Wilson Process Systems wins healthcare COWs contract

Sussex-based Contract Electronics Manufacturer supplies PCBAs to Mobile Computer Cart manufacturer

Hastings, October 2009…Wilson Process Systems (WPS), the leading contract manufacturer, has recently won a contract to deliver 1000 PCBAs to RDP Health Ltd, one of the UK's foremost manufacturers of medical computing products designed to operate in busy hospital environments.

RDP designs and produces COWS (Computer Carts on Wheels) for NHS Trusts up and down the country. Usually, SFF PCs are mounted underneath a work-surface with either a low spec monitor for use on the wards, or a very high performance display for use in operating theatres. Power, battery and control functions are housed in the small footprint base under a covering.

When RDP was searching for a contract manufacturer to produce the charger boards for its new range of computer carts, flexibility and professionalism were as important as price. Comments Steve Knight, RDP’s Operations Manager: "One of RDP’s strengths is that our products are designed and manufactured in the UK, therefore if a customer needs some degree of customisation - a different display, workspace or storage system for example - we can produce what they require very quickly. Therefore it was important to us that our electronics manufacturing partner was equally flexible and responsive. In the initial stages of this contract there was a lot of discussion between our two companies. WPS was able to reduce costs with their component buying power and knowledge of alternative sources, and because they have some specialist equipment for mounting components such as LEDs etc. We supplied WPS with functional test gear so all boards are now supplied to us as "known-good-products’, and the first time we test units is for a full functioning test when the carts are assembled."