United KingdomLabtech Microwave is pleased to be celebrating its 25th anniversary. The firm was established in 1984 at Presteigne in Wales with the aim of specializing in non-standard printed-circuitboard (PCB) production. It soon became one of the first independent companies in the UK to manufacture polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) metal-backed microwave PCBs. Labtech Microwave was bought by Intelek plc in 1990. It received the Queen's Award for Export Achievement in 2001 and acquired the microwave component design and manufacturing facility at Milton Keynes, UK in 2005. In addition, the company attained the ISO 9001 (procedures) accreditation in the early 1990s and ISO 14001 (environmental) in 2003.
Labtech Microwave still employs two of the three original personnel from when the company was first established. Chris Flynn, who started as a plater and lab technician, is now the Production Manager. Nicky Preece, who was originally a process technician, is currently the Multi-layer Production Supervisor. Brian Mazonas, Managing Director, has been with Labtech Microwave since 1997. In his words, "Labtech's progression over this time may be highlighted by the changes in how the market for our products has altered. The telecommunications boom that started in the late 1990s led to our position as a major supplier to Ericcsona relationship that is still very strong. The ITAR restrictions imposed on trade with the US after 9/11 and the switch by some of our major commercial customers to favoring low-cost SE Asian manufacturers have significantly affected the direction and markets we've moved into as well."