Matric Group

10/16/2026

OCTOBER 16 | Through-Hole Technology (THT) Assembly

DID YOU KNOW?

Not every electronic component can be placed using automated Surface Mount Technology (SMT). Think about a connector that gets plugged and unplugged repeatedly or a large transformer that needs additional support. These components often require a stronger mechanical connection than surface mounting alone can provide.

That's where Through-Hole Technology (THT) comes in.

Unlike SMT, where components are mounted directly onto the surface of a circuit board, THT involves inserting component leads through pre-drilled holes in the circuit board and soldering them into place, providing both an electrical connection and additional mechanical strength.

STEP 1 — COMPONENT PREPARATION: Components are identified, verified and, when necessary, their leads are formed or trimmed to meet assembly requirements.

STEP 2 — COMPONENT INSERTION: Components are inserted into designated holes on the circuit board, either manually or with the assistance of specialized equipment.

STEP 3 — SOLDERING: Depending on the assembly, components may be soldered by hand or using automated soldering equipment. The video below shows the ERSA Versaflow and The solder creates the electrical connection between the component leads and the circuit board.

STEP 4 — INSPECTION: Solder joints, component placement and workmanship are inspected to verify they meet applicable quality standards and customer requirements.

And just like SMT, additional steps such as cleaning, testing and inspection may be required depending on the customer's specifications. Many of the products we manufacture at Matric require a combination of SMT and THT, allowing us to use the right assembly method for each component.

10/13/2026

OCTOBER 13 | Surface-Mount Technology (SMT) Assembly

DID YOU KNOW?

There are at least six key steps involved as a board moves through the SMT assembly process.

STEP 1 — SOLDER PASTE APPLICATION: A stencil applies solder paste to specific areas of the circuit board where components will be placed.

STEP 2 — SOLDER PASTE INSPECTION (SPI): Automated equipment checks the amount, height and placement of the solder paste to catch potential issues before components are added.

STEP 3 — PICK & PLACE: High-speed machines pick tiny electronic components from reels and place them precisely onto the board according to the programmed design.

STEP 4 — PRE-REFLOW AOI: Automated Optical Inspection uses cameras to check component placement, orientation and missing components before the board enters the reflow oven.

STEP 5 — REFLOW SOLDERING: The board travels through a temperature-controlled oven, where the solder paste melts and forms the electrical connections that secure the components.

STEP 6 — POST-REFLOW AOI: The board goes through another automated optical inspection to check for component placement issues and visible solder defects after soldering.

Assembly is only part of the process. Depending on the product, additional inspection, electrical testing and functional testing may be required before the board is ready for its next step.

10/13/2026

Medical device manufacturing comes with unique challenges—from meeting strict quality standards to navigating complex regulatory requirements.

If you're involved in developing or manufacturing medical devices, our latest blog explores the standards, certifications, and best practices that help support safe, reliable products.

Read the full article: https://hubs.ly/Q04yJJ8c0

OEMs face rampant red tape when producing products for the medical field thanks to strict manufacturing standards and regulations.

10/12/2026

October 12 | SMT vs. THT PCB Assembly

DID YOU KNOW?

There’s more than one way to attach electronic components to a circuit board. Two methods we use at Matric are Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-Hole Technology (THT). The process used depends on the components, product design and how the finished assembly will be used.

SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY (SMT) starts with applying solder paste to specific areas of the circuit board using a stencil. Automated equipment then places components onto the board before it travels through a reflow oven, where the solder melts and forms the electrical connections. SMT allows us to place thousands of tiny components accurately and efficiently, making it ideal for smaller, more complex electronics.

THROUGH-HOLE TECHNOLOGY (THT) involves inserting component leads through holes in the circuit board and soldering them into place. This process is commonly used for larger components, connectors and parts that need additional mechanical strength.

MIXED TECHNOLOGY ASSEMBLY combines both SMT and THT on the same circuit board. Depending on the product, using both methods may be necessary to meet its design and performance requirements.

At Matric, we have the equipment and expertise to support all three assembly methods. To learn more about PCB Assembly, check out https://hubs.ly/Q04zTY8y0

10/09/2026

October 9 | Getting Ready for PCB Assembly

DID YOU KNOW?

Before the first component is placed on a circuit board there are important steps that take place before a board reaches the production conveyor.

GE**ER FILES provide the digital blueprint for the circuit board, defining its copper pathways, layers, solder mask and other details needed for manufacturing.

