30 years of contiNuous development

It all started in 1980 when Autronica Fire and Security in Trondheim decided to set up a manufacturing plant at Røros basically for manufacturing of Thick Film Substrates to be used in their new generation of smoke detectors.

The first 5 years the company remained a manufacturing department in Autronica. However, the Thick Film technology aroused interest by customers looking for new technology to enable more functionality in less space. Tandberg Data decided to use thick film technology in the next generation tape backup streamer in 1984. In 1985 Autronica chose to organize the activity at Røros as a subsidiary named Amitech AS to serve external customers satisfactorily.

Up to 1997 the company was owned by Autronica Fire and Security. The main customers were Autronica Fire and Security, Tandberg Data and Ericsson, all using thick film technology to miniaturize electronic modules with high functionality on small areas. I 1995 Amitech was defined outside the core business in Autronica, and the company was announced for sale. At the same time management started implementing a new business strategy based on industrialisation and manufacturing of Microelectronics Modules in addition to Thick Film Hybrids. The company was finally sold to Alphatron Industrier AS i 1997.

During the period 1997 to 1999 the turnover grew from 35 MNOK to 60 MNOK and new customers like Q-Free and Nera Networks were added. In 1999 Alphatron Industrier AS was merged with Kitron AS and the company became a part of the Kitron Group. At the same time the company changed name to Kitron Microelectronics AS.

From 1999 to 2008 Kitron Microelectronics (KM) increased the business by implementing new products from existing and new customers, and the turnover grew from 60 MNOK to 150 MNOK with good profitability. In the same period KM decided to upgrade the quality systems to automotive standard, and KM was certified to the ISO TS 16949 requirements in 2004. Process automation and volume manufacturing were highlighted, and dedicated final assembly lines for Kongsberg Automotive and Q-Free were developed and installed. Process control, zero defect and lean manufacturing became focus subjects. Manufacturing of thick film substrates was a significant part of the activity during this period.

As a result of major changes in the long term strategy Kitron Group decided to sell or close down the company by the end of 2008. A group of 35 employees and Norbit AS in Trondheim set up a new company, Norbitech Holding AS, and bought the company from Kitron in June 2009. The business continued in the same premises and with the same customers under the new name Norbitech AS from July 2009.

Despite the changes in ownership and customers coming and going over the 30 years since the start back in 1980, Norbitech today appears as a viable company with dedicated employees and a great future potential!

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