Contract Electronics Manufacturing Services for the Military, Defense & Security Industries

Offshore Electronics is a leading provider of Contract Electronics Manufacturing (CEM) services for the military, defense and security industries. We offer a comprehensive range of services designed to meet all your electronics outsourcing needs, with the ability to scale up at short notice to fulfil any production requirements, including defense electronics manufacturing, military PCB assembly, and secure contract manufacturing for government projects.

Contract Electronics Manufacturing for Defense & Government

With 30 years of manufacturing experience and a proven track record of providing CEM services for aerospace and defense OEMs, we can partner with you to create cutting-edge solutions with the levels of expertise, sensitivity, and craftsmanship required for mission-critical applications. Our expert team of electronic and mechanical engineers can work with your designers to optimize and improve each project, paying detailed attention to crucial factors, such as performance, reliability and SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost).

Our status as a Guernsey-based manufacturer also affords our clients a high level of IP protection, thanks to the island’s established legal framework. This ensures an extra safeguard for projects of a sensitive or classified nature, supporting secure contract manufacturing for defense projects.

Make UK Defence manufacturing initiative We are also a proud member of the Make UK Defence initiative, providing us with a competitive advantage within the domestic defense electronics manufacturing industry.

Prototyping & Pre-Production

Our engineering and New Product Introduction (NPI) team collaborates closely with your engineers to transform initial concepts and designs into functional prototype boards and sub-assemblies. We focus on optimizing designs for streamlined production and lower manufacturing costs while maximizing reliability and product lifespan — ensuring the highest standards for military PCB assembly and CEM services for aerospace and defense OEMs.

We also provide low-volume initial production runs, encompassing full electro-mechanical assembly and complete product builds and enabling thorough beta testing and product refinement prior to mass production.

We ensure that the same dedicated team oversees your project from inception through to completion, enabling prompt issue identification and resolution, accelerated time-to-market and improved product quality.

More information: Prototyping & Pre-Production

Electronics Manufacturing & PCB Assembly

Our purpose-built production facility is one of the best in Europe, covering over 2,000 square meters (20,000 square ft) and staffed by an experienced and highly skilled team of experts. The factory operates to ISO 9001:2015 standards and is controlled end-to-end via our MRP/ERP system, ensuring all processes are carried out to the highest standards in defense electronics manufacturing and military PCB assembly.

Surface Mount PCB Assembly

Our surface mount PCB assembly capabilities feature three separate production lines with Yamaha and Philips machinery, with optimal data and tooling interchangeability engineered to maximize flexibility and minimize setup time.

Equipment includes:

Yamaha YSM20R and YSM10 high speed precision placement line, with DEK neo horizon screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Yamaha YS12 and YS12F high speed precision placement line with YCP10 screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Yamaha/Philips Topaz and Emerald placement line with DEK 265 screen printer and Heller 1707 MKiii reflow oven
Two Mirtec Automatic Optical Inspection systems (one with side view capability)
BGA & SMT rework station with Vision Engineering and Blundell inspection equipment

Through-Hole PCB Assembly

We offer automated assembly of conventional through-hole, leaded axial, DIL and radial components, with all processes geared for maximum production flexibility. Populated PCBs undergo manual assembly and lead-free flow solder processes. Our state-of-the-art through-hole assembly equipment includes:

Southern Machinery S4040 axial insertion machine
Amistar AI6448 high speed axial component insertion machines
Universal Multi-mod 6772a automatic DIP insertion machine
Universal RAD5 automatic radial component insertion machine
Blundell CMS400LF ‘no clean’ lead-free (SnAgCu / RoHS compliant) flow soldering machine
3 Pillarhouse Jade lead-free selective soldering machines with nitrogen atmosphere for the most demanding applications

Mechanical Assembly

Mechanical assembly and instrument builds are undertaken by IPC-A-610-trained production staff. Supporting processes include Mixflow epoxy potting, Kerry automated solvent board washing and Asymtek automated conformal coating, all integral to our CEM services for aerospace and defense OEMs.

More information: Electronics Manufacturing & PCB Assembly

Testing & Validation

We place the highest importance in thorough and robust quality control and product validation. in order to ensure that your final products operate with the utmost in reliability and meet or exceed all specifications. We comply with a range of nationally and internationally recognised quality standards, and our dedicated team of quality inspectors and test engineers work closely with you to ensure that our procedures complement your own quality control systems.

Our test facilities are equipped with a range of state-of-the-art capabilities, including:

Automatic testing capabilities using Teradyne Z1888/Z1890 machines
On-board and pre-programming capability
JTAG and boundary scan test
Automated optical inspection (AOI)
Surface mount and BGA rework to IPC standards
Functional board and unit test and calibration including soak tests, result logging, safety flash testing
Design and manufacture of bespoke test rigs
Micro camera for inspecting the underside of BGAs and other surface mount devices

More information: Testing & Validation