News from Trackwise
Trackwise Bike Ride for CLIC Sargent
Trackwise to exhibit at LAPC 2009
New Laminates
Trackwise and TEI will be exhibiting at Electronica India 2009
Slow-moving RF material stocks which we are happy to do a deal over!
1989-2009. Trackwise celebrates 20 years
HRH the Duke of Kent visits Trackwise
Trackwise book record order intake
Trackwise reorders its manufacturing facility
Trackwise and TEI (Trackwise Epitome India) will be exhibiting at Electronica 2008
Trackwise supply antenna PCBs for London 2012 Olympic buses
Trackwise develop plastic polarising filter
Trackwise lead vendor suite at Jaybeam Wireless
Trackwise microwave materials database
Trackwise Epitome India achieves qualification with leading Antenna OEMs
Trackwise continue to invest in physical and human resources
Trackwise Epitome India
European Microwave Week
New People at Trackwise
Quality Approvals
Trackslip® Patent Granted
Knowledge Transfer Partnership
AOI Capability
New Website
Trackwise Acquisition
Trackwise wins Queens Award
Trackwise Bike Ride for CLIC Sargent
Dear All
I trust that you all have had a good summer.
The 17 year old son of one of my colleagues at Trackwise was unfortunately diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma earlier this year. He is doing pretty well with treatment but I am sure that we can all empathise and understand that it has been and continues to be a very difficult time for him and his family.
A group of Trackwise friends and colleagues are riding 60-odd miles on Saturday 4th September in aid of CLIC Sargent – ‘Caring for children and young people with cancer and their families..’
I appreciate that there are always plenty of request for charitable donations at home and abroad - but I hope that you consider this to be a good cause.
Please donate online to CLIC Sargent – www.bmycharity.com/v2/marcelleker - and any donations made will be matched 1:1 by Trackwise – so sign over your book advance and help to make a big difference.
Trackwise will acknowledge your gift on our website and in our annual newsletter.
Please give generously to this good cause.
Many thanks and best wishes
Philip
November 2009
Trackwise to exhibit at LAPC 2009
Trackwise
are pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the 5th
Loughborough Antennas & Propagation Conference 2009 to be held on
16th - 17th November 2009 in Burleigh Court Conference Centre,
Loughborough University.
"LAPC 2009 will focus on new ideas and
the latest developments in antenna technology, applied technology,
applied electromagnetics and the propagation sciences for both academia
and commerce throughout the international community."
www.lapconf.co.uk
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See below a list of latest laminates that have been released over the past month...
Rogers
RO4730 LoPro
RO4730 LoPro laminate materials combine low-loss dielectric with low-profile copper foil for reduced passive intermodulation (PIM) and low insertion loss.
http://www.rogerscorp.com/news/156/Rogers-Corp-Introduces-RO4730-LOPRO-Laminates-for-Lightweight-Low-Loss-Antenna-Designs.aspx
RO3730 series
Introducing RO3730™ antenna grade laminates - our newest antenna material offering low PIM and lower cost for high volume applications.
http://www.rogerscorp.com/news/167/Rogers-Corp-Unveils-RO3730-Laminates-for-Lightweight-Low-Cost-Antenna-Designs.aspx
CLP Industries ltd
CLP3
Antenna Grade Laminate, UL-94 rated New RF&MW Laminate Based on Low Loss Dielectric.
CLP #3 is based on CLP's established and patented lamination technology.
CLP #3 is continuously laminated using proprietary blends of polypropylene resins.
CLP #3 is an FR grade with outstanding performance and copper peel strength.
CLP #3 is Lead Free processing and RoHS compatible
Taconic
TRF-41, TRF-43, TRF-45 High Performance Laminates
TRF-41, TRF-43, and TRF-45 are suitable as a low loss alternative to FR-4 materials.
These high performance laminates are available in a variety of thicknesses with various weights of copper cladding to meet specific application requirements.
http://www.taconic-add.com/en--products--rf414345--1.php
RF-35A2 RF & Microwave Laminate
Taconic’s superior coating capabilities have enabled them to produce RF-35A2, which offers distinct performance advantages.
