Z-AXIS News

Z-AXIS expands its automated optical inspection (AOI) capacity at electronics contract manufacturing center near Rochester, NY

Adds second YESTech system, doubling inspection throughput in response to demand for its high-quality printed circuit board assembly services

May 18, 2011 – has added a second automated optical inspection (AOI) system at its contract electronics design and manufacturing center, more than doubling its capacity for rapid inspection of printed circuit board (PCB) assemblies in production. The YESTech YTV B3 automated optical inspection systems handle boards up to 18" x 20" (457mm x 508mm) with components as small as 01005, quickly tagging defects such as missing or misaligned components, bent leads or defective solder joints.

The YESTech systems can be quickly re-programmed to handle new PCB designs, supporting Z-AXIS' strengths in both high-speed and high-mix production runs.

The expanded AOI set-up includes network-based, paperless defect tracking that eliminates inefficient paper tickets. When the vision system identifies a defect in a printed circuit board, detailed information about the defect is automatically logged on the network and a 2D barcode attached to the board. The board is sent to a rework station, where employees scan the barcode to immediately pinpoint the location and nature of the problem. After rework, the quality manager again scans the barcode to quickly confirm proper corrective action.

Paperless tracking not only streamlines the rework and inspection process, but also captures detailed records of defect types and trends, allowing Z-AXIS to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in its manufacturing processes.

"Automated optical inspection is one of the many tools we use to provide consistent high quality, high yields, and competitive pricing in electronics manufacturing," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "Continuously investing in new tools, technology and training both supports and drives the high growth we’ve achieved over the past five years."

Z-AXIS realized more than 80% growth in its most recent fiscal year and more than 30% average compound revenue growth over the past five years.

Annual ISO audit completion successful for Z-AXIS

April 18, 2011 – Z-AXIS has successfully completed its annual ISO audit with no minor or major discrepancies, affirming its continued compliance with the ISO 9001:2008 quality systems standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

"Our high marks in this audit underscore our commitment to continuous improvement and to maintaining our strong quality management systems," said Z-AXIS president Michael Allen.

Z-AXIS ends fiscal year with 83% revenue growth, achieves record revenue and profitability

March 30, 2011 – Z-AXIS achieved 83% revenue growth for its fiscal year ended Feb. 28, 2011, setting records for revenue and profitability as it enters its 22nd year of electronics design and manufacturing in Ontario County. Key growth areas were design and production of medical power supplies for use in hospital and clinical settings, and contract manufacturing of printed circuit boards with conformal coating for use in military, automotive and other harsh environments.

The company has realized more than 30% average compound revenue growth over the past five years.

"I credit our success to the strong management team we've built over the past five years," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "In every area of the company, exceptional leaders demonstrated their ability to rapidly expand our operations while maintaining the high quality and responsiveness that Z-AXIS is known for. We are now well positioned with capacity, people and backlog for continued strong growth."

Other highlights of the recently completed fiscal year include:

Doubling employment with additions in design engineering, purchasing and production for a current total employment of more than 80 people in Phelps, NY.
Investing $880,000 in new equipment, including a high-speed SMT pick and place line to complementing existing high-mix lines.
Achieving ISO 9001:2008 quality management systems certification.

With both design services and contract manufacturing in one facility, Z-AXIS serves as an outsourced electronics product development team for high tech companies. Services include product concept development, feasibility studies, electronic circuit design, printed circuit board layout, prototype builds, pre-production runs and full-scale manufacturing.

The company has current openings for electronics design engineers and technicians.

Z-AXIS invests additional $0.6m in electronics manufacturing equipment

Second high-speed pick-and-place line enables higher-volume contract manufacturing of SMT printed circuit boards to meet steadily growing demand

January 31, 2011 – To meet steadily growing demand for its contract design and manufacturing services, Z-AXIS has invested an additional $0.6 million in equipment for electronic printed circuit board assembly at its Ontario County, NY facility. The new Philips Assembléon AX-501 high-speed pick-and-place line can place 60,000 parts per hour and handles surface-mount (SMT) components as small as 01005, the smallest standard SMT components available today. A new fully-automated MPM UP3000 Ultraflex stencil printer and a BTU International Pyramax 98 reflow oven were added to support the new pick-and-place line.

The high-speed Assembléon line allows continuous production of printed circuit boards for Z-AXIS customers with high-volume production needs. It complements the company's existing MyData pick-and-place line, which was expanded in early 2010 and supports a high mix of lower-volume production runs with rapid change-over between jobs. See the full equipment list online.

"In 2010 we completed numerous electronic product designs which are now going into high-volume production – many on the order of thousands of boards per week," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "With the new Assembléon line dedicated to those higher-volume jobs, we can meet those customers' ongoing shipment release dates. At the same time, with our existing MyData line we can continue to be responsive to our many customers who have lower-volume requirements but still need the fast turn-around and high quality manufacturing that Z-AXIS is known for."

Z-AXIS' BEAR Power Supplies completes design contract, begins volume manufacturing of custom medical power supply

Nov. 12, 2010 - Under contract to a US medical device manufacturer, Z-AXIS' BEAR Power Supplies unit has completed the design and approval of a custom medical power supply and has begun manufacturing the AC/DC converters at its Western New York facility. Shipments will begin in December 2010 with revenues expected to exceed $3 million per year.

