EPIC Technologies Expands Capacity and Capabilities in Mexico

EPIC Technologies Expands Capacity and Capabilities in Mexico

May 6, 2004 – Jaurez, Mexico – EPIC Technologies has recently added two new surface mount technology (SMT) lines to its facility in Juarez, Mexico. The two new Siemens SMT lines bring EPIC’s Mexico capacity to a total of seven lines. Steve Fraser, who is General Manager of EPIC’s Norwalk, Ohio facility, says his company specifically uses Siemens machinery because of its quick changeover capability which allows for more flexibility as well as accuracy of placements.

Fraser says, “EPIC is constantly evaluating equipment so we can provide our customers with efficient, flexible and high quality service. In addition to the new Siemens SMT lines, we have added another EPM wave solder machine, EPM vapor phase rework station for fine pitch, flip chip and BGA devices, and two vapor phase inline reflow ovens in our Juarez location.”

The EPM vapor phase reflow ovens use an inert Teflon solution, which will not leave a residue on the printed circuit boards that go through it. These ovens use a technology, originally developed for mil-spec soldering, due to its high quality and reliability. This technology was phased out years ago because it relied primarily on Freon-based solutions. The new technology is environmentally safe, and EPIC has found it to be a highly reliable and flexible technology. One of the advantages of the vapor phase Reflow ovens is the lower operating temperatures (lead solder 200oC and lead free 230 oC). This technology also enables EPIC to be poised to handle most lead-free alloys in a process that is fully compatible with current tin/lead processes.

EPIC’s 70,000 square foot operation in Juarez opened in July 2002 with just over 100 employees. The staff grew to 260 workers last summer, and EPIC’s current employment in Mexico is over 600 people. In addition, the operation has implemented a 24/7 schedule since January to provide additional capacity and flexibility. The success in Juarez has led EPIC’s management to conduct a preliminary analysis to expand their Mexican operations, possibly with an additional site in late 2004.

EPIC’s Vice President of Operations Jochen Lipp says, “We have found a talented labor pool in Juarez. We are very satisfied with the technical capabilities of all of our employees in Juarez, Norwalk and El Paso. They work side by side to make sure our customers are happy and receive the same high quality product no matter where it is manufactured.”

EPIC’s customers include original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the medical, automotive, industrial control and consumer electronics industries.

EPIC is a privately held, full-service independent provider of customized electronics manufacturing services with headquarters in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The company operates two manufacturing facilities – EPIC Technologies, in Norwalk, Ohio and in Juarez, Mexico, and a materials facility in El Paso, Texas. All of its facilities have ISO/TS16949:2002 certification to meet the requirements automobile manufacturers mandate in North America, Europe and Asia. Services include complex printed circuit board assembly using surface mount technology (SMT) and pin through-hole (PTH) interconnection technologies.

Contact:
Todd Baggett
Director of Business Development
EPIC Technologies
810-210-1319

WHAT CUSTOMERS SAY ABOUT EPIC...

"There are several things they [EPIC] do in their plant that we want to adopt here."

"No one else is even close to as good as EPIC in Juarez. "

"I liked the simplicity of EPIC's manufacturing approach."

"They are lean, their material handling is outstanding and their overhead is not big."

"In 14 years never met a more dynamic management team."