At Protronix EMS, we provide rapid, high-quality PCB prototyping services from our facility in Luton.
We support UK engineers and design teams who require more than just a quick turnaround – we deliver prototypes built to production standards.
Whether you need a single proof-of-concept board or a pre-production batch for validation, our Fast-Track service ensures you meet your deadlines without compromising on build quality.
Fast-Track Assembly Services
We understand that in R&D, time is the critical resource. Our flexible manufacturing lines allow us to slot prototype builds in alongside volume work, offering rapid turnaround times for urgent projects.
- Standard Fast-Track: 72-Hour (3 Day) turnaround available for data-ready designs.
- Full Procurement: We manage the complete supply chain. By leveraging our network of authorised distributors, we secure component stock quickly and ensure full traceability for your build.
- No Minimum Order: We are optimised to handle quantities from 1 to 100+ efficiently.
Why Protronix for Prototypes?
We approach prototyping differently to online “pooling” services. Because we are a full-service Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider, we treat your prototype as the first step in your product’s lifecycle, not a one-off job.
1. Engineering Oversight (DFM)
We don’t just load your files into a machine. Our engineering team performs a Design for Manufacture (DFM) review on every new order. We check for footprint accuracy and potential assembly issues, helping you catch errors on the screen before they become errors on the board.
2. Production-Grade Tooling
We build prototypes using the same surface mount (SMT) lines, stencil technologies, and thermal profiles as our volume production runs. This ensures that the performance of your prototype is a true representation of the final product.
3. Seamless Scaling
When your design is validated, moving to volume production is seamless. Because we have already set up the machine data and sourcing routes during the prototype phase, we can scale up manufacturing immediately without re-tooling or re-engineering.
Prototype Specifications
| Feature | Standard Capability |
|---|---|
| Fast-Track Turnaround | From 72 Hours (3 Days) |
| Minimum Order (MOQ) | 1 Unit (No upper limit) |
| Layer Count | 1 - 16 Layers (Standard) |
| Component Size | 0201 to BGA / QFN |
| Testing | 100% Visual + Automated Inspection |
| Supply Chain | Full Turnkey (Authorised Distributors) |
| File Formats | Gerber RS-274X, ODB++, BOM (XLS/CSV) |
Technical Capabilities
We handle complex requirements as standard, ensuring your prototype is not limited by our capabilities.
- Component Range: From 0201 passives to complex BGA and QFN devices.
- Board Technologies: Rigid, Flex, Rigid-Flex, and Metal Core (IMS).
- Inspection: All prototypes undergo 100% visual verification and automated inspection where appropriate to ensure IPC-A-610 acceptability.
Start Your Prototype Build
Upload your Gerber files and Bill of Materials (BOM) today for a competitive quote and lead-time assessment.
The bottom line on PCB prototyping
- Optimising the BoM and PCB layout can make a real difference to your product’s profitability.
- Working with us from the prototyping and NPI phase of your project means you can be sure of the highest ROI and FAST-EST route to market.
Case Study: UK PCB Prototyping Services
When a leading scientific institution required a small quantity of boards producing, against a tight deadline and where quality was paramount, they came to us.
The boards would be transported to a remote location, where they needed to transmit data from under a 1.3km thickness of glacier ice. Failure and any rework in the field was simply not an option and the boards were entirely mission critical.
A meeting with one of the technical leads on the project was setup and an understanding of what was required was established, this also gave the customer the opportunity to gain confidence in our ability to deliver a working product, on time.
The boards were built, tested and delivered. They were then transported to the glacier and successfully transmitted data to the team on the surface over the season, enabling the team to learn new things about our planet.
“Protronix EMS Ltd manufactured the circuit boards for our Cryoegg instrument. They sourced the components, PCBs and did the assembly on a very short timescale ready for our field tests in Greenland in the summer of 2019. The instrument performed very well during our tests, and it was able to send us measurements from beneath 1.3km of ice.”
School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University
PCB prototyping eliminates risk. Get in touch today to get started, or email us your requirements to [email protected].
