Our leading surface-mounted PCB assembly services
Produce more complex, compact designs with SMT manufacturing

EC Electronics Group is a leading electronics manufacturing services provider with five factories across the UK and Europe, with over 40 years of experience in the assembly of complex and sophisticated printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies incorporating surface mount devices.

Our PCB assembly facilities utilise the latest in solder paste and pick and place machines from Yamaha (YRM20) and Juki. With the capability to place from the smallest 01005 chips up to the largest BGA’s and SMD connectors having the capacity to place >150,000 components per hour.

Alongside the capability of our pick and place machines we would not be able to manufacture your surface-mount assemblies without the addition of our latest Yamaha solder paste printers (YCP10) that incorporate 2D solder paste inspection (SPI), and in each of our assembly lines a Heller 16-zone forced air convection reflow oven.

To back this up we have both 2D and 3D Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) machines that incorporate five multi directional 12 mega pixel cameras. These enable us to inspect the smallest of solder joints and optical character recognition (OCR) for the component markings to ensure correct component orientation and part compliance.

Looking for an electronics manufacturer that offers surface-mount technology? Get in touch.  

Our other leading services

  • Technical sales and NPI teams

  • Design for manufacture assistance
  • Cost effective worldwide sourcing of components.
  • Component lifecycle management
  • Material Traceability
  • Selective soldering
  • Wave soldering
  • Through-hole component assembly
  • Box build
  • PCB conformal coating
  • PCB potting and encapsulation
  • Functional testing
  • High and Low pressure overmoulding of connectors and pcbs

This is all supported by our excellent levels of customer service and our worldwide accredited quality approval standards which include:

  • EN ISO/IEC 80079-34:2018 standards in line with IECEx and ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU
  • Multi-site ISO9001
  • ISO14001
  • IPC-A-610 and IPC/WHMA-A-620 certified assembly operators.

Why should I choose EC Electronics for SMT manufacturing?

  • Decades of expertise. We have been manufacturing printed circuit boards since 1984. During this time, we have gained a wealth of experience — offering both through-hole and SMT for PCB assemblies to meet a range of requirements and applications.
  • Advanced surface-mount technology machines. Our high-speed pick-and-place lines can be programmed to place a full array of components, enabling us to deliver consistent assembly performance whilst giving us the capacity and flexibility to produce high-volume production batches.
  • Superior SMT components. We use only the best SMT components for the job, sourced from our extensive network of well-known manufacturers and distributors. Any moisture-sensitive components are stored in temperature and humidity-controlled chambers to ensure optimal performance.
  • Certified quality. From initial contact to the final product and beyond, quality is our number one priority. We use automated optical inspection (AOI) for thorough testing of each PCB SMT assembly, and our solid reputation is backed by several industry-recognised accreditations, including IPC-A-610 for PCB assembly.
  • Global reach. We are headquartered in the UK, but we are a global printed circuit board manufacturer with operations across the Netherlands, Romania and Hungary. Having all our locations within close range means we can deliver electronics assembly projects and parts efficiently to keep costs down and reduce turnaround times.

Unsure whether surface-mount technology is the right solution for your upcoming project?
Contact us today for a quote.

What is surface-mount technology?

Surface-mount technology is an advanced method used in electronics manufacturing where SMT components are placed directly onto the surface of the printed circuit board without the need for drilled holes. The SMT process differs from traditional through-hole technology, where components have leads that are inserted into drilled holes on the PCB and soldered. 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of surface-mount technology?

There are both advantages and disadvantages of surface-mount technology. If you are unsure whether you need surface-mount technology or through-hole technology, we can advise you on the best option for your PCB assembly. 

Surface-mount technology

  • Highly automated using surface-mount technology machines — enabling faster, more precise production at lower costs. 

  • Allows for smaller components, making it ideal for denser PCB assemblies, compact designs and high-volume production.  

  • Shorter leads reduce electrical resistance and inductance, making surface-mount technology ideal for high-speed circuits. 

Through-hole technology

  • Through-hole components have more robust physical connections, making them suitable for products requiring durability, such as industrial and automotive applications. 

  • THT can better withstand mechanical and environmental stress, especially in high-temperature or rugged conditions. 

Interested in partnering with EC Electronics for reliable, high-quality SMT manufacturing and PCB assembly? Contact us today to discuss your project requirements and get a quote.