Assembly
From production straight to assembly
Every industry seeks to achieve shorter lead times and lower costs for freight and rejects. Production at AMB often involves a number of our various operations, and it’s our assembly department that wraps things up and finishes the product. The ability to oversee and understand the entire production process is extremely valuable, and we also enjoy major synergies by having everything under one roof.
Automated or manual assembly
In the case of large volumes we try to automate as much of the production process as possible including inspection, assembly and packaging. For smaller series we offer manual assembly, final inspection and product traceability. We package your products and ship them ready for use at a completion stage determined by you. This allows us to maintain control throughout the production process. Our workstations carry out everything from pad printing, welding, soldering and bonding to final inspection and packaging.
Safe electronics assembly
AMB has an area (EPA) protected against electrostatic discharge with an earthed floor where we safely assemble sensitive electronics. Operators who work in the EPA are trained in safe electronics assembly and use ESD shoes, earthed wrist strap and protective clothing.
Electrostatic discharge – ESD
ESD stands for Electrostatic Discharge. Sensitive semiconductors are used in electronics, and these can be damaged by discharges; they are either destroyed immediately or only work sporadically. Latent damage can have effects long after the event.
Static electricity occurs through contact, friction and the separation of materials. Static electricity is always present in our surroundings on work surfaces, floors, chairs, clothing, packaging, workplace equipment and so forth. A person walking across the floor or working at a bench can build up a charge of several thousand volts.
Static electricity cannot be prevented, but it is possible to limit its impact through such things as training and ESD-safe areas known as EPAs.
Assembly in a clean room
Products may also need to be assembled in a clean room. Sometimes both production, such as injection molding, and assembly of components for a product takes place in the clean room. For components not produced in the cleanroom but to be brought into the room, several precautions must be taken, and specific protocols followed to ensure that the room maintains its clean environment so that the products remain clean and unaffected by particles and contaminants when handled and processed in the cleanroom environment.
All equipment and materials to be brought into the cleanroom must also be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This includes packaging and closures and the use of pass-through windows.
For example, an arterial catheter consists of more than ten components. The parts that have not already been produced in a clean room must then undergo certain procedures to be brought into the clean room. Bringing products into an ISO Class 8 cleanroom is a complex process that requires accuracy, training and adherence to rules and standards.