It has all of the benefits that you have come to expect from the RF-35 product line, including excellent copper peel strength for rework and reliability and low moisture absorption for fewer bakes and lower cost during processing.
http://www.taconic-add.com/en--products--rf35a2--1.php
Neltec
Mercurywave™ 9350 Laminate
Mercurywave™ 9350, which has a controlled dielectric constant of 3.5, is available in both copper-clad laminate and prepreg product forms.
Park offers Mercurywave™ 9350 copper-clad laminates in a wide array of thicknesses, including thin core and industry standard thicknesses of .020 and .030 inches. Mercurywave™ 9350 is lead-free assembly compatible and RoHS compliant. Mercurywave™ 9350 is well suited to RF and Microwave applications such as Broadband Communications, WiFi/WiMax and RFID, as well as Power Amplifier, Filter, Combiner, Radar and Guidance devices.
September 2009
Trackwise and TEI (Trackwise Epitome India) will be exhibiting in Bangalore at Electronica India 2009
Trackwise and TEI (Trackwise Epitome India) are pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting in Bangalore at the Electronica India 2009 Exhibition on 8-10th September 2009. www.electronica-india.com
We would be delighted to welcome you to our No: 2634 In Hall no: 2 and have the opportunity to explain our up-to-date achievements and also about exciting new developments within UK and India.
August 2009
Slow-moving RF material stocks which we are happy to do a deal over!
Please find below material list that we have excess stock and would be happy to do a deal over.
Arlon:
AR1000-062-1/1 (Dk 10.00)
Material details
Neltec:
NX9300ST0787R1R1 (Dk 3.00)
NH9338ST0813RHRH (Dk 3.38)
NY9233ST1575R1R1 (Dk 2.33)
NY9220ST0762CH/CH (Dk 2.20)
Material details
Rogers:
Duroid 5880-010/H/H (Dk 2.20)
Material details
Taconic:
TLC30-062-C1/C1 (Dk 3.00)
TLC32-062-CL1/CL1 (Dk 3.20)
TLP5-062-CL1/CL1 (Dk 2.20)
Material details
Have you a new design that would benefit using these laminates?
Do you have an existing design that you are looking at saving costs?
Please contact Philip Johnston or Conrad Bailey for more information.
Contact us here
May 2009
1989-2009. Trackwise celebrates 20 years
Trackwise is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2009. Having been founded in May 1989 as Trackwise Designs Ltd, a PCB design bureau, Trackwise soon moved into PCB manufacture. In 1986 we were asked to manufacture a very large PCB, one of the early GSM900 base station antennas.
Having survived the acquisition of the company by Philip Johnston in 2000 and the near-collapse of the TMT sector in 2001, Trackwise have gone from strength to strength, being awarded the Queen's Award for Export in 2005, acquiring its main UK competitor in 2006 to become the principal UK supplier of antenna and PTFE PCBs.
The story of Trackwise over 20 years could not have taken place without the dedication of a large number of employees - 6 of whom have now been with Trackwise for more than 10 years. Between the current employees of Trackwise, we have more than 120years of experience of manufacturing PTFE PCBs.
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March 2009
HRH the Duke of Kent visits Trackwise
Trackwise were greatly honoured by the visit of HRH the Duke of Kent as President, The Engineering Council to the company on Tuesday March 3rd.
Accompanied by HM Lord-Lieutenant for Gloucestershire, Mr Henry Elwes, HRH the Duke of Kent was welcomed by Philip Johnston - who gave him an introduction to the company and its 20 year history and then was given a tour of the Trackwise facility by Mike Prosser and Colin Hallam.
The photograph shows Conrad Bailey explaining to HRH the Duke of Kent the very wide range of products manufactured by Trackwise, including parts exported from UK to China, India and Thailand.
February 2009
Trackwise book record order intake
Driven by demand from all corners of the globe - especially AsiaPac region, Trackwise are delighted to report that in February 2009 they booked their best month of order intake for five years.
Chinese mobile infrastructure spend is soaring as the long-awaited 3G roll-out starts in earnest (equipment spending by Chinese mobile operators is estimated to hit $41bn over the next two years) and this is having a knock-on effect upon all aspects of the industry (including material lead times).
