David Savastano, Editor09.10.14
Epec Engineered Technologies Brings Expertise in PCBs to the Flexible PE Market
It is not surprising that industry leaders in the printed circuit board segment have found that their experience translates well to the printed electronics field. This is certainly the case at Epec Engineered Technologies, a New Bedford, MA-based designer and manufacturer of customized, build-to-print products, for all sectors of the electronics industry.
Epec Engineered Technologies has more than six decades of experience in the electronics field, from its beginnings in 1952 through the merger of Electralab with Printed Electronics Corporation, forming Electralab Printed Electronic Corp (EPEC).
“We are the oldest production printed circuit board company in North America, perhaps in the world,” Ed McMahon, CEO of Epec Engineered Technologies, said. “Our 60-plus year history of Epec is connected to the development of the PCB and electronics industry.
“We are proud to be one of the fastest growing companies in the electronics sector, with more than 100 passionate and dedicated employees throughout North America, Asia, and Western Europe,” McMahon added.
Epec has a wide range of innovations, including developing PCBs for National Aeronautics Space Administration’s (NASA) 1969 Moon landing.
“Epec was given the opportunity to manufacture circuit boards for the Apollo 11 spaceflight,” McMahon noted. “The Apollo 11 spaceflight landed the first humans Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jr. on the Earth’s Moon.”
Over the years, Epec has partnered with more than 5,000 customers in a wide variety of market segments.
“We focus on the design and manufacturing of highly reliable electronics for medical devices, test and measurement equipment, military and aerospace electronics, portable and consumer electronics, industrial applications, and the automotive and transportation industry,” McMahon said. “Our solutions provide a cost savings, technical resource and delivery advantage for our customers.
Epec works closely with its customers to develop technologies and processes that help solve customer problems. For example, through its acquisition of UPE in 2012, Epec is at the forefront of the Heavy/Extreme Copper PCB business.
“We have manufactured boards with 120 ounces of copper and have the ability to provide 200 plus ounces of copper on the outer layers of the PCB,” McMahon said. “Additionally, we have a proven process of implanting copper slugs inside of FR-4 laminate for extremely high voltage applications. There has been great response from the military industry, which is currently utilizing Heavy/Extreme copper circuit boards in applications such as weapons control systems, power supplies for radar systems, power distribution panels and monitoring systems.
“PowerLink is a technology we have developed that allows multiple copper weights to occupy the same layer of circuitry,” he added. “This technology enables the PCB designer to have logic circuits and power circuits on the same plane.
“The mission is simple: design and engineer top quality solutions for world-class products,” McMahon concluded. “Our complete range of services allows us to fulfill each stage of the customers’ needs from concept to production. We have the expertise and track record for delivering projects in conjunction with our customers’ engineering teams as well as turn-key projects. We have experience with hundreds of projects and are well suited for product concepts at the earliest stage. Through collaboration, our design and engineering group can contribute their knowledge to help minimize unit production costs of finished products and reduce project risks. The technical skillset in component products makes sure that each design is robust and saleable.”
With Epec’s experience in the PCB market, it was a natural fit to expand into the flexible and printed electronics field. In 2008, Epec took part in a significant investment in flex and rigid flex manufacturing capabilities. With an eye on supporting customer demand for reliable, consistent designs, Epec entered into the medical, military and aerospace industries, led by Paul Tome, Epec’s Flex & Rigid Flex product manager.
“Mr. Tome is one of the best leaders in the flexible PCB industry and on our team,” McMahon said. “As the product manager, Paul oversees our entire Flex & Rigid-Flex product line. His main responsibility is customer technical support. He is involved in each project from the beginning conceptual stages to delivery. He works directly with customers on their specific design requirements and makes sure that each product is designed correctly, troubleshooting any issues that may arise in the process.
Adding an online quote and ordering site for flexible circuits is another innovation from Epec.
“We offer our customers our InstantFLEXQuote, our in-house developed online quote and ordering tool,” McMahon noted. “We were able to integrate the tool into our rigid PCB tool InstantPCBQuote. There are a lot of online rigid PCB quote and ordering sites out on the Internet today, but our solution is the only one which allows flex circuits to be ordered online.”
Epec’s leaders believe that the outlook for the printed electronics market for the coming years is strong.
