Alps Electric EMS EMS+ Model in Action

In the electronics manufacturing world, the term vertical integration gets thrown around a lot, but at Alps Electric EMS, it’s more than a marketing phrase. It’s a tangible, strategic, and highly effective model that sets the company apart from traditional EMS providers.

That’s why Alps Electric EMS coined the term EMS+, to communicate that it’s not just another electronics contract manufacturer. It’s a partner that offers not only PCB assembly, but a fully integrated suite of services, all under one roof. From circuit board population to injection moulding, automated spray painting, tampo printing, assembly, supply chain management, logistics, and more, it’s all in-house.

And the result for OEMs? Simplified supply chains, lower risk, faster response times, and total accountability.

What EMS+ Really Means

“We coined the term EMS+ because our model goes far beyond what most EMS providers offer,” explains Jerry O’Brien, Head of New Business Development at Alps Electric EMS.

“We’re not just assembling boards. We’re supporting entire product builds and doing it in one location.”

The scope is impressive:

• SMT capability placing up to a billion components annually
• 27 injection moulding machines (including single and dual-shot)
• Two fully automated decorative spray painting lines with six-axis robots
• Tampo printing for complex decorative finishing
• Final assembly, test and packaging
• In-house automation design and development
• On-site logistics, purchasing, planning, finance and SCM

And perhaps just as important, a trusted network of local and global suppliers with decades of collaboration, ready to complement internal capabilities.

Reducing Complexity, One Touchpoint at a Time

In traditional EMS models, a product may pass through multiple partners across various geographies: SMT in one country, moulding in another, decorative finishing in a third, and final assembly somewhere else entirely.

Each handoff introduces delay, risk, and cost.

Alps Electric EMS flips that model. With all key processes in-house, and coordinated by one team, the company reduces the number of touchpoints, giving OEMs:

• Faster turnaround times
• Lower logistics and handling costs
• Streamlined traceability
• One point of contact and accountability

As Jerry puts it, “If something goes wrong, we don’t have to ask five suppliers what happened. We find the issue and fix it because we own the process.”

Flexible Enough for Non-Electronic Assemblies

One of the most surprising aspects of EMS+ is that Alps Electric EMS doesn't require a circuit board to be at the centre of the product. Many customers begin with non-electronic products, mechanical assemblies, injection-moulded components, or sub-assemblies that may later be “smartened” with electronics.

“We support customers who had no electronics in their first iterations,” Jerry explains. “But when they decided to add intelligence later, we were ready — because we had built the product from the start.”

This flexibility is particularly valuable for OEMs in sectors like industrial, white goods, transportation, medical devices, and off-highway equipment, where products often evolve over time.

Automation as Standard

Alps Electric EMS isn’t just vertically integrated, it’s highly automated.

The company’s bespoke automation is designed and built in-house. When OEM visitors tour the facility, they’re often shocked by the level of automation in processes that, elsewhere, would still be manual.

“We’ve had customers stop mid-tour and say, ‘what’s that machine doing?’, and they’re amazed it’s automated,” says Jerry. “For us, it’s just how we’ve always done it.”

This commitment to automation reduces labour content, which in turn reduces unit cost, making Ireland a surprisingly competitive manufacturing location, especially when combined with local engineering, EU-based logistics, and customer proximity.

Everything Under One Roof

The term everything under one roof isn’t just convenient. It’s a critical part of Alps Electric EMS’ customer promise.

When OEMs choose Alps Electric EMS, they’re not just outsourcing production, they’re embedding a partner who:

• Designs automation as their product scales
• Develops robust processes for traceability
• Consolidates their supplier base
• Maintains ethical sourcing policies
• Offers world-class quality, derived from automotive standards

This enables OEMs to streamline their own operations, reduce supplier management time, and gain peace of mind — all while scaling confidently.

Conclusion: EMS+ is EMS Evolved

In a global landscape where supply chains are strained and complexity is costly, Alps Electric EMS is redefining what it means to be a manufacturing partner.

EMS+ is more than a model. It’s a mindset. One built on ownership, flexibility, and continuous improvement. Whether you’re launching a new product, reviving an existing one, or simply want to reduce your risk exposure, Alps Electric EMS has the infrastructure, the culture, and the capability to deliver.

All under one roof. All under control.

Find out more by contacting Alps Electric EMS: https://alpselectric-ems.com/contact-us/

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