Trackwise had foreseen the current economic downturn and have reduced their factory footprint from 11,500sq.ft. to 5,000 sq.ft. (July 08 to Jan.09) in order to minimise overheads in a potentially difficult period. For the time being, this downturn has not affected Trackwise order book and the company remains very fully loaded.
December 2008
Trackwise reorders its manufacturing facility
Trackwise had broadly anticipated the current global slowdown (we should have shorted the stock market, rather than manufactured RF PCBs - far less work and far more profitable!) and as a result have recently completed a reorganisation of our manufacturing facility to suit the anticipated needs of the market in 2009 and beyond.
Trackwise have reduced their manufacturing footprint by nearly 60% without affecting capability or capacity. The more compact facility has had a strongly beneficial effect on operations, quality - and of course, overheads.
Together with the world class RF PCB manufacturing facility of Trackwise Epitome India, the new-format Trackwise is well equipped to meet the quick turn and volume manufacturing requirements of the antenna and RF community now and into the future.
October 2008
Trackwise and TEI (Trackwise Epitome India) will be exhibiting in Munich at the Electronica 2008 Exhibition
Trackwise and TEI (Trackwise Epitome India) are pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting in Munich at the Electronica 2008 Exhibition on Tuesday 11th to Friday 14th November 2008.
We would be delighted to welcome you to our Booth No B1 - 663-4 and have the opportunity to explain our up-to-date achievements and also about exciting new developments within UK and India.
August 2008
Trackwise supply antenna PCBs for London 2012 Olympic buses
Trackwise are delighted to have supplied to Skymasts Ltd antenna PCBs for a satellite-based bus information for Transport for London’s fleet of 8,000 buses. www.skymasts.com/case-studies/london.aspx#bus
The new system enables the bus operators and - in emergencies - the police and other security agencies to pinpoint the precise location of each of the 8,000 buses now in service. This a via a combination of GPS satellite data and GPRS mobile communications technology.
July 2008
Trackwise develop plastic polarising filter
Trackwise are proud to have developed a method of manufacturing a parabolic plastic polarising filter (a grid of thin parallel copper strips on a domed plastic substrate) for a demanding optoelectronics application.
For out-of-the-ordinary service for demanding RF and other applications – contact Trackwise.
July 2008
Trackwise lead vendor suite at Jaybeam Wireless
Trackwise have lead the introduction of a vendor suite arrangement at Jaybeam Wireless’ facility in Wellingborough UK www.jaybeamwireless.com whereby Trackwise and other key suppliers have set up an office and store within the Jaybeam Wireless facility and deliver product on a JIT basis against a shared build schedule.
This new method of working is a reflection of the close relationship between the two companies and is designed to allow both parties resources to be focused on removing cost from the product rather than on overheads associated with a traditional customer/supplier relationship.
Steve Roberts said (Managing Director) “The move to vendor suites is a major strategic move for Jaybeam that will eventually involve all of our major suppliers. Under this initiative vendors are required to set their own orders, manufacture to meet our schedule and deliver to their own warehouse within Jaybeam’s premises. Change of this nature requires trust and partnership; Jaybeam Wireless is delighted that Trackwise led our vendors in making this leap and with complete success”
If you would like to find out how Trackwise could work with your company in a positive and progressive manner to reduce waste, please do not hesitate to contact us.
July 2008
Trackwise microwave materials database
Trackwise continue to remain closely in touch with all developments in the specialist and fast moving supply chain of microwave materials. Their industry-standard database of all available microwave materials, available here, has recently been updated.
If you would like to keep up date with the latest developments in this complex and rapidly changing area please click to register and Trackwise will send you notification when a significant update has been made to this database.
July 2008
Trackwise Epitome India achieves qualification with leading Antenna OEMs
Trackwise Epitome India’s specialist RF PCB manufacturing facility is delighted to have achieved successful qualification with several of the worlds leading antenna OEMs and are shipping production quantities of product to these customers in Europe and also for export.
Trackwise Epitome India will be exhibiting at electronicindia 2008 www.global-electronics.net/link/en/16545148 on September 5th – 8th at Bangalore International Exhibition Center.
Please come and visit us at that exhibition to discuss your requirements for localised supply of RF PCBs for the huge opportunities that currently exist in Indian telecoms.
