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Plexus Technology Group today (Thursday July 11, 2002) announced that it has established a new conceptual design facility on the Alba Campus. The new operation, which will employ eight senior electronics and software engineers, is Plexus’ second new design facility to open this year. It follows the recent launch of a CAD and test development facility in Melrose.

Michael Verstegen, President Plexus Technology Group said: "We are very excited about opening the Conceptual Design Facility on Alba Campus, Livingston. The new Design Facility provides Plexus with an important footprint to provide OEM customers in Europe with our state-of-the-art engineering design and product development services. The establishment of this facility is another incremental step in Plexus' goal of becoming a global Product Realisation Company."

All personnel at the new facility are highly qualified and have many years experience in conceptual design within the medical, data-communications, telecommunications, high performance computing and RF systems markets.

The facility includes a design facility with meeting and presentation suites and is equipped with the latest software design tools. Specialising in the medical, computing and industrial equipment markets, the new service offering has already attracted interest from customers who are looking to develop next generation products.

John Reekie, Director of Marketing for the Alba Centre, welcomed Plexus’ decision: “This is great news for the Alba Campus. Scotland now has a worldwide reputation for its expertise in electronic design and is seen by many as a technology hotspot. The industry has grown by more than 60% over the past five years, mainly as a result of the work of the Alba Centre. This unique collaboration between the private and public sectors and academia includes the world’s first internet-based exchange for trading silicon intellectual property and offers the world’s first MSc in System Level Integration.”

Dr. Mike Eccles, Director, UK Technology Group, commented: “The recent opening of the Melrose facility demonstrates our commitment to PCB development and test. However as a company that is focused on the full product realisation process, we needed to implement the front-end design in order to offer all stages of product realisation from product concept to delivery and support.

“The new Livingston facility is geared to just that. As such it has been staffed with a number of conceptual designers who specialise in converting a customer’s marketing brief into a product design. As a result Plexus, as a true product realisation company, has finally arrived in the UK.”

Plexus will be joining other leading edge companies such as Epson, Spektra, Motorola, The Institute of System Level Integration, The Virtual Component Exchange, The Scottish Embedded Software Centre, and Virtio on Alba Campus. The Campus offers tenants the chance to be part of a global focus for electronic design.

“Many existing customers have shown interest in how we can partner with them in the future for their next generation of products,” added Dr. Eccles. “In particular, they recognise how, with the experience we have across the full spectrum, we can design for a smooth transition to volume manufacture. This reduces time to market and ultimately leads to reduced unit costs.”
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For further information please contact Jenny Honey, Communications Manager, The Alba Centre on 01506 407019 (office) or 07771 773544 (mobile) jenny.honey@albacentre.co.uk