Fabrinet signs agreement with BEI Systron Donner Automotive Division to manufacture microgyro assemblies for automotive applications

Fabrinet announced it has signed a volume supply agreement with Systron Donner Automotive Division (SDAD) to manufacture its MicroGyro assemblies.  Initial low-volume manufacturing will begin in the second half of 2005 at Fabrinet's facilities in Bangkok, Thailand.

BEI Systron Donner Automotive Division, Concord, CA, manufactures inertial sensors and is the world's leading supplier of quartz MEMS (Micro Electro-mechanical Systems) technology inertial sensors for the automotive market.  GyroChip® sensors are applicable in safety, comfort, and convenience automotive systems.  The largest application to date is yaw rate sensing in vehicle dynamic anti-skid control systems.

"SDAD was seeking to expand its footprint in Asia, so we conducted a thorough search of EMS companies capable of the precision manufacturing and quality required to assemble our MicroGyro assemblies," commented David Pike, general manager of BEI Systron Donner.  "Fabrinet not only came out on top, but they manufacture in Thailand, which was an important consideration as Thailand is one of the largest producers of automobiles and automobile parts in the world.  As a major supplier of automotive systems, there was a significant requirement for SDAD to have a presence there."

"Manufacturing MicroGyro assemblies for automotive applications is a perfect fit for Fabrinet and is a good example of how Fabrinet has developed and grown," said Tom Mitchell, founder and CEO of Fabrinet.  "Our business started with the precision engineering and manufacturing skill sets required in the disk drive industry and expanded to the optics and electromechanical markets.  With the achievement of TS 16949 certification in early 2003, we leveraged those skill sets further into the automotive industry with its increasingly complex electronic, optical, and mechanical systems."

"We have been extremely pleased with the engineering resources available at Fabrinet," said Kelly Calapp, supply chain manager for BEI Systron Donner.  "With the support and endorsement of key suppliers, SDAD will continue to achieve our objectives and further our successes."