The transition from startup to a going concern can be a tricky one, especially in the fast-moving, capital-intensive electronics contract manufacturing business. Canadian-based printed circuit board (PCB) assembler MARA Technologies Inc. (Markham, ON) made that discovery in 2004 during its first year of business.
Originally incorporated in late 2003, the company, which assembles boards for the computer, telecommunications and wireless industries, began operations in February 2004 with just three employees and a single surface mount assembly line. The next month, a contract to produce computer PCBs promised to push MARA's equipment and workforce to their capacity, threatening to hamper future growth.