After many frustrating hours spent debugging a design schematic, the last thing engineers and electronics hobbyists need is the further hassle of spending upward of 15 hours procuring components. Instead, a more convenient approach is available through the acquisition of a turnkey assembly contract, a type of service offered by certain PCB assemblers that removes the responsibility of ordering components and assembly off the customer’s shoulders. With a turnkey assembly service, the client simply submits the design files and the assembler handles the rest.

There are two types of turnkey services: Full turnkey and partial turnkey. With full turnkey, the entire process — including ordering all the components, online tracking, assembly, quality control, and final shipment — is handled by the assembler. Meanwhile, partial turnkey services allow users to provide some of the components themselves, while allowing the assembler to order the remaining components and/or boards.

Both methods are far more convenient than individually selecting each component; however, for the fastest and most stress-free solution, full turnkey typically is the choice. Below are seven reasons demonstrating why:

1. The project is owned by the assembler until completion, thus incentivizing them to finish the job as quickly as possible.

2. Development speed and quality usually is improved because assemblers use components conducive to the their equipment and assembly technology.

3. All components and services are consolidated within a single purchase order; there is no need to coordinate separate POs for each stage of the project. Sourcing, assembly, and quality control are all performed by the contractor, making the process as convenient as possible.

4. Procuring components through the assembler allows users to take advantage of the assembler’s partnerships with electronic suppliers. It’s not uncommon for the turnkey assemblers to have dedicated sourcing experts on staff whose sole responsibility is purchasing boards and components.

5. Expert handling optimizes supply and material usage and reduces the potential for lost parts, resulting in an increased cost savings on material.

6. Integrating each aspect of the development phase yields consistent and accurate end-products. For example, automated machine-assembly delivers consistency across every unit produced.

7. A shorter development cycle translates to a shorter time-to-market distribution. The less time spent transitioning from phase to phase the faster a product will be completed.

After many frustrating hours spent debugging a design schematic, the last thing engineers and electronics hobbyists need is the further hassle of spending upward of 15 hours procuring components. Instead, a more convenient approach is available through the acquisition of a turnkey assembly contract, a type of service offered by certain PCB assemblers that removes the responsibility of ordering components and assembly off the customer’s shoulders. With a turnkey assembly service, the client simply submits the design files and the assembler handles the rest.

There are two types of turnkey services: Full turnkey and partial turnkey. With full turnkey, the entire process — including ordering all the components, online tracking, assembly, quality control, and final shipment — is handled by the assembler. Meanwhile, partial turnkey services allow users to provide some of the components themselves, while allowing the assembler to order the remaining components and/or boards.

Both methods are far more convenient than individually selecting each component; however, for the fastest and most stress-free solution, full turnkey typically is the choice. Below are seven reasons demonstrating why:

1. The project is owned by the assembler until completion, thus incentivizing them to finish the job as quickly as possible.

2. Development speed and quality usually is improved because assemblers use components conducive to the their equipment and assembly technology.

3. All components and services are consolidated within a single purchase order; there is no need to coordinate separate POs for each stage of the project. Sourcing, assembly, and quality control are all performed by the contractor, making the process as convenient as possible.

4. Procuring components through the assembler allows users to take advantage of the assembler’s partnerships with electronic suppliers. It’s not uncommon for the turnkey assemblers to have dedicated sourcing experts on staff whose sole responsibility is purchasing boards and components.

5. Expert handling optimizes supply and material usage and reduces the potential for lost parts, resulting in an increased cost savings on material.

6. Integrating each aspect of the development phase yields consistent and accurate end-products. For example, automated machine-assembly delivers consistency across every unit produced.

7. A shorter development cycle translates to a shorter time-to-market distribution. The less time spent transitioning from phase to phase the faster a product will be completed.

The combination solidifies Summit’s position as one of the largest privately owned printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturers in North America with a  footprint that will now encompass eight manufacturing facilities. The acquisition significantly broadens the scope of Summit’s product offering while expanding the company’s business portfolio of key customers and end markets.

May 4, 2022 Anaheim, CA – Summit Interconnect is pleased to announce the acquisition of Royal Circuit Solutions with California operations in Hollister and Santa Ana and affiliate Advanced Assembly located in Aurora, Colorado.  The acquisition expands Summit’s PCB offering in rigid, flex, rigid/flex and ATE PCBs, significantly strengthens engineering and service resources providing CAM, DFM/A, PCB design/layout, and also adds quick-turn, prototype SMT assembly services.

The combined company will provide best-in-industry use of software applications that integrate and automate engineering, stack ups, quoting, production management and customer interface.  This highly developed platform will significantly improve speed and service to our valued customers.

Shane Whiteside, President and CEO of Summit Interconnect, Inc. stated, “This combination aligns the Royal and Advanced quick-turn, vertically integrated model with Summit’s differentiated production capabilities. Each entity brings capabilities to the Summit portfolio that will further strengthen our ability to serve our customers in both high-performance commercial and defense markets, as well as broaden our relationships into additional sectors. This is a very exciting milestone for Summit, Royal Circuits and Advanced Assembly and we welcome our new employees to the Summit team.”

Milan Shah, Owner and CEO of Royal Circuits commented, “We are very excited to align ourselves with the tremendous team at Summit and bring our automated software-powered approach to the Summit organization. Together, we will continue to build and scale a world-class company delivering technology solutions to solve the most complex printed circuit board challenges across all end markets.”

About Summit Interconnect: Summit Interconnect is a leading provider of complex printed circuit boards focused on fast growing defense and high-performance commercial sectors in the North American market.  Summit offers solutions ranging from advanced cutting-edge prototyping to complex high mix, low-to-mid volume production.  Summit’s facilities are located across California, Illinois, Colorado and Toronto, Canada. For more information, please visit:  summit-pcb.com

About Royal Circuit Solutions: Established in 1998 and headquartered in Hollister, CA, Royal is one of North America’s leading providers of quick-turn, advanced technology prototype printed circuit boards. Royal provides customers across the industrial, medical, automotive, consumer, semiconductor, datacom and space markets with technology driven printed circuits in hours, not days. For more information, please visit: royalcircuits.com

About Advanced Assembly: For nearly twenty years, Advanced has helped engineers assemble PCBs in three days or less. Offering a full-range of manufacturing services for prototypes and low volume quantities. Advanced Assembly delivers at the speed of imagination. For more information, please visit: aapcb.com