formulates test standards for the assembly industry. He is also leader of Solderability Testing Standard IEC 60068-2-69, Co-leader of Solderability Testing Standard IEC 60068-2-54, Co-Chair of IPC-TM-650 Test Methods Sub-Committee, and Member of IPC-J-STD 002 and IPC-J-STD 003, among many others.
Gen3 Systems is founded on the former Concoat Systems Limited. Concoat Systems and its company slogan “Engineering Reliability in Electronics” (which has been retained by Gen3 Systems) was a familiar name in Europe, Asia and much of North America. The new company was launched by its family owners after former sister company Concoat Limited was sold to US firm Chase Corporation in 2005.
Process Product Support is the new UK / Ireland market Division for Gen3 Systems, also bringing together many new distributed products from Marantz (AOI), ACE (Selective Soldering), Kirsten (Jet Wave Soldering), SAWA (specialist USC Systems) as well as R&D Technical Services (Vapour-Phase Systems), MB Tech (Cleaning Systems) and several others.
Gen3 Systems operates from new premises near Farnborough Business Park, on the M3 corridor and just 30 minutes from London’s Heathrow Airport. The company has an entirely new management team focused on the needs and requirements of its customers around the world.
Gen3 Systems also provides training, equipment and expertise for manufacturers requiring assessment of their electronic products’ reliability. The company also assists with standards development via both the IPC and IEC.
The company’s product range and services include:
- AUTOSIR Surface Insulation Resistance (SIR) test system
- MUST 3 solderability test system
- SOLDAPRO thermal profilers
- CM SERIES cleanliness test systems
- SC SERIES spray conformal coating systems, both batch and in-line
- DC SERIES dip conformal coating systems, both batch and in-line
- TEST SERVICES for circuit reliability, solderability and cleanliness
7th Feb 2008