Please come and visit us at that exhibition to discuss your requirements for localised supply of RF PCBs for the huge opportunities that currently exist in Indian telecoms.
July 2008
Trackwise continue to invest in physical and human resources
Trackwise have continued to make significant investments – in plant and people – at their facility in Tewkesbury.
A completely rebuilt through-hole plating line including fluoroetch, a brand new DES line and a soon to be installed electroless silver line will support Trackwise and its customers’ technically demanding product mix.
In order to ensure that our customer service team fully understand our core customers needs Trackwise’ Technical Services Manager, Conrad Bailey, has attended Oxford University’s Practical Antenna Design course. The course plans to give participants the understanding of antenna theory and techniques, the skills to analyse, design and measure various antennas, and the knowledge of antenna measurements.
This morning, 3rd September 2007, Philip Johnston and Anuraag Dhoot formally announced the launch of Trackwise Epitome India, a new joint venture established to provide volume manufacturing of specialist RF PCBs for Indian-located wireless infrastructure equipment manufacturers and assemblers.
The new company brings together the high quality, high volume manufacturing expertise of Epitome India with over ten years’ specialist RF PCB know-how from Trackwise.
The RF PCB manufacturing capability is ready now at Epitome’s facility in Ahmednagar, Maharastra State, India to meet the needs of the India wireless infrastructure equipment market.
Anuraag Dhoot said ‘Epitome are very pleased to welcome Trackwise to India and are excited about the potential that the joint venture represents for both parties. Epitome have a proven track record in producing high quality products in volume and are excited about the challenges and opportunities of extending that capability into the market for RF PCBs.’
Philip Johnston said ‘Trackwise Epitome India represents a great opportunity to bring the combined skills of two leading companies to the dynamic and rapidly expanding market that is Indian wireless infrastructure. Trackwise Epitome India will enhance the local supply chain by providing a local, world-class source of top quality, competitively priced product. We are very proud to be Epitome’s partner in this venture.’
Trackwise and Trackwise Epitome India will be exhibiting in Munich at the European Microwave Week Exhibition - www.eumweek.com/Exhibition.asp?id=e - Tuesday 9th to Thursday 11th October 2007.
We would be delighted to welcome you to our stand No.314 and have the opportunity to explain about exciting new developments within the UK and India.
Please print off a free exhibition visitor ticket and registration form.
Trackwise are very pleased to welcome Xhoutian (Sky) Xi who joined Trackwise on 22nd January 2007 to take forward Trackwise's plans to develop a recycled PTFE laminate - REEETrack®.
Employed under the KTP scheme - Sky - who is academically supported by Exeter University while working at Trackwise - comes from Loughborough University where he has recently completed an MSc in Polymer Technology.
In order to compete in global and domestic markets companies manufacturing in UK need to achieve optimum efficiency and cost effectiveness, and consistent quality using state of the art systems and manufacturing techniques.
To this end Trackwise are also very pleased to welcome Colin Hallam, a very experienced PCB manufacturer, who joined Trackwise on 19th March 2007 to help take forward Trackwise's 'Good to Great' programme - focusing upon customer-facing metrics such as on-time-delivery and product quality, as well as other internal parameters.
Trackwise are pleased to announce that they have successfully upgraded their Environmental Management System to the ISO 14001-2004 standard and their Quality Management System has been revalidated to ISO9001-2000.
The independent auditor - approving the ISO14001-2004 upgrade - stated that it was 'an excellent audit'.
This is independent recognition of the importance of the environment to Trackwise and to the hard work put in by the Environmental Management team, especially Mike Prosser and Conrad Bailey.
Trackwise are pleased to announce that the UK Patent Office has notified the company of the grant of a patent on this application. Patent No. 2 418 542.
Philip Johnston said:
“Trackwise are delighted to announce that this simple – yet highly effective – solution for the sliding interface of VET antennas has been granted a patent. TrackSlip® is being used by a growing number of our domestic and international customers, testament to its effectiveness in high performance, high reliability antenna systems.”
September 14th, 2006
Knowledge Transfer Partnership – KTP:Recycling PTFE Laminate
Trackwise are pleased to announce that in cooperation with Exeter University they have been successful in their application for UK Government funding to advance their development of recycled PTFE laminate.