“Printed electronics will have a much larger role in OEM designs over the coming years,” McMahon noted. “Whether it is the change to energy saving low voltage applications that will allow printed silver on polyester to be used as a low cost substrate to the advances in 3D printing of electric circuits, these are sure to be changes in the PCB landscape.
“Companies will need to invest in the technology and equipment to provide these services in order to offer their customers the highest and the most innovative of technologies,” McMahon added. “Epec has made the investment in people, equipment and strategic partnerships to be in a position today to service our customers with these products.”
It is not surprising that industry leaders in the printed circuit board segment have found that their experience translates well to the printed electronics field. This is certainly the case at Epec Engineered Technologies, a New Bedford, MA-based designer and manufacturer of customized, build-to-print products, for all sectors of the electronics industry.
“We are the oldest production printed circuit board company in North America, perhaps in the world,” Ed McMahon, CEO of Epec Engineered Technologies, said. “Our 60-plus year history of Epec is connected to the development of the PCB and electronics industry.
“We are proud to be one of the fastest growing companies in the electronics sector, with more than 100 passionate and dedicated employees throughout North America, Asia, and Western Europe,” McMahon added.
Epec has a wide range of innovations, including developing PCBs for National Aeronautics Space Administration’s (NASA) 1969 Moon landing.
“Epec was given the opportunity to manufacture circuit boards for the Apollo 11 spaceflight,” McMahon noted. “The Apollo 11 spaceflight landed the first humans Neil Armstrong and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jr. on the Earth’s Moon.”
Over the years, Epec has partnered with more than 5,000 customers in a wide variety of market segments.
“We focus on the design and manufacturing of highly reliable electronics for medical devices, test and measurement equipment, military and aerospace electronics, portable and consumer electronics, industrial applications, and the automotive and transportation industry,” McMahon said. “Our solutions provide a cost savings, technical resource and delivery advantage for our customers.
Epec works closely with its customers to develop technologies and processes that help solve customer problems. For example, through its acquisition of UPE in 2012, Epec is at the forefront of the Heavy/Extreme Copper PCB business.
“We have manufactured boards with 120 ounces of copper and have the ability to provide 200 plus ounces of copper on the outer layers of the PCB,” McMahon said. “Additionally, we have a proven process of implanting copper slugs inside of FR-4 laminate for extremely high voltage applications. There has been great response from the military industry, which is currently utilizing Heavy/Extreme copper circuit boards in applications such as weapons control systems, power supplies for radar systems, power distribution panels and monitoring systems.
“PowerLink is a technology we have developed that allows multiple copper weights to occupy the same layer of circuitry,” he added. “This technology enables the PCB designer to have logic circuits and power circuits on the same plane.
With Epec’s experience in the PCB market, it was a natural fit to expand into the flexible and printed electronics field. In 2008, Epec took part in a significant investment in flex and rigid flex manufacturing capabilities. With an eye on supporting customer demand for reliable, consistent designs, Epec entered into the medical, military and aerospace industries, led by Paul Tome, Epec’s Flex & Rigid Flex product manager.
“Mr. Tome is one of the best leaders in the flexible PCB industry and on our team,” McMahon said. “As the product manager, Paul oversees our entire Flex & Rigid-Flex product line. His main responsibility is customer technical support. He is involved in each project from the beginning conceptual stages to delivery. He works directly with customers on their specific design requirements and makes sure that each product is designed correctly, troubleshooting any issues that may arise in the process.
Adding an online quote and ordering site for flexible circuits is another innovation from Epec.
“We offer our customers our InstantFLEXQuote, our in-house developed online quote and ordering tool,” McMahon noted. “We were able to integrate the tool into our rigid PCB tool InstantPCBQuote. There are a lot of online rigid PCB quote and ordering sites out on the Internet today, but our solution is the only one which allows flex circuits to be ordered online.”
Epec’s leaders believe that the outlook for the printed electronics market for the coming years is strong.
“Printed electronics will have a much larger role in OEM designs over the coming years,” McMahon noted. “Whether it is the change to energy saving low voltage applications that will allow printed silver on polyester to be used as a low cost substrate to the advances in 3D printing of electric circuits, these are sure to be changes in the PCB landscape.
“Companies will need to invest in the technology and equipment to provide these services in order to offer their customers the highest and the most innovative of technologies,” McMahon added. “Epec has made the investment in people, equipment and strategic partnerships to be in a position today to service our customers with these products.”