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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : PCB Suppliers in the UK
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| srnet Senior Member  Joined: 08/08/2014 Location: United KingdomPosts: 164 |
I wonder if anyone can help with a bit of advice. I supply small quantities of PCBs for my LoRa tracker transmitters and receivers. I need to renew public liability insurance for the PCBs and occasional kits of parts that I sell. Unfortunately most (of the cheaper) UK insurers for craft businesses only want to cover you if the parts your supplying come from the UK or EU. So cheap PCBs from China are out. So two questions; How do others who supply PCBs, kits or complete modules address the insurance issue ? and Anyone know of a UK supplier of PCBs that provide low cost PCBs ? $50SAT is Silent but probably still working. For information on LoRa visit http://www.loratracker.uk/ |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru  Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2794 |
All I can suggest is that you consider changing your liability insurer! Many companies around the world manufacture their PCBs in China (for the obvious reasons), and also possibly populate them there too (but not always!) and for this reason I am not sure why you are having 'issues' with insurers wanting the parts to be supplied within UK and/or Europe. I do know several PCB manufactures & assemblers here in the UK but they are not cheap unless you move into high(ish) volumes. For everything Micromite visit micromite.org Direct Email: whitewizzard@micromite.o |
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| srnet Senior Member Joined: 08/08/2014 Location: United KingdomPosts: 164 |
Changing the insurer is the problem. As 'craft' business based in the UK you can get the necessary public liabilty insurance for circa £65, but UK parts only. That increases to £250+ for supplying China parts. That may not be a lot for a full time business but for a low turnover setup it is. $50SAT is Silent but probably still working. For information on LoRa visit http://www.loratracker.uk/ |
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| WhiteWizzard Guru Joined: 05/04/2013 Location: United KingdomPosts: 2794 |
If you do the math quickly; I was quoted by the cheapest UK PCB place £148 for 5 PCBs (one week turnaround) whereas from China (and a very decent quality) were £21.80 for 10 PCBs. Both these prices are 'landed' costs. Now take the figures you quoted above for just 10 PCBs based on my quote received: Cheaper insurance (£65) + UK PCBs (2x£148) = £361 Higher insurance (call it £300) + PCBs from China (£21.80) = £321.80 The only viable way for me to justify UK PCBs was high volume (200+). For a trial product this would have been a risk. Thanks to a certain member here, I now use a Chinese manufacturer who offer a very quick turnaround. And Grogster has even been convinced to use them now as landed costs were cheaper for him as well as much quicker turn around times. So I would still stick to my original comment of 'change insurer'. OR - how about I order them from China for you, and sell them onto you as a UK supplier  This is what a lot of companies also do (but not sure if for the reason you are talking about).WW For everything Micromite visit micromite.org Direct Email: whitewizzard@micromite.o |
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Grogster Admin Group  Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9084 |
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bigmik Guru Joined: 20/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2870 |
Which PCB Fab house is that WW/Grogs? Mick Mick's uMite Stuff can be found >>> HERE (Kindly hosted by Dontronics) <<< |
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| srnet Senior Member Joined: 08/08/2014 Location: United KingdomPosts: 164 |
An interesting offer, I will give it some thought. I have not given up on finding a 'reasonable' insurance policy yet, still got some phone calls to make. I have used a couple of the Chinese PCB suppliers, for double sided PCBs. There is nowt wrong with the boards, and at around £19 for 10 up to 100m x 100mm they are a bargain. $50SAT is Silent but probably still working. For information on LoRa visit http://www.loratracker.uk/ |
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| Grogster Admin Group Joined: 31/12/2012 Location: New ZealandPosts: 9084 |
PCB GOGO Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops! |
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| PicFan Senior Member Joined: 18/03/2014 Location: AustriaPosts: 133 |
I work with :MULTI-CB-EU |
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| srnet Senior Member Joined: 08/08/2014 Location: United KingdomPosts: 164 |
I eventually found some insurance at a reasonable price. What you need is just a different type of insurance, for a 'Craft' business they get concerned about the source and type of parts. If you get insurance for a small business it covers you for Public and Employee Liability, Worldwide. There is no mention in the policy fine print about parts as such, it's just 'activities' in connection with the business. $50SAT is Silent but probably still working. For information on LoRa visit http://www.loratracker.uk/ |
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| Phillipko Newbie  Joined: 09/01/2017 Location: United StatesPosts: 2 |
I've used Seeed Studio for pcb manufacturing and assembly. They are great! I highly recommend them! They base on China but ship to UK fast with DHL shipping. |
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