30 years of Offshore Electronics

September 2020 marked an incredible 30 years since the successful management buy-out from Eurotherm (Guernsey) Limited to establish Offshore Electronics. This was followed by a substantial bricks and mortar investment in our Guernsey-based production facility, with it hard to believe now that we started out with a fax-machine, Telex and one giant mobile phone!

Three decades and £150M turnover later, Offshore Electronics has not only become established as a leader in contract electronics manufacturing utilising high-speed automated assembly systems, but also grown as a family, offering our employees a team-focused environment that supports, grows and retains their skills and expertise.

Loyal and committed, our directors have been with us from day one, with 15% of our staff serving more than 25 years and an amazing 42% who work alongside a family member. Our reputation for being a friendly and positive workplace has gone from strength to strength, evident in our low staff turnover and regular positive employee feedback.

“Offshore is like having an extended family.”

“Best move I ever made - Friendly staff, interesting jobs and most of all a happy atmosphere.”

“When I started in 1998 I was struck by the ethos of the company, after 7 years I moved away returning in 2011 and found great comfort that the ethos hadn't changed.”

As Offshore Electronics grew in our first few years, so did our need for more space and bespoke facilities, leading to the extension in 1995 to accommodate superior machinery. Looking back to 1990 (a time when we handwrote serial numbers) we’re reminded of how far our operations and machinery have evolved; twenty of the smallest component we use today could fit on the smallest component we used at the beginning of our journey. Our early surface mount machine (Dynapert MPS318) rated at 3,600 components per hour, compared now with 2016's Yamaha YS12 line rated at 56,000 components per hour. Whilst we are still able to use older technologies in production, we remain committed to investment in the most advanced electronics manufacturing technologies available.

To date, we have manufactured circuit boards for an incredible variety of products used across a number of industries and environments from the top of mountains to the bottom of the sea. Products that have been manufactured by OEL can be found in medical, scientific, safety, security, marine, communication, industrial power and control products to list a few.

The satisfaction of our customers across this range of businesses demonstrates our versatility and with over 800 years of combined staff experience, Offshore Electronics is exceptionally well prepared for the decades ahead. We are honoured to still be working with our longest standing customer Polar Instruments Ltd., who we have known from our earliest days.

Polar Chairman Martyn Mann reflected: “Polar’s relationship with OEL goes back to the very first day its founders took the brave step to establish the company. Since then they have manufactured many thousands of completed and tested instruments and boards for us to the highest quality.

Whilst manufacturing technology has changed much in 30 years, the core values of OEL have remained and although Polar’s business has slowly changed, OEL continues to be our manufacturing partner offering advice and help when requested as well as providing us with quality product.

Congratulations on your 30 year anniversary and we wish you continued success in the future.”

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our customers and staff, some who have been on this journey with us since 1990, and are very much looking forward to our future growth and success. To find out how we can help you with your next contract electronics manufacturing project please contact [email protected]