Overview

Airtronics is a full service precision electronics sheet metal products manufacturer founded in Silicon Valley back in 1961. The company has grown to its present 65,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art computerized / robotic equipment facility factory in San Jose, California. During this time Airtronics has built an enviable reputation among mostly technology clients for integrity, service, quality, technical expertise and on-time delivery of custom precision sheet metal products.

Employing close to one hundred people, the company today is a one-stop shop for all sheet metal needs, from design and machining, to painting and final assembly. Responding to customer needs, Airtronics also has complete paint and silk-screen capabilities, as well as a growing value added assembly, test and manufacturing business.

In addition, Airtronics was the first sheet metal company in Silicon Valley to get the enviable ISO 9001 - 2000 Registration (UL) so they can easily validate their quality and service claims to their prospective customers.

During August of 2004, the top four senior managers of Airtronics completed a buyout of the company without having to bring in outside investors.

History

From its inception in 1961 in Sunnyvale California, Airtronics has been focused on the needs of the technology industry. It has always been a Silicon Valley pioneer in precision electronics metal fabrication as it went through various ownership changes in its early days. After John Richardson purchased the company in 1981, and the subsequent move to San Jose's Enterprise Zone (just south of downtown), the company grew steadily under his direction. From their original 8,000 sq ft facility they have grown to a pristine 65,000 sq ft facility today.

Of course, the company growth was also driven by the ups and downs of various technology cycles of Silicon Valley. Fortunately, Airtronics extensive investment in new equipment, computers and control software was well under way before the tech bubble burst, so the company was able to successfully weather the worst of the downturn. They were one of the first to implement CNC equipment and processes, as well as an early mover in offering a one-stop shop, including paint, finishing, assembly, test and contract manufacturing services.

In the early 80's the company added a full paint shop that can handle wet and dry paints, as well as silk-screening. In the late 90's services were expanded to include full engineering and design support so that today Airtronics can serve a customer from concept, to design, to prototype, to revision, to production, painting and packaging with a full JIT turnkey manufacturing system if need be (excludes active PCBs).

Airtronics became an ISO 9002 registered facility in 1996 and in 2003 was the first business in the valley to qualify for ISO 9001 - 2000, with UL (Underwriters Labs) providing the certification. During this period the company also invested significantly in top-notch equipment for its factory and now has the finest machines for shearing/notching, CNC laser cutting, CNC punching, forming, welding/spot welding, deburring, graining, general machining and automatic hardware installation.

Today Airtronics is back on a growth path, and in August 2004 the upper management (all seasoned veterans of the company), successfully purchased the company from John Richardson, though he remains as Chairman of the Board. The company is thus 100% management owned and operated.

Services

Sheet Metal Design

Airtronics' own mechanical engineers can assist with all levels of design, from the basic concept stage to final solid-modeling. For clients with their own designs, assistance with optimization of the designs for manufacturing help enables them to have the lowest total cost in the shortest time frame. Support is provided for numerous MCAD tools such as SolidWorks, Autocad and Pro E via a number of in-house licensed workstations and engineers, as well as an advanced ERP system allowing for a near paperless shop system. Complete tooling lists and full modeling data is now available from the website, making life even more productive for the customer design engineers.

Precision Manufacturing

Airtronics broad product capability, from brackets to enclosures, using the latest automated machines, allows the precision manufacturing of almost any sheet metal product for the technology industry. Prototypes are built on production equipment, so customers know that what they see is what they will get. The factory can handle a virtually unlimited capability, from small to high volume. Typical products manufactured include card cage intensive chassis, enclosures of all sorts, cabinets, rails, brackets, weldments, doors, skins, etc.

Paint and Silk Screening

The ability to finish precision electronic metal parts in-house to the highest professional level is a unique Airtronics customer advantage. The company can handle all levels of finishing, from prototypes to production, in an agile and cost-effective manner, using water base enamels (with baking), high solid urethanes and powder paints. In addition, full silk-screening service is also now available.

Value Added Manufacturing

Airtronics now devotes fully twenty percent of its facility to electro-mechanical assembly, test and shipment for customer products. This is a separate clean, climate controlled facility. Through in-depth mechanical expertise, engineers can resolve form, fit and function issues. These services include everything from straight forward mechanical assembly all the way to turnkey manufacturing and JIT production. All projects are tracked using a computerized scheduling and MRP system.

Customers

Airtronics customer list includes top names in all the fields of networking and telecommunications, computers and peripherals, semiconductor production equipment, industrial process control and contract manufacturing throughout Northern California.

Strategic Directions

Airtronics is planning to grow its business significantly in the next few years by aggressively marketing its services, expanding into new industry areas, providing more contract and value add manufacturing services, and by providing new semi-standard product offerings. But the company will continue to focus first and foremost on providing the best in service to clients in Northern California.

Management

Jeff Burke is the President and CEO and has been with the company for 10 years and brings extensive experience in all phases of manufacturing and quality assurance from top quality operations like Xerox. He also continues to serve as the VP Sales and Marketing.

Jim Ellis is the V.P. Engineering and has more than 24 years experience in the metals business, including the last 14 at Airtronics. Jim uses his hands-on shop experience with metal fabrication and design to assist customers with all phases of their design and its validation. In addition, he leads the company and their clients in cost reduction, tool programming, DFM and other innovative techniques.

Fermin Rodriguez is the "senior" employee of Airtronics because he has been with the company since 1975. During this time he has done virtually every job on the factory floor and so is eminently qualified for his position as VP Manufacturing.

Diane Neff, CFO, joined Airtronics from Computer Cabinet Company in 2002 and has experience in both finance and operations.

Board of Directors

John S. Richardson is the Chairman of the Board and was the owner of the company during the period 1981 to August 2004.

The remaining board members are the management team above who are the four owners of the business.

Contacts

Airtronics Metal Products, Inc.
1980 Senter Road
San Jose, CA 95112
408-977-7800
408-977-7810 (fax)