Sometimes referred to as ‘system integration’, a box build creates a complete ‘boxed product’. The process involves assembling a single printed circuit board (PCB) or various PCBs into an enclosure. All the connected wiring and cables are included in the assembly. This enclosure could be made of various materials including steel, aluminium, brass, wood, plastic and acrylic.

Many different sectors rely on PCB box build assembly services. Examples include the computer industry and the medical, aerospace, defence, telecommunications and industrial markets. These fully assembled products are used within a number of applications such as computer servers and complex medical equipment. However, this full assembly service is also present in something most of us see and use every day: our smartphones.

From a PCB in a small casing to a large cabinet full of wires, a box build can take many different forms. It will vary greatly depending on the project requirements. As such, the process involved is specific to each project and can include differing degrees of complexity at each step. For example, one step could simply be placing a PCB assembly within an enclosure. A later stage, by contrast, may consist of the complex task of connecting it to a user interface display.

The most common processes involved in box build assembly include installing sub-assemblies and other components, routing cabling or wire harnesses and manufacturing enclosures. However, at EC Electronics, we offer the complete box building assembly service. We see projects through from the initial design stage to testing, logistics planning and finally the end-user delivery.

Our experts carefully study your CAD design and produce detailed drawings. These show the exact layout of the box, so you can ensure the delivered solution perfectly fits your brief. We will also give you a full specification of every component. It covers everything from the type of wiring we recommend to the size of the box and the position of the wire holes.

The product is assembled and packaged to the customer’s point of sale specification. After that, we also carry out functionality, earth bond and flash testing to ensure reliability and consistency.

Utilising a box build assembly service gives you a more streamlined process and a much smoother path to market. This is because the entire process is managed in one place. As a result, box builds can prove extremely cost-effective while maintaining high-quality control of the final product.

For over 35 years, our box build engineers have been combining core electronic manufacturing skills: PCB assembly, cable and mechanical assembly. The result is boxed products for clients, ready to deliver to their customers.

At EC Electronics, we source all the necessary components from our trusted suppliers. We have worked with them for many years. So, we know we can rely on them for quality and reliability, even when working to tight lead times and specific budgets.

We then manufacture all the electronics for the inside of the box at our factory in Romania. Next, we send the components to our specialist electronics box build facility in Theale, Reading. Here, the product is assembled and tested, going through a rigorous UK-standard quality check. Finally, it is shipped to the customer’s facility in the quantities they require, on the day they need it.

From these two locations, we provide a single-source, dedicated assembly service. Customers get the best of both worlds. The final product is manufactured in the UK and meets stringent quality standards. At the same time, it offers excellent value for money and fast delivery times.

We’d love to discuss your next electronics box build project! Get in touch with our friendly team today on +44 (0)118 9325 120 or email sales@ecelectronics.com to chat through your requirements.