Editor's Choice


Circor Solutions: Pioneering thick film circuit manufacturer in SA

31 July 2024 Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services

After spending ten years as an electronics technician in the South African Navy, Vernon Norton left to become involved with thick film hybrids, occupying various positions. Circor Solutions was started in 2005 when Norton bought out the Thick Film Hybrid division from 2C Solutions. Originally employed by 2C Solutions, he seized the opportunity when it was offered to him.

The company started out with a staff complement of six in an extended garage occupying a floor space of only 100 m2. The company continued growing from strength to strength, moving into larger premises in 2015, and then adding 300 m2 in August 2023 to the existing 260 m2, while increasing its staff count to the current 18, consisting of highly motivated team members.


Circor Solutions’ ethos is based on five pillars:

• Respect – between all customers and staff members.

• Trust – taking its responsibility seriously in its obligations to customers.

• Accountability – to remain accountable to all its stakeholders.

• Humility – to remain grounded, acknowledging any failings and striving to improve its processes.

• Communication – to realise that efficient and friendly interaction with stakeholders and within the company is vital to a successful company.


Circor Solutions is the last remaining thick film circuit manufacturer in South Africa, and provides electronics for military applications and precision electronic circuitry. As a PCB contract manufacturer, the company provides turnkey solutions for telecommunications, networking, electronic components, and industrial and consumer electronics. It offers design capabilities, with a high level of expertise, for the assembly of both conventional leaded and SMT hybrids and PCBs.

Circor does not compare themselves to the competition but rather focusses on the individual needs and demands of its customers. Its small team offers a hands-on approach, with innovative solutions to complex customer challenges encouraged and strived for, and its customers appreciate the strategic partnerships that unfold from that.

Originally starting out by providing manufacturing services driven by customer inputs and demands, Circor has since become more proactive in delivering customer-based products. Its business assists with new design ideas, and also provides software and firmware support. Over the past two years, the company has provided turnkey solutions that enable its customers to focus on their core strengths, while taking care of the product innovation and manufacturing.


Increasingly, Circor is seeing local design engineers and businesses seeking local manufacturing opportunities for their products. Despite local component supply and logistic challenges, the company remains encouraged to show its in-house depth of skill and experience in design and manufacturing, thereby keeping its customers from looking abroad.

Circor Solutions believes that with the rate at which smart devices and electronics are being added to the everyday lifestyle, more local electronics manufacturing should be encouraged, and that this is a prime opportunity for local investment by both government and the private sector.


For more information contact Circor Solutions, +27 83 293 4606, [email protected], www.circor.co.za





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

Nomso Kana: From nuclear scientist to ICT entrepreneur
Editor's Choice
A nuclear scientist turned enterprising trailblazer, Nomso is reshaping Africa’s digital landscape through her visionary venture, Simsciex Technologies.

Read more...
The impact of women in South Africa’s engineering sector
Editor's Choice
In South Africa, the presence of women in engineering is not only promoting diversity, but also driving innovation and economic growth.

Read more...
Small-scale custom development in the information age
Editor's Choice
Being able to approach potential large-scale investors with a physical prototype that shows the basic operation of an idea provides a much stronger base on which to sell the idea for further development.

Read more...
Three lessons learned from successful SMEs over the past 27 years
Editor's Choice News
Companies that prioritise employee growth and create a positive work environment tend to have higher employee retention rates and better overall performance.

Read more...
Quectel and iCORP: driving wireless technology
iCorp Technologies Editor's Choice Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT
As the IoT continues to expand, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are increasingly relied on to deliver secure, robust, short-range connectivity for IoT applications and devices ranging from customer premise equipment to Bluetooth beacons and trackers.

Read more...
How integrated on/off controllers contribute to energy-efficient system designs
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
The importance of electronic system efficiency has grown more significant, emphasising the need for solutions that promote energy efficienc,y not just during field operation, but also during production.

Read more...
Purchasing made effortless
Seven Labs Technology Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
Seven Labs Technology transforms procurement with effortless purchasing, every time. Aligning themselves as the partner in procurement, they make sure that every purchase counts by streamlining the process, making it the smart and easy way to purchase.

Read more...
Bridging the gap between MCUs and MPUs
Future Electronics Editor's Choice AI & ML
The Renesas RA8 series microcontrollers feature Arm Helium technology, which boosts the performance of DSP functions and of AI and machine learning algorithms.

Read more...
Case study: Pratley products a winner for on-the-go repairs
Editor's Choice Manufacturing / Production Technology, Hardware & Services
When Wessel Bosman drove across Africa in 2016 in a Ford F250, little did he realise he would end up stranded in a remote location and in extreme temperatures, following a gasket head problem.

Read more...
Benefits of a transformer-coupled amplifier
Altron Arrow Editor's Choice Power Electronics / Power Management
The efficiency of a Class A power amplifier is nearly 30%, which is improved to 50% by using a transformer-coupled Class A power amplifier.

Read more...