Successful Year For Labtech Limited

Source: Labtech Microwave

The acquisition of a new business, £800,000 investment in new equipment, expansion of our global sales network and development of niche markets have contributed towards a successful year for Labtech Limited.

A leading manufacturer of microwave printed circuit boards, MMIC packaging solutions and microwave broadband components, Labtech is a subsidiary of Intelek plc, which supplies leading edge electronic components and systems for the satellite, wireless communications and aerospace sectors.

Following the purchase of the assets of Filtronic Components Limited's Microwave Components design and manufacturing facility located in Milton Keynes in March this year, Labtech divided its operations into two divisions - Labtech Circuits in Presteigne and Labtech Microwave in Milton Keynes - employing a workforce of 120.

Due to the acquisition, Labtech has extended its range of microwave manufacturing services to existing and new customers who operate in the Defence, SatCom and Telecommunication markets, creating many new opportunities not previously accessible.

Labtech Microwave offers a range of passive and active Microwave Components, Low Noise and MultiOctave Amplifiers, MultiOctave PIN Diode Switches, DLVAs, Thin Film Microwave Circuit Manufacture, Box-Build Assembly and Build-to-Print Microwave Module Assembly and Test.

Labtech Circuits manufactures Microwave PCBs, MMIC Packaging Solutions and offers an RF Machining service.

News in brief:

  • Labtech Microwave secured the ISO 9001: 2000 quality standard in October.
  • Two divisions working well together and future is very positive, with a number of new products scheduled to be launched in the new year.
  • Compared to competitors in the PCB industry Labtech is doing extremely well despite continued competition from low cost producers in the Far East.
  • Labtech continues to invest in research and development, leading edge equipment and technology and highly skilled staff to stay ahead of competitors.
  • Exciting new technologies under development include MMIC packaging solutions that are used by several blue chip customers.
  • Labtech remains a dominant force in the telecoms microwave infrastructure market.
  • Labtech Microwave facility had raised its profile in the European defence market with early success. Microwave products are used in a wide range of applications including radar systems, satellite communications, electronic warfare and automotive collision avoidance systems.
  • Equipment purchased during 2005 by Labtech Circuits includes a second UV laser from LPKF, a dedicated precision thin dielectric and inner layer processing facility including a DES (Develop, Etch and Strip) line supplied by WISE of Italy and a new high speed precision exposure system supplied by Automa-tech of France.
  • New equipment improves the processing of thin dielectric layers (0.05mm) and achieves reduced track and spaces (0.05mm), track tolerances ±0.013mm, side alignment to 0.005mm and image to panel alignment of ±0.015mm - meeting technically difficult microwave PCB requirements.
  • To meet the challenges of finer PCB features and complex multilayer structures, Labtech has purchased the latest Discovery 6 AOI system supplied by Orbotech, a Lenz precision drill router and LPKF protomat routers.
  • Company has invested £2 million in the last two years in equipment and processes to meet the need for integrated multilayer structures and thin dielectric wire bondable softboard pcbs together with the acquisition of the Microwave Components design and manufacturing facility in Milton Keynes.
  • Company continues to expand its global sales force, now having a presence in countries such as Japan for the first time.
  • Business in North America during 2005 has doubled and the company has been on trade missions to South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia and India.

Plans for 2006:

To ensure that Labtech remains a major European supplier of microwave components and microwave manufacturing services in a niche market, the company aims to:

  • Consolidate its strong position
  • Launch exciting new products
  • Penetrate new markets and win new customers
  • Continue investment
  • Expand its global sales network
  • Attend the MTT-S Show in the USA in June and the European
  • Microwave Show in September

SOURCE: Labtech Microwave