Blog Our new SMT line arrives by crane

Today was a big day at the factory as our new SMT line just arrived!

So what is an SMT line?
SMT is an abbreviation for 'Surface Mount Technology' and our SMT line is made of various machines which work together in a line. You may have seen glimpses of such machines in news footage of hi-tech manufacturing facilities.

What does it do?
Essentially it's a long machine, hundreds of different components on reels are fed in one end and circuit boards come out of the other end with components mounted all over them. A lightening fast mechanical arm solders the components onto the PCB in the blink of an eye (PCB stands for 'printed circuit board' - it's the green board thing you see when you open up an electronic device). Of course, in our case we use these SMT lines to make the functional part of a Flash Drive, before it gets covered in a beautiful shell.

How big is it?
It weighs a good few tonnes so we had to hire a massive crane to get it into our factory.

What's the big deal about this then?
Well, SMT lines cost about the same as a pretty pricey 6 bedroom house, so it was quite an investment by any standard, but an investment which is immediately translating into efficiency and quality gains, something we can pass on to our customers. We already had a couple of SMT lines but this new one is a real speedy ninja.

Firing up the new SMT line

A couple of hours later everything is working smoothly

Fresh from the line: A Flash Drive PCB next to some Samsung and Hynix NAND flash chips

flashbay Author: James Appleton
4 Comments | Leave yours 
Chris , Flashbay | 14 Dec, 2021
Hi Alex,

Thanks for your question.

At Flashbay we use our SMT lines to produce components for multiple product categories to maximise the return on the investments we've made in the technology. The best thing for you to do would be to contact various SMT line manufacturers to outline your requirements and they'll help you to find solutions that meet your specific needs. 

Best of luck with your project. 

Many thanks,

Chris at Flashbay
ALEX CHRISTIAN BUFURE | 14 Dec, 2021
Hello, 
Am curious to know if i can get an SMT line that can help me to create more than one component, to be specific flash drive, and small portable radio
Tom , Flashbay | 08 Nov, 2010
Hi James, this is Flashbay's wholely owned and operated factory in PRC
JAMES Victor, TWOPOINTZERO | 06 Nov, 2010
Is this process done in the UK for Flashbay?
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