At Zikodrive, we’re continuing to invest in our manufacturing capability as part of our ongoing drive to improve efficiency, quality, and output. The latest step in this journey is the installation of a new selective soldering machine from Pillarhouse at our Halifax manufacturing facility.
This investment represents another major upgrade to our in-house production line. The Pillarhouse system will enable us to achieve highly consistent solder joints on both single side and double sided SMT, improve throughput, and reduce manual rework—all of which help ensure that every Zikodrive controller meets our exacting quality standards.
Selective soldering technology offers a precise, automated approach to through-hole soldering. By controlling heat, timing, and solder flow with pinpoint accuracy, the process eliminates many of the variables associated with hand soldering, leading to improved reliability and long-term performance. In addition, it has several major benefits over wave soldering techniques. Firstly, it enables double sided boards to have TH components installed wherever they are needed. This can be hugely beneficial in custom applications where form factory and envelope can sometimes be unpredictable or unusual.
We’re particularly proud to be working with Pillarhouse, a UK-based manufacturer known worldwide for the quality and reliability of their selective soldering systems. The installation reflects our commitment not only to investing in technology but also in supporting British engineering excellence wherever possible.
This addition follows recent investments in testing, assembly, and data capture equipment across the business. Together, these upgrades are helping us to enhance consistency, streamline production, and strengthen our ability to deliver on complex customer projects.
We’re excited to see the benefits of the new selective solder system come to life over the coming weeks as we bring it into full production.