Tannlin

20 years of laser cut stencils

Graham Hall, Fraser Shaw, and Pete Rivett met in the 1980's whilst working at Prestwick Circuits Ltd at the time Europe's largest PCB manufacturer.

Pete left in 1984 to join IBM, in 1987 Fraser left to lecture in electronics and in 1989 Graham joined Circuit Screens Ltd a start up stencil manufacturer. In the role of Technical Director Graham designed and developed the world's first Laser Cutting Machine for stencils. To market the machines worldwide Circuit Screens formed, with the Cookson Group, the joint venture company Alpha Sigma Limited in 1991. Graham subsequently became the Technical Director of Alpha Sigma. Fraser joined Alpha Sigma in 1992 and with Graham set up manufacturing operations in USA, Singapore and Japan.

Tannlin was formed by Graham and Fraser in 1998 to manufacture laser cut stencils and laser cut stencil machines. The company's success has been based on manufacturing innovative products and a commitment to fulfilling customers' requirements. Tannlin has built its reputation as a market leader with the vectorguard foil handling system and the T8 laser cutting system acknowledged industry benchmarks.

Graham as Tannlin's Managing Director is still focused on the development of products and processes with which the company is synonymous with. Fraser as Director of Technical Sales and Marketing has taken a lead role in the expansion of the customer base that extends from Irvine to USA, Israel, Asia and Europe. He still works closely with Graham on the development of the products including Tannlin's new T8vs Laser Cutting System launched in 2009.

In 2008 Pete Rivett joined the company as the Director of Operations from his role as Senior Director of European Engineering for Solectron/Flextronics. In that role he was responsible the European design, Advanced Process Development and Manufacturing Engineering teams. Pete has overseen the further expansion Tannlin with the opening of the Hook manufacturing facility in 2009 that supplies stencils and PCBA tooling.

In addition to the manufacturing facilities in Irvine and Hook, Tannlin has a sales base in Boston USA.

Tannlin's staff, many of whom have been with the company since it's inception, have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the industry and its customers.