What are Marine Printed Circuit Boards?

If you operate in the maritime sector, serve the marine industry, or plan to, you should be aware that printed circuit boards are crucial to a wide range of marine devices and applications. The right PCB for marine industry applications is critical, as maritime electronic PCBs have unique requirements for electronic connectivity and mechanical support. PCBs can be used in practically all marine vessels, except the most primitive, from tiny motorboats to moderate yachts and huge cruise liners. 

Any ship that uses a technical operating or navigation system is dependent on electronic applications or processes, which require high-quality printed circuit boards to function.

Which Maritime Electronic Devices Use Printed Circuit Boards? 

Here are some of the electronic equipment with printed circuit boards that marine vessels require to operate:

• Autopilot: The operation of a self-tuning autopilot system is heavily reliant on high-accuracy electronic processes. This system must be capable of course correction and maintenance, boat stabilisation and manoeuvring, and managing rudder activity while minimising heading error and propulsion losses.
• Radar: To be as precise as you need for your vessel's safety, a reliable radar system that provides accurate information about the placement of other objects in the body of water around the vessel must have the right PCBs working optimally.
• Marine VHF Radio: A radio is an essential survival device for any maritime vessel, especially one that will be away from port for an extended period. Mariners must be able to count on their radios and the printed circuit boards that enable them to function.
• GPS System: Another device that has become indispensable for modern sea travellers is the GPS. It allows anyone on a marine vessel to know where they are at any particular time, but only if it is properly working with the correct PCB.
• Fish Finder/Sonar: Today's modern deep sea fishermen would be lost without dependable PCB-powered sonar equipment to locate the best supplies for their catches.

Radio Frequency Printed Circuit Boards

M-Tek Assembly Ltd specialises in providing RF PCBs with high-frequency laminates with short lead times and high-quality controls for all of your marine application requirements. These are PCBs that use an analogue signal with an extremely high frequency.

These PCBs transmit signals within a specific frequency band using filters to ensure that they only transmit signals within the desired frequency band. They are extremely efficient at transmitting and receiving radio signals, allowing for rapid response and success in your marine industry electronic devices and applications.

We recognise the difficulties of designing RF PCBs that incorporate both digital and mixed-signal technologies, and we thoroughly inspect our RF PCBs before sending them to you. Because of their specialised nature, radio frequency printed circuit boards require some specialised equipment for accurate manufacturing, such as plasma etch machines, which allow you to create the high-quality, low deviance through-holes required for these boards. Laser Direct Imaging (LDI) equipment, which works better than standard photo exposure equipment, is frequently used in good RF PCB manufacturing.

The Marine PCB You Need 

When you take your boat out on the ocean, whether for individual or business reasons, you cannot afford to rely on the dependability of your electronic devices. M-Tek manufactures high-quality circuit boards for a wide range of industries and applications, and our reputation is unrivalled. We can provide effective PCBs for electronic applications in the marine industry such as:

• Radar and Sonar
• Signal Processors
• Infrared Processors
• Communication
• Time-keeping
• Navigation
• Temperature Sensors

About M-Tek Assembly Ltd 

Here at M-Tek Assembly, we have years of industry experience, and our team of skilled engineers will guide you through the entire process. You will also be helping to save the environment by using M-Tek for printed circuit board repairs. We have achieved a net-zero carbon footprint by using electric vehicles, and for every circuit board we build, we plant a tree! Contact one of our SMT and PCB assembly experts today for assistance. Call 01189 455377 or follow us on Twitter to learn more about our services.