Why does the switch from prototype to series often become expensive?

Because when moving from a quick-turn prototype provider to a classic EMS provider, manufacturing really is different: different solder profiles, placement heads, solder paste, quality inspection and operators. The series run therefore has to be re-qualified, which costs time and money.

Why is re-validation unnecessary with Speedplace?

Speedplace is not a prototype service with its own machine park, but an online entry point to regular SMTEC manufacturing. The prototype runs on the same SMT line, the same approved reflow profile, the same solder paste and the same IPC-A-610 quality inspection as the series. The only differences are waiting times, reserve and scheduling — the manufacturing process is identical.

How much does the seamless scale-up save?

For a customer ramping e.g. from 25 to 2,500 pieces, the separate validation is eliminated because the design history stays continuous and the first article is already captured in the first prototype run. That saves time and cost — how much exactly depends on the project.

From when is a switch to contract sales conditions worthwhile?

Experience shows it at one of these triggers: the move from a few prototypes to ongoing series is due, regularly recurring quantities (including small batches), price-sensitive products where lead time is not the priority, or reached series maturity. No one has to initiate the step themselves — SMTEC sales reaches out actively.

Can I keep using Speedplace after moving to series?

Yes. Even after switching to contract conditions, Speedplace access remains available — useful for follow-up revisions during an ongoing series, special lots outside the forecast, express reorders for warranty cases, and new products from the same customer company. Speedplace and the contract model complement each other.

Scale-up from prototype to series — seamless instead of expensive.

The classic scale-up problem

Many hardware projects follow the same path: the prototype runs at a specialised quick-turn provider, often on a dedicated prototype line with hand placement. Once the product works, the company switches to a classic EMS provider with large lines for the series.

This handover is where the most expensive problem in the product life cycle appears: requalification. It does not happen out of malice — production really is different:

Different reflow profiles because different ovens are used
Different placement heads with different tolerances on small components
Different solder paste
Different quality inspection
Additional SPI check
Different operators with different inspection checklists

Consequence: the series run has to be re-validated. For ISO 13485 products this is formal design validation — for ISO 9001 at least a documented First Article Inspection. Both cost time and money.

Why Speedplace is different

Speedplace is conceptually not a prototype service with its own machine park. It is online access to the regular SMTEC production. When your prototype runs, it runs on:

the same SMT line that also assembles another customer's 10,000-piece series
the same reflow profile
the same solder paste
the same quality inspection per IPC-A-610 Class 2 or Class 3

The only differences between prototype and series are waiting times, reserve and scheduling. The manufacturing process itself is identical.

// Concretely

For a Speedplace customer scaling from 25 to 2,500 pieces, there is no separate validation. The design history is continuous, the First Article is already recorded from the first prototype run. That saves time and cost.

What does change during scale-up

Not everything stays identical. What changes when you move from prototype to series:

Commercial terms

Above defined quantities, the regular SMTEC sales team takes over with volume-optimised conditions — framework agreement, forecast-based material procurement, tiered pricing. These conditions are cheaper than Speedplace tariffs because line capacity becomes more predictable.

Logistics

Instead of one-off deliveries from the configurator: Kanban, consignment, regular delivery plans. Agreed individually between customer and SMTEC sales.

Sourcing

At higher quantities, strategic sourcing pays off: direct purchase from distributors or semiconductor manufacturers, forward buying against allocation, possibly customer-owned inventory. These strategies run through sales, not Speedplace.

Documentation

What is produced as a simple inspection record in the prototype becomes structured design-history documentation in series. SMTEC provides this documentation continuously on request — and can build on the Speedplace history.

When does the move to contract terms pay off?

Typically at one of these triggers:

The move from a few prototypes to ongoing series production is due
Regularly recurring quantities — including small batches
Price-sensitive products where lead time is not the priority
The product has reached series maturity

Customers reaching one of these conditions are actively contacted by SMTEC sales. No need to initiate this yourself — we see it in the order system.

What you keep in Speedplace after the transition

Even after moving to contract terms, the Speedplace access stays usable. Useful for:

Follow-on revisions during running series production (R&D iterations)
Special lots outside the regular forecast
Express follow-up deliveries for warranty cases
New products in the same customer company

Speedplace and the classic SMTEC contract model are not either/or — they complement each other.

Is your project growing beyond the prototype?

Start in the configurator. We keep the history — and reach out actively when the move to contract terms makes sense.

To the configurator →