JUNE 2010
Scottish Minister officially opens ECL's new facility
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson, together with Jim Mather MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy & Tourism today (21st June 2010) performed the official opening of European Circuits Limited's new state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Clydebank.
ECL was established just over ten years ago and manufactures and assembles a wide range of printed circuit boards for the electronics industry. With assistance from Scottish Enterprise's Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS), this new facility provides ECL with close to three-times the floor space of their previous site and has doubled its workforce to 33.
Lena Wilson, Chief Executive Scottish Enterprise, stated: "ECL is exactly the kind of ambitious, growing company we want to work with. We need more Scottish businesses to look at ways to improve their business, whether that's developing new products, improving efficiencies or transforming business practices to improve competitiveness."
The company has worked with Scottish Enterprise for a number years, looking at various areas of its business such as strategy development, trading overseas and innovation support. SMAS was brought in to help improve current manufacturing methods and processes and devise an expansion plan to improve production.
Mark Briscoe, ECL Managing Director, explained: "Having pushed ahead with the plan formulated with SMAS, we're now in a healthy position to react to increased demand as the economy recovers. Had we not done so, we would now be struggling with insufficient capacity and the space constraints of the old factory. The new site and plan has also helped us secure a new £300k contract with Seven Telematics, which will see us design, manufacture and assemble a data acquisition/printer unit for Seven Telematics' refrigerated trailer business."
As well as offering increased capacity, an integral part of the overall plan was to improve and add to the manufacturing equipment and capabilities. New antistatic flooring has been installed throughout the assembly, test and stores areas, and investment has been made into a number of automated manufacturing and inspection systems.
Jim Mather MSP said:"I am delighted to mark the official opening of European Circuits Limited's new facility. With the support of Regional Selective Assistance from Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service, the company is making a huge contribution to the Clydebank economy by doubling its staff.
"This kind of venture demonstrates that the electronics industry continues to make an important contribution to the Scottish economy, with the sector accounting for over a quarter of manufactured exports, and a third of total business R&D spending in Scotland.
"Scotland's future lies in the development of a low carbon economy - and I know European Circuits Limited is committed to playing its part. The Scottish Government will continue to support projects of this kind, and help build the industry for a strong and sustainable future."
Seven Telematics Commercial Director Ian McAllister, said: "We are delighted to be entering into this new commercial relationship with ECL. The ability to provide a scalable, cost effective, flexible and high quality solution was of paramount importance to Seven. The fact that we have been able to identify a strategic partner who readily meets these criteria and who is also UK based is very pleasing. We very much look forward to exploring other product development opportunities with ECL in the near future."
Pictured above: Mark Briscoe, Managing Director and Jim Mather MSP.
Click here to view the newspaper article in The Scotsman - 23rd June 2010
Click here to view the newspaper article in the Evening Times - 23rd June 2010
Click here to view the article on the Evertiq.com website
Click here to view the article on the EMT Worldwide website
