Firms encouraged to invest in Devon and reap the rewards

Devon is already home to world class, innovative businesses and a campaign by Devon County Council is aiming to make it easier for companies and entrepreneurs to move to the county and be part of its on-going success story.

Devon Delivers (www.investdevon.co.uk) is highlighting the wide range of businesses that have played a part in Devon’s economy growing faster than the national average over the past decade.

That growth is set to continue, with investment in vital infrastructure making Devon even better connected. Companies looking for the next stage of growth or entrepreneurs looking to grow a new business are being encouraged to find out that Devon Delivers.

Staff makes the difference at Graphic PLC

The company motto at Graphic PLC is “where people make the difference” – something which is as true today as when the company was established more than 40 years ago.

It is a philosophy which has seen the Devon-based company become one of the most well-established businesses in its field. From its HQ in Crediton, Graphic manufactures and supplies Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) to customers across the world in industries as varied as Formula One motor racing, military aerospace, medical and broadcasting. Over time, the company has built a global reputation for high quality and high reliability.

Printed Circuit Boards are the ‘foundations’ of modern day electronics; they are the real estate all the clever components and complex electronics sit on.

While starting with basic technology in the late 1960s, Graphic is now one of the European leaders in 'High Density Interconnect' and offers some of the most advanced PCB technology available. Products are manufactured to some of the highest International specifications, with reliability being of the utmost importance.

Trevor Sanders, Sales and Marketing Director for Graphic PLC, said: “If our specialist customers are going to place components on our boards to a value ten times that of the bare board and then put it in a box which is packed full of electronics, and that in turn sits in the Eurofighter worth £80 million, they need to know it is going to work and there can be no failures. A large part of our products are linked to aviation and are 'Flight Critical', and dealing with Graphic gives our customers that extra assurance they are looking for in what is a very demanding market place.”

The company currently employs 170 people in the UK, the majority of which are long term staff. Retaining that wealth of knowledge and experience is one of the strengths in its design and manufacture of all types of printed circuit board.

“We’re surrounded by fantastic countryside and the quality of life is a definite attraction for our employees,” added Trevor. “Our employees are extremely passionate about what we do and 60% of them have been with the company for more than ten years.”

Graphic has proven that being located in a more rural area of Devon, in one of Devon’s historic market towns, is certainly no barrier to becoming an industry leader.

The company is now the only surviving original Printed Circuit Board manufacturer in the world with 42 years of experience in the business, having been founded in 1968 by Rex Rozario OBE. Mr Rozario was a protégé of Dr Paul Eisler, the inventor of the Printed Circuit Board, and worked with him at the UK’s first PCB manufacturer, Technograph-Telegraph, in the 1950s before launching his own company, Graphic PLC, in Devon.

The company is still chaired by Rex Rozario who has an active part in the running of the company.

“Customers come from all around the globe to see our high technology facility where we manufacture our PCBs,” said Trevor. “Customers love to visit not just the factory but the area as well and an over night stay in a typical Devonshire Pub is a good start to any visit. More international accommodation is available in the city of Exeter and lots of entertainment is on offer.

“With the expanding main European routes out of Exeter Airport people can arrive and be in our facility within 30 minutes - this is very important as we continue to attract major original equipment manufacturers.”

Graphic's circuit boards are at the heart of products for leading businesses such as Europe's leading Defence and Aerospace company BAE Systems, electronics giant Sony, computer firm Hewlett Packard, as well as aerospace, transport and defence electronics company Thales, and defence electronics firm Selex Galileo.

Graphic has links with local schools and the University of Exeter in order to encourage interest within the industry and to find potential future employees. Its partnership with the University is particularly strong, working with the academic team in a number of research areas to enhance innovation and technology.

Trevor added: “For us to develop as a business we need to continue to develop our technology and the knowledge of our staff and to employ personnel with new skill sets capable of driving the business forward now and in the future. Our links with the University of Exeter play a major role within this as students work with us on 'Knowledge Transfer Programmes' and offer key expertise and resource to enhance our manufacturing capability.”

Graphic also has carefully selected global distributors and agents, and in 2007, Graphic embarked upon a joint venture with Somacis in China, with the aim of growing their share in the Asian and global markets. This now makes Graphic more of a global player with 600 staff worldwide in three different locations (Devon, Denmark and China) and a turnover of £40 million plus.

The factory is equipped with the latest advanced technology plant and equipment its 400 employees produce high technology multi-layer and flexi-rigid circuit boards in high volume. While the two companies maintain their independence, the factory in China enables them to combine their worldwide sales and technical resources to meet the demands of customers at world competitive prices, but it does not replace Graphic’s home.

“Whilst we now have facilities in China and Denmark, Crediton will always remain as the main facility from which to conduct our business due to the significant advantages of its location,” confirms Trevor.

That view is echoed by David Pike, Managing Director of Graphic. He said: “Our business in Devon is driven by a highly skilled workforce living in an environmentally friendly area with excellent road, rail and air links which allows us to compete in a global market. Our business also has excellent links to some of the best research centres in the world, allowing us to work with them in developing new ideas for the future.”