Robe's has also invested 3.5m Euros in building a completely new logistics centre and in doubling its warehouse space to nearly 4000sq.m.
The latest factory expansion project houses a purpose-built plastics moulding centre which covers about 1000sq.m, equipped with all necessary machinery involved in this process.
This has all been achieved by reinvesting the company's profits, supported by a strong operating cashflow, says the company.
Dioflex comes complete with 30 skilled employees, approximately 2000sq.m of premises and all the modern technology and fully automated machining processes needed to produce and populate PCBs quickly and cost-effectively.
The acquisition further boosts the flexibility factor in Robe's production schedule, including the possibility of lightening quick turnarounds for new orders when required.
The in-house PCB production will enable both Robe and Anolis products to be more competitively priced, a crucial consideration in the currently challenging economic climate. Long term targets to increase Dioflex's efficiency include hitting a target of having 50% 'other clients' onboard within a year, in addition to producing at full capacity for Robe and Anolis.
With all the metalwork and plastic moulding now completed on the premises, adding in-house PCB production to the manufacturing chain was a "completely logical move" according to Dioflex's new CEO David Orsag, who is also the production director of Robe lighting.
Dioflex will produce all the PCBs for Robe lighting and its sister company, the LED manufacturer Anolis, whose production lines moved to the ground floor of the same premises a year ago.
The newly increased warehouse space incorporates many features for maximising the day-to-day operational speed, including the easy access and loading of trucks
(Jim Evans)
