OSAKA, JAPAN -- SIIX Corp. and Ayrshire Electronics have entered a business alliance whereby the two contract assemblers will share technical and physical resources to their respective worldwide customer base.

The mutually exclusive agreement between the companies, including their other alliances, represents the eighth-largest EMS provider in the world, with nearly 18,000 workers and more than 200 SMT lines across 14 factories in eight countries. Through the alliance, both companies are able to provide seamless worldwide service to their respective customers through the assets and capabilities of either company. The alliance is fully functional. The deal, which was announced today, has been in effect since March.

SIIX is the 10th largest EMS company in the world, with sales of about $2 billion, according to the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50. Ayrshire is one of the largest privately held EMS companies in North America. SIIX, with plants in Japan, Thailand, Slovakia and China, also has a stake in IMI Inc., a Top 30 EMS company.

EMS supply chain relationships are not new. One of the larger ones, the EMS Alliance, involves four companies and 32 facilities. Several other Top Tier EMS companies have subcontract relationships with smaller, prototype shops. But it is unusual for a company the size of SIIX to publicly acknowledge such a relationship.

In a prepared statement, SIIX chairman and CEO Shiro Murai said, “SIIX is very pleased to be able to enhance and expand our service to SIIX’ North American customers through the alliance with Ayrshire. The alliance enables SIIX to rapidly respond to the customers and markets we serve in a cost-effective manner”.

“[T]he alliance with SIIX enables Ayrshire to follow and serve our customers around the globe. Furthermore, we expect the alliance to expand Ayrshire’s scope of opportunities with new customers seeking a US control point for outsourced manufacturing worldwide. It is an honor and a privilege to be allied with one of the world’s largest and best-managed EMS providers,” said Ayrshire chairman and CEO Milo D. Bryant.

SIIX, which is publicly traded on the Tokyo Exchange, focuses on the automotive, audio, and industrial control markets. Louisville, KY-based Ayrshire runs five factories in the US and Mexico and its primary markets include aerospace, industrial controls and FDA-approved medical products.

Correction: CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY last night reported Ayrshire was about to be acquired. That report was in error. CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY regrets the error.

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