10 million slices of Pi made at South Wales factory
ELECTRONICS workers have celebrated making the 10 millionth revolutionary Raspberry Pi computer at a South Wales factory.
The phenomenal success of the device – aimed at getting youngsters into coding – has helped fuel “unprecedented growth” at the Sony UK Technology centre at Pencoed, near Bridgend.
Over the past five years staff and production numbers have soared with staff numbers leaping by 200, taking its team of local employees to 540.
The Raspberry Pi was originally manufactured in China, but founder Eben Upton switched production to Sony UK TEC at Pencoed in 2012.
The facility was first approached to make 10,000 of the low-cost, credit card-sized computer annually.
But demand quickly soared and Sony UK TEC went onto produce one million in its first year, before reaching five million in just two years.
And the facility has just celebrated making 10 million units, out of the 14 million that have been sold worldwide.
Sony UK TEC managing director Steve Dalton, said: “The last five years has seen unprecedented growth across our Pencoed facility, something we are understandably incredibly proud of.
“Our growth has been intrinsically linked to the success of the Raspberry Pi and we are delighted to reach the 10 million manufacturing milestone.
“This is a significant achievement for everyone involved in its production, especially our devoted Sony team, the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and distributors Premier Farnell.
“It is also a significant achievement for the Welsh manufacturing sector to have an internationally successful, high volume, low-cost electronic product manufactured right here in Wales.
“This technology and growth has challenged our highly skilled team of engineers and technicians to develop new processes and drive innovation through the spirit of continuous improvement. In addition we were able to support the Pi Foundation further by introducing Pi manufacturing to our Japan counterparts and there is now a ‘made in Japan’ version of Pi.
“We look forward to continuing this successful partnership, reaching the next significant milestone and creating even more of these revolutionary computers.”
Founder Mr Upton said: “The last five years has been extremely exciting for us as we watched the Raspberry Pi become Britain’s best-selling computer of all time.
“When we initially began manufacturing it here at Sony UK TEC we could never have imagined it would be the soaring success it has become – and for that we are entirely grateful to Sony and our distribution partners.
“We are particularly delighted that the Pi has set the benchmark for utilizing innovative and progressive manufacturing right here in the UK, as it was always our wish to make the computers in this country.
“Thanks to Sony UK TEC’s unparalleled manufacturing standards, comprising the latest techniques and the very best in engineering talent, we were able to create a product which has become a global bestseller – with 14 million sold, two thirds of which has been built in South Wales.”
Sony UK TEC also thousands of HD broadcast and professional camera systems and is the only manufacturing facility outside Japan to manufacture the latest 4k broadcast technology.
It also has a host of lucrative thirdparty manufacturing contracts smart street lighting system Telensa.