Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Precision Milling of Underfilled SMT Components
Learning with Leo: Drones—Meeting Demand Without Compromise
Nolan’s Notes: Our Spotlight on North America
Altus Group Helps BitBox Unlock Productivity and Efficiency Gains with New Reflow Oven
April 22, 2024 | Altus GroupEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Altus Group, a leading provider of capital equipment, has recently assisted BitBox, a UK-based electronics design, engineering and manufacturing company in upgrading its operations with the implementation of a new reflow oven from Heller Industries. The advanced system promises to further enhance BitBox's production capabilities by optimising throughput, refining process control, and increase energy efficiency.
With over 25 years working in product design, engineering and manufacturing services, BitBox has consistently prioritised meeting the evolving needs of its customers. Recognising the importance of enhancing its Surface Mount Technology (SMT) reflow oven capabilities to align with growing demand, BitBox conducted a thorough evaluation process. Subsequently, with the help of Altus Group, the Heller 1826 MK7 was chosen as the ideal choice.
"The Heller 1826 MK7 delivers superior reflow oven performance through its extended heated tunnel, additional zones, faster throughput, and precise process controls," said Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group. "We are pleased to provide this solution to support BitBox's manufacturing expansion."
The Heller 1826 MK7 is engineered to maximize process efficiency and control. Its advanced low Delta T design achieves industry-leading thermal uniformity across 8 heated zones, enabling enhanced product quality while supporting precise profiling within strict process controls. The innovative flux management system incorporates a proprietary flux collection design, trapping residue for safe removal without shutting down the oven.
"We are delighted to have made this investment in upgrading and enhancing our convection reflow capabilities at BitBox," said Jonathan Green, Manufacturing Manager at BitBox. "Heller's reputation as a provider in the industry is outstanding, and we've tailored the system to maximize future-proofing options and deliver significant value to our customer base."
BitBox's investment in the Heller 1826 MK7 addresses key operational challenges and positions the company for continued growth. With increased throughput capacity, optimised uptime, energy efficiency gains, and data-driven quality focus, BitBox can scale up production volumes, maintain stringent quality standards, and realise cost savings through optimised energy efficiency.
"It's been a pleasure to support BitBox every step of the way," added Joe Booth. "Their dedication has been commendable, and I eagerly anticipate the exciting projects ahead with the BitBox team."
Share on:
Testimonial
"Your magazines are a great platform for people to exchange knowledge. Thank you for the work that you do."
Simon Khesin - Schmoll MaschinenSuggested Items
Punching Out: How Are the Big Boys in Electronics Doing?
05/12/2026 | Tom Kastner -- Column: Punching Out!Let’s see what the public companies are up to in the PCB and EMS industries. In North America, there are only a couple of publicly traded PCB companies: TTM Technologies and Firan Technology Group. On the EMS side, there are a few more: Flex, Jabil, Celestica, Sanmina,, Benchmark, Fabrinet, Kimball Electronics, Plexus Corp, Nortech Systems, and Key Tronic Corp. From an M&A standpoint, these public companies have been fairly quiet in the past five years. FTG completed two deals in 2022 (IMI and Holaday), Flex had three deals, Jabil had five deals, and Sanmina had one deal.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/08/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007This week, I’ve selected some outstanding interviews that you’ll want to take note of. First, is a roundtable discussion featuring three dynamic industry cybersecurity experts. Please watch this important discussion that affects us all. Following that, I spotlight the IPC-2581 Consortium, which explains why IPC-2581 is the standard to replace Gerber data for manufacturing. Next, I am including my interview with PCBAA and AAM, who collaborated to release a short documentary on U.S. PCB manufacturing.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
ViaSat-3 F3 Satellite Successfully Launches from Kennedy Space Center
05/04/2026 | BoeingBoeing mission controllers confirmed that the ViaSat-3 F3 (VS-3 F3) satellite is healthy in orbit following its successful launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket at 10:13 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
Microchip Expands Post-Quantum Root of Trust Controllers
04/29/2026 | MicrochipAs the industry embarks on the transition to post‑quantum cryptography (PQC), Microchip Technology is expanding its portfolio of Trust Shield, PQC‑ready devices with the TS1800 Platform Root of Trust controller and the TS50x secure boot controller.