The external medical power supply is UL 60601-1 approved and features extremely low leakage current for patient safety. It has a rugged and ergonomic design to withstand fast-paced hospital and clinical settings, including frequent disinfecting using standard hospital procedures.

"Our reputation for combining exceptional custom design and high-quality manufacturing led to the initial contact with this customer," said Michael Allen, president of BEAR Power Supplies. "Our engineers worked closely with the customer's development team during the design process: exceeding their technical specifications, suggesting several innovative features to enhance performance and ease of use, and demonstrating compliance with their quality system requirements. We're now pleased to move into volume manufacturing of this new custom power supply and begin recognizing ongoing revenue from our unique custom design."

Z-AXIS continues growth with record quarter

Sept. 13, 2010 - Z-AXIS finished its second quarter of FY2010 on August 31 with record quarterly revenues. The Ontario County electronics design and manufacturing services provider and has achieved increasing quarterly growth since Nov. 2009, logging 15%, 25% and now 43% quarterly growth over the last three quarters.

"At halfway through our fiscal year, we are at a run rate twice that of last year, and higher than our pre-recession peak of two years ago," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "We are back on the trajectory we started in 2007 for greater than 30% annual revenue growth, despite the dip during the recession in 2008."

Z-AXIS has seen its most of its existing customers return to their pre-recession levels of demand for the printed circuit assemblies. The company has also won a number of new design contracts and brought several multi-year design projects into full production. Most of the revenue growth has been in the company’s contract manufacturing services and custom power supply products.

Z-AXIS hired eleven new employees last quarter and is continuing to add electronics manufacturing equipment at its facility near Rochester, NY.

Z-AXIS receives ISO 9001:2008 quality management systems certification

June 18, 2010 - Z-AXIS has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification, meeting the most current quality systems standard of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This certification establishes that Z-AXIS meets stringent requirements for quality systems and processes, which ensure that it can reliably provide quality products and services to its customers worldwide. Z-AXIS provides electronics design and contract manufacturing services in its 32,000 square foot design and manufacturing center in western New York, where it also produces standard and custom products under its BEAR Power Supplies, Display Concepts and Boundless Technologies brands.

Z-AXIS became ISO 9001:2008 certified following extensive analysis of its quality management systems from independent auditing firm and accredited registrar Perry Johnson Registrars, Inc. The audit addressed all areas of Z-AXIS' operation - from product design and manufacturing, to delivery and customer service.

"Z-AXIS has a long-standing reputation for superior quality and service, and ISO 9001:2008 certification underscores our ongoing commitment to that," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "The significance of ISO 9001:2008 certification is internationally recognized and gives customers worldwide added confidence in our ability to reliably meet their needs."

Z-AXIS' quality management systems cover its entire operations, which encompass design through manufacturing all under one roof. The systems help to ensure quality from start to finish for custom printed circuit boards, electromechanical assemblies, power supplies, video displays, and text terminals. To maintain its certification the company will undergo ongoing auditing inspections and annual process verification.

Z-AXIS starts new fiscal year with record backlog; adds US manufacturing capacity

March 19, 2010 - Z-AXIS began its new fiscal year this month with a record backlog, more than 50% higher than the previous year. The US-based electronics design and manufacturing company achieved steady quarter-to-quarter growth during its fiscal year ended Feb. 28, 2010. It is planning for accelerated growth based on current bookings for products to be delivered this year.

"We took several major contract design projects into full production last quarter, with more going into production in March and April," said Michael Allen, president of Z-AXIS. "Based on these multi-year production contracts alone, we are entering what will be our strongest fiscal year ever. We also have a record number of design projects in the pipeline that will yield additional production orders."

With both design services and contract manufacturing in one facility, Z-AXIS serves as on on-shore, outsourced electronics product development team for high tech companies. Services include product concept development, feasibility studies, electronic circuit design, printed circuit board layout, prototype builds, pre-production runs and full-scale manufacturing.

Z-AXIS is adding capacity to meet the demand. Over the past few months the company has invested more than $250,000 in additional electronics manufacturing capabilities for its design and manufacturing center in Western New York. The new equipment includes:

A MyData high-speed pick-and-place line for inserting SMT components onto printed circuit boards, doubling the company’s high-volume production capacity. A second MyData line will continue to support high-mix, low-volume production runs.
A Westek orbital aqueous cleaner for de-ionized water washing of printed circuit boards. The new closed-loop system has ten times the throughput of the older batch system it replaces, allowing the company to move higher volumes of printed circuit boards through the assembly process.
A new conformal coating system to seal electronic assemblies and protect them from moisture. This new capability for Z-AXIS is important to a number of customers, particularly those in the military and automotive markets.

"Ongoing investment in high-end equipment is part of our commitment to meeting our customers' needs," Allen said. "We believe that is an important factor in our continued growth here in Rochester, NY."

About Z-AXIS, Inc.

Z-AXIS Inc., a division of Video Display Corporation (NASDAQ:VIDE), provides quality design, prototyping and manufacturing services for complex electronic products and electromechanical assemblies. The company offers fast design turnaround, competitive NRE charges, rapid production and low freight costs from its 32,000 square foot, ISO9001:2008 certified design and manufacturing center near Rochester, New York. Z-AXIS also designs, manufactures and sells commercial and industrial products under its BEAR Power Supplies, Boundless Technologies and Display Concepts brands.