Fringe Electronics Limited
About us
Fringe Electronics are a UK based Electronics manufacturer who provide a wide range of electronic assembly services from two sites in the UK. Services include PCB assembly, box build, full product assembly and test, sheet metal fabrication plus many other services associated with electronic assembly. The procurement team provides competitive pricing on materials from around the world, whilst the engineering team support product development, design services, DFM and component alternatives.
Whether it is a one-off fast turnaround order, scheduled deliveries or stocking arrangements, a flexible approach ensures customers are offered a tailored solution to meet their needs. All products are built to IPC-A-610 standards, fully inspected using AOI equipment and backed by our ISO-Certified systems and processes. As part of a group of UK based electronics companies with offices around the globe, Fringe are ideally suited to meet the many requirements of modern day electronic assembly and manufacturing.
With over 40 years within the Contract Electronics Manufacturing industry, Fringe continue to build on our approach that a high standard of build quality, on-time delivery and a cost-effective price are of the utmost importance to compete effectively. We are focused on developing relationships that are mutually beneficial and we offer an approach to customer service that is based on partnerships and personal service.
Products & services
Contract Electronic Manufacturing/Electronic Manufacturing Services
With facilities in Clipstone, nr Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and Hertford in Hertfordshire, Fringe Electronics are able to offer a wide range of Contract Electronic Assembly Services across the business. - Surface Mount Assembly - Conventional leaded and through hole assembly - Final assembly and box build - Wiring harnesses and looms - Conformal coating and encapsulation - Metal fabrication and finishing - Full testing and diagnostics Along with building quality products, at Fringe, we pride ourselves on going that extra mile to provide a personal service to our customers. We will manage your process from start to finish once first off approvals have been authorised. Supply Chain and Logistics Management With many year’s experience of purchasing from suppliers around the globe, you can be assured that we will always offer the most competitive pricing for the materials used within your products. We work very closely with our suppliers and always ensure materials are purchased from approved, traceable sources. Our relationships with these suppliers are often able to assist with cost reduction projects by using alternative materials where possible. If you would prefer to provide the materials ‘Free Issue’ or even part free issue, we are happy to accept these and will work with you to ensure the parts are fit for purpose with our equipment. We are happy to work with our customers to ensure you get the best service, we can accommodate various stocking arrangements such as: • Make to Order - Full materials and supply, Free Issue or Part Free Issue • Assemble to Order – For products where multiple variants are made using common materials and assemblies which are stored at our facilities. • Call-Off orders and Kanban • Scheduled Deliveries • Consignment Stock
PCB Assembly
Surface Mount Assembly Our SMT pick and place machines are placed in line to give us the flexibility to handle both low volume/prototype runs and larger volume production runs. We recognise that the solder pasting process is one of the most important processes when carrying out SMT assembly which is why we ensure that every board is pasted correctly so that our customers products are manufactured to the highest standards possible. We are able to offer double sided assembly down to 0402 and micro BGA and QFP’s. We also have the ability to use glue dots for adhesive/flowsolder of SMT components. At the end of our line each board is automatically inspected using our AOI equipment to ensure that assemblies have been made correctly. Conventional Leaded and Through Hole Assembly Although SMT is the most commonly used technology within electronics, there is still a place for traditional Through Hole components. This technology is still widely used in our own product ranges so we have many years of experience with assembling TH assembly. With workshops and staff members dedicated to component forming, insertion and assembly we can ensure that we can consistently manufacture products in line with expected quality standards and in line with our own internal quality expectations. All of our products are built to IPC-A-610 Class 2 unless otherwise requested by our customers.
Box Build
At Fringe, we don't just assemble the PCB, we are also able to fully assemble your products to the point at which it can be despatched to the end user if required. With many years of experience building products ready for distribution, our team are capable of assembling anything from small plastic enclosures to larger scale metal cabinets and panel builds. Often products that require assembly into an enclosure, panel or chassis require some form of cable assembly to connect it to external sources, whether that be to another unit, a control panel, PC or mains power. Due to this demand, a dedicated workshop was created to cut, prepare, crimp and assemble many types of cable and wiring looms from very simple earth leads to more complex looms used for automotive testing products.
Test and Inspection
Our skilled technicians can fully test, programme and configure products in accordance with your specifications and requirements. We are happy to work with equipment supplied by yourself or alternatively we can work with you to produce a bespoke test solution which fits your requirements. If functional testing is not a requirement, all products will be 100% visually inspected at various stages throughout the process. Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) at the SMT and insertion stages, plus a final visual inspection by one of our experienced inspectors ensure the products have been assembled to all documentation available. All products are inspected in line with IPC-A-610 standards.
Wiring Harnesses and Looms
Often products that require assembly into an enclosure, panel or chassis require some form of cable assembly to connect it to external sources, whether that be to another unit, a control panel, PC or mains power. Due to this demand, a dedicated workshop was created to cut, prepare, crimp and assemble many types of cable and wiring looms from very simple earth leads to more complex looms used for automotive testing products.
Design for Manufacture (DFM)
If you are in the process of introducing a new product to the market, as well as the product working as expected, it may be important to ensure that it can be manufactured on a larger scale. Here at Fringe we can assist you with suggestions to improve the manufacturability of your products to ensure it can be manufactured in larger volumes at the correct cost. Alongside offering Design for Manufacturing (DFM) support, our R&D Team are constantly working on new products and product improvements. Key areas of design expertise include: LED products – Linear, circular and bespoke light engines for the lighting industry. Analog – Switch mode power supplies, signal conditioning and sensing. Digital – Hardware and software, microprocessors – 8-32 bits. Mechanical design – for extrusions, enclosures, plastics etc.
Metal Fabrication
Our fully equipped fabrication department is ideally suited to deal with the many of our customer’s requirements. Whether it is simple modifications to free issue enclosures and boxes, or fully fabricated, painted and branded items, we can provide you with the service you need. Our core processes within the department include: • Sheet metal fabrication • Laser cutting and forming • CNC Punching and welding • Painting and specialist finishings We also have in-house mechanical design capabilities, so if you have a product that you need a bespoke enclosure for, we are able to assist with designing and manufacturing this for you. To complete the fabrication process we use trusted and established suppliers to cater for processes such as anodising, powder coating and screen printing.
Supply Chain and Logistics Management
With many years’ experience of purchasing from suppliers around the globe, you can be assured that we will always offer the most competitive pricing for the materials used within your products. We work very closely with our suppliers and always ensure materials are purchased from approved, traceable sources. Our relationships with these suppliers are often able to assist with cost reduction projects by using alternative materials where possible. If you would prefer to provide the materials ‘Free Issue’ or even part free issue, we are happy to accept these and will work with you to ensure the parts are fit for purpose with our equipment. We are happy to work with our customers to ensure you get the best service, we can accommodate various stocking arrangements such as: • Make to Order - Full materials and supply, Free Issue or Part Free Issue • Assemble to Order – For products where multiple variants are made using common materials and assemblies which are stored at our facilities. • Call-Off orders and Kanban • Scheduled Deliveries • Consignment Stock