BOM (Bill of Materials) KITTING involves gathering, verifying and organizing all the electronic components required for the assembly, making sure the correct parts and quantities are ready for production.

MACHINE PROGRAMMING uses the design and component placement data to create instructions for our automated assembly equipment, telling the machines which components to pick up, exactly where to place them and how they should be positioned.

10/08/2026

October 8 | Planning & Scheduling the Job
DID YOU KNOW?
Before a PCB assembly job reaches the production floor, there's a lot of coordination involved in determining when it can be built. It's not simply a matter of putting a date on the calendar!

Here are a few key factors our Planning & Scheduling team considers when preparing a job for production.

CUSTOMER REQUEST DATES establish when the customer needs their assemblies delivered, helping determine production priorities and timelines.
SUPPLY CHAIN AVAILABILITY plays a major role in scheduling. Components, bare circuit boards and other materials must be available before production can begin. Long lead times or material shortages can impact the schedule.
PRODUCTION CAPACITY involves evaluating available equipment, personnel and existing workloads to determine when a job can move through manufacturing.
JOB READINESS ensures materials, documentation, machine programs and production requirements are in place before the job is released to the floor.
SCHEDULE MANAGEMENT keeps everything moving, adjusting priorities as customer needs, material availability and production demands change.

The goal? Getting the right job on the right equipment at the right time—while meeting customer delivery commitments.

10/07/2026

October 7 | Before We Build

DID YOU KNOW?

A lot happens between completing an electronic design and building the first circuit board.

Before production begins, several teams are already working behind the scenes:

ENGINEERING makes sure the design is ready to manufacture.

STRATEGIC SOURCING works to identify components and suppliers while considering availability, lead times, cost and potential obsolescence.

PURCHASING works to get the components, bare circuit boards and other materials needed for production.

RECEIVING & WAREHOUSE receive and verify incoming materials; organize inventory and make sure the right parts are available when production needs them.

PLANNING & SCHEDULING bring everything together—coordinating materials, production requirements and capacity to determine when a job is ready to move to the manufacturing floor.

ACCOUNTS MANAGEMENT keeps the customer and our internal teams connected, coordinating requirements, schedules, changes and project needs.

It takes a lot of people working together before a product ever reaches production.

But wait… we’re missing someone. Who helps get the whole process started in the first place? Drop your guess in the comments! 👇 We’ll spotlight that team later in the month.

10/06/2026

As part of Manufacturing Month, we’ve spent the past few days highlighting our engineering department at Matric.

Want to see what our team can do for your next project?

Take a deeper look at our PCB Engineering Services, from new product development to supporting and improving existing designs.

🔗 https://hubs.ly/Q04zjcL60

Matric Group offers comprehensive PCB engineering services, integrating design, manufacturing, and life cycle management to ensure reliable, high-performance electronic products.

10/05/2026

From the Classroom to a Company — Matric’s Engineering Roots

As we celebrate Manufacturing Month, it’s fitting to look back at where Matric began.

Before there was Matric, Andy Maitland and Lee Richey were instructors at Venango Area Vo-Tech. Just a few years later, their engineering experience and entrepreneurial spirit helped launch something much bigger.

On June 16, 1971, Matric was founded with just $100 in starting capital. That money went toward drafting supplies and industrial equipment, with the company operating out of Andy’s mother’s basement.

Their first job? Repairing a clock radio for $3.00. From there, the work quickly grew. Their first industrial repair job brought in $550, followed by an order for $1,250. Their second major order was for $4,800 for engineering and prototype services.

More than 55 years later, engineering remains at the heart of Matric. What started with two engineers and an idea has grown into a company supporting customers through engineering, electronics manufacturing, and product lifecycle services—with an engineering department that today includes 17 designers, draftsmen, and engineers.

Technology has changed, but the commitment to engineering solutions hasn’t. To learn more about Matric and its history, check out Our History (https://hubs.ly/Q04z8GW70)

10/05/2026

We're heading to The Battery Show North America!

📍 Novi, MI
📅 October 13–15
📌 Booth #507

If you'll be attending, stop by and meet the Matric Group team! We'd love to talk about your electronics manufacturing needs, answer your questions, and learn more about your next project.

We can't wait to connect with customers, partners, and industry professionals throughout the show.

See you in Novi!

https://hubs.ly/Q04yJHgS0

North America’s leading event for advanced battery and EV technology. Meet suppliers, learn from experts, and build partnerships to accelerate innovation.