Knowledge Transfer Partnerships enable private and public sector research organisations to apply their research knowledge to important business problems.
Philip Johnston said:
“Trackwise are delighted to receive this important boost to our plans to bring a recycled PTFE laminate to market. This is an important development for the company and for our market sector at a time when both product pricing and product environmental impact are important factors when choosing a raw material and/or supplier.
Trackwise are delighted to be working with the University of Exeter; within the School of Engineering, Computer Science and Maths is Exeter Advanced Technologies – X-AT – the largest material research centre in the South West.
There are important synergies with existing research programmes such as a current project which investigates the recycling of plastic bumpers for the automotive industry.”
Recycled PTFE laminate is covered by International Patent Application WO 2006/056778.
REEE® not WEEE
In line with their technology roadmap, Trackwise are pleased to announce that they have ordered a Camtek Orion 806 Automatic AOI system for immediate delivery.
Philip Johnston said:
“Trackwise are delighted to announce that current programmes – notably a long term contract for a 10.5 GHz Broadband Wireless system for residential and enterprise applications - have justified this investment.
Together with Trackwise’ recent acquisition of additional production capacity this reinforces our commitment and capability to manufacture quality antenna PCBs for all wireless applications from microwave into millimetrewave frequencies“.
Future Trackwise investment plans include Lead Free HASL.
Trackwise are continually developing new products and services and adding to their technical data banks to help customers get to market quickly with high performing competitive products.
The Trackwise web site has been up graded and enhanced to make it easier for customers to find the right products and technical data and to up-date customers on new products and services and the latest news.
Please note our consignment agreements and management of Laminate stock in co-operation with our key suppliers, means we offer fast lead times for prototype and production quantities with pricing that is competitive on a global basis.
Trackwise has recently acquired the printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing assets previously used by Microwave Components Ltd (MCL), Rochester Kent.
Manufacturing has been consolidated at Trackwise’s facility in Tewkesbury Gloucestershire.
Philip Johnston, Managing Director of Trackwise, commented ‘This acquisition further enhances Trackwise’s proven capability and capacity to serve the antenna and wider radio frequency PCB market. It is a reflection of the continuing consolidation of the telecom equipment supply chain and will equip Trackwise to serve better that supply chain now and in the future.’
Trackwise is now the leading UK manufacturer of antenna and radio frequency PCBs with customers worldwide. Trackwise has the technology and capability to produce boards up to 2.8m long, specially designed for base-station antennas and fabricated on a variety of radio frequency materials.
Gloucestershire printed circuit board manufacturer Trackwise has won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade, following its success in increasing exports from £500,000 to more than £2m in just three years. The award will be presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, Mr Henry Elwes, on Wednesday July 6 at 3 pm.
Trackwise, based in Delta Drive, Tewkesbury, specialises in the manufacture of very large high-frequency printed circuit boards (PCBs) for the antennas in the cellphone base stations run by mobile phone operators around the world. The boards are anything up to 2.8 metres in length – putting them among the biggest manufactured anywhere in the world.
Formed in 1989 and bought out by local businessman Philip Johnston five years ago, Trackwise is one of the few manufacturers in the world able to make such big PCBs to the necessary high degree of precision.
The company, which employs 19 people, exports to countries around the world, including the USA, Australia, Europe and the Far East – it has even begun exporting to China, a highly-competitive exporter of PCBs to the rest of the world.
“This is the fruit of several years’ investment in equipment and personnel” said Philip Johnston, Managing Director. “We have designed and equipped our factory specifically for the manufacture of PCBs for antennas, which allows us to remain competitive by keeping quality high and cost down.
“As a small company we’re extremely proud of this achievement and the staff deserve a great deal of credit for working together so effectively to make it all possible.
“To enable the company to continue growing in the face of tough international opposition, we are now turning our skills and experience to pursue other markets within the radio-frequency and microwave industries.”
Her Majesty’s representative in Gloucestershire, the Lord Lieutenant, Mr Henry Elwes, will carry out the formal award presentation at Trackwise on Wednesday 6th July at 3 pm. The factory will be open to visitors from 2 pm. There will be a brief tour of the factory by the Lord Lieutenant, Trackwise principals and associates of the company, followed by the formal ceremony.