24 February 2016
Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
South Africans have come to trust the easy-to-use and fast-turnaround of Beta Layout’s PCB-Pool service since it entered the country several years ago. As 2015 drew to a close, high on Beta Layout’s agenda was an annual review of the South African market and an evaluation of the future of its local operations. Due to the constantly improving technology nature of the business, management had to make a decision on whether to proceed with a sizable local investment in order to maintain the quality and standards expected by their valued clients.
“To put it into context,” said a statement from Cirtech EDA “15 years ago, an etching machine with standard capabilities cost approximately €100 000. Today, a replacement model (with of course much improved technical specifications) will require almost double the CAPEX investment, upwards of €250 000. In our local environment, the PCB prototype selling prices could not follow suit and double in the same period. Furthermore, raw materials such as copper and gold and energy costs steadily increased and eroded margins year-on-year. Based on Beta Layout’s experience in South Africa as well as the market analysis gathered, Beta Layout regrettably concluded that the local market size makes it difficult to justify such a sizable investment from the group.”
Wanting to continue offering its services to the local market, Beta Layout took the decision to enter into a strategic distribution arrangement with Cirtech EDA, one of South Africa’s premier PCB suppliers. Under this partnership, Beta Layout will manufacture its PCB products in Europe and then express freight them to South Africa. The value-added services of Cirtech EDA will ensure delivery of top quality prototype PCBs to South African customers, now relabelled as ‘Made in Germany.’
“We are very excited about our new partnership with Beta Layout, and will now be in a better position to cater for very fast turnaround and smaller prototype runs for our valued clients,” said business development director Nechan Naicker. In addition, financial director Sascha Bierberg reassures that “there will be no break in business processes or any data loss or re-engineering fees for existing products. Overall, it’s business as usual, with the added benefit of a local company with decades of experience in logistics, stockholding and personal-touch service.”
As before, all SA quotes, orders, tracking and engineering queries will be administered online via https://www.pcb-pool.com/ppza/order_productconfiguration_js.html. The online quoted price will be inclusive of South African VAT as well as the courier cost to the local address. The only administrative change is that the customers’ purchase orders should be made out to Cirtech EDA (Pty) Ltd. Upon delivery, the customer will be issued with a Cirtech EDA invoice for payment.
Sylvia Smith, who has worked for many years for the local Beta Layout office, has joined Cirtech EDA to look after the Beta Layout customer sales and support.
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