EMS@C-LEVEL
As Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fast Company and SCOOP writer, Philip Stoten, continues to talk to EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) executives he learns more about their individual and collective experiences and their expectations for their own businesses and for the entire electronic manufacturing industry.
EMS@C-LEVEL
Electronica 24: Eleonetech CEO on Electronics Manufacturing in Tunisia with EMSNOW's Eric Miscoll
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Discover the secrets behind the success of Eleonetech, a rising star in the Tunisian electronics manufacturing landscape, as Khaled Daami, their charismatic CEO, gives us an insider's tour. Along with host Eric Miscoll of EMSNOW, Khaled shares the innovative strategies and lean operations that have propelled Eleonetech in the automotive, industrial, and IoT sectors. As part of the formidable One Tech Group, Eleonetech harnesses cutting-edge technology and a dynamic workforce of over 1,000 skilled professionals in Tunisia, positioning itself as a trusted partner for clients worldwide.
What makes Tunisia a hidden gem for electronics manufacturing? Khaled reveals the strategic advantages that this vibrant country offers, from its robust infrastructure of over 40 EMS companies to a culturally diverse and highly skilled labor force. Despite the challenges in the automotive industry, Eleonetech continues to expand its reach, drawing in new European and Asian clients and embracing emerging technologies.
Tune in to learn why companies invest in Tunisia, and how Eleonetech is poised to serve over 50 countries with high quality and comprehensive solutions.
EMS@C-Level at electronica 2024 was hosted by IPC (https://www.ipc.org/)
EMS@C-Level is hosted by global inspection leaders Koh Young (https://www.kohyoung.com) and Global Electronics Association (https://www.electronics.org)
You can see video versions of all of the EMS@C-Level pods on our YouTube playlist.
Hi there, Eric Miskel with EMS, Now at the show floor at Electronica 2024. I'm with Khalid Dami. He's the CEO of Helion Tech. We met earlier this year in Tunisia when we were very gracious and let us in. We did a great tour. Tell us about Helion Tech and who they are. Yeah, Eleon.
Speaker 2Tech is a member of One Tech Group. Eleon Tech is an EMS of One Tech Group. Eleon Tech is the locomotive of One Tech Group, so we are an EMS company. We are more than 1,000 people in Tunisia, so we are doing design for design, of course, with some other sister company OneTech Group, so we are certified EITF, so we are doing automotive. We are doing industrial activity. We are, of course, we have some IoT business. Customers trust us. Why? Because we have a lean company, kaizen company, 4.0 company and we are a part of one tech group, so one tech group. Now we speak around 320 million euros in 2023. So we are more than 4,500 people between Tunisia and Morocco.
Speaker 2So we are also working on automotive activity, on industrial activity, iot activity, wire harnesses, plastic, pcba so we can offer one-stop shop solution. So if the customer needs just PCBA, we can offer PCBA, but if the customer needs the sub-assembled part or motors, so we can offer complete motors tested with high quality and high technology for our customers. And people also know OneTech Group because of FUBA. Yes, because the history of FUBA is a German company. Yeah, and since 30 years, fuba is in Tunisia. Yeah, for sure, that's the printed circuit board manufacturer. Yes, and you know FUBA is the only manufacturing company in North Africa doing PCB, because it's really the high-tech technology. There is no PCB manufacturer in North Africa.
Speaker 1Yeah, Interesting, Interesting. Yeah, Now listen, you mentioned the automotive. You know I hear from a lot of EMS that automotive has been hard business this last year. How is the business in Tunisia for you?
Speaker 2Yeah, it's good. Why? Because we are on the positive trend of the growth. So we are more and more new business and the new customers. So, when there is a decrease of the demand of the customer and you introduce new business and the new project, so you can't see this decrease of the demand of the customer and you introduce new business and the new project, so we can't, you can't see this decrease of the demand. Yeah, so I think this is a, this is a one very positive point on our group. So I can give you one example for this year 2024, we introduced five new european customers. The one chain is one china's customer, so's very important. So when there is a decrease for automotive and we introduce new customers, new activity, new technology, you can ensure this growth for the future.
Speaker 1Yeah, so what is it about Tunisia that makes it so desirable and such a good location for EMS?
Speaker 2So you know, if you speak with data, in Tunisia we have more than 40 EMS companies. We have more than 150 SMT lines. We have more than 15,000 people working just for electronics, and here I speak just EMS. But for sure, for EMS there is some suppliers for solution for machines, etc. And we are more than 300 companies. So that's why a big company like Xomner, for example, was installed in Tunisia since one year and a half. It's a very big company.
Speaker 2Why they trust in Tunisia? Because we have, of course, nice weather, nice people, the right competence and the right know-how. Yeah, okay, so you know, of course. And also we have the right culture. You visit us and you sell, we sell together the right culture. So we can speak many languages, yes, and we can serve many, many customers. I can take the example of One Tech. We are serving more than 50 countries between Africa, europe and America. So it's important, this is the advantage of Tunisia. I read the book for Aristotle. They say that the history of the Carthage knows the history. 3,000 years before Carthage is the source of democracy. Even it was the source of the democracy of Rome. So this history of Carthage and today Tunisia, it's here because people and the know-how of people, the culture, the mindset of people is yet here.
Speaker 1Yeah, and I know that there's been more interest in Tunisia, probably because of the tour that we did. I'm just kidding, but we spoke and we elevated and we talked about it and now when I go through the industry, I hear more people asking Tunisia, are you seeing that down there? More interest in the country?
Speaker 2Yes, yes, people are addressing more in Tunisia because mainly people, they have business, they have suppliers, they have customers, they have visited us. They are more and more interested to invest in Tunisia. We have many examples of tier one in Tunisia. They are investing more and more. We have new plants and we have some other new companies installed.
Speaker 1And to me one of the great benefits was proximity too. You know, from here you can fly here to Tunisia in what two hours.
Speaker 2That's a big advantage for us, this proximity? Yeah, no, it absolutely works. Of course, there is some great trade agreement between Tunisia and Europe, between Tunisia and Africa, tunisia and America Also. This is an advantage for Tunisia, europe between Tunisia and Africa.
Speaker 1Tunisia and America Also. This is an advantage for Tunisia and, like most countries this year, there's been an election there and the election is over now and things have settled down and it's back to business. We are a stable company.
Speaker 2Yeah, exactly right. Stable country? Yeah, no, it's absolutely. And safe, very important, safe country too.
Speaker 1Yeah, no, that's important and that is a consideration in this world these days, right? So, when you're at Electronica, what is your message that you're bringing to the market? What are you?
Speaker 2Come and invest in Tunisia. Come now right. We have a very good country, very good people, we have the right mindset, the right culture yeah, very good weather, very good, nice people, yeah. So come visit us and invest in Tunisia, come invest in Tunisia.
Speaker 1That's a good message. That's a good one. I was very impressed when we were down there with Eleon Tech, the whole, and we spoke about that in a podcast we had done Dita Vice and I.
Speaker 2Very impressive, very professional and, like you say you also, not just the PCBA, plastic or water hardens the offer. It depends on the customer demand. We have this flexibility. The Tunisian flexibility is in one-top group too.
Speaker 1No, exactly right, and I like that that you could. Wherever you start, you can. Somebody may start with BCBA, but then they learn about more and trust you more and they expand into more services, and it's a great model. Yes, good, well, I wish thank you for doing this. Again, it's always good to reinforce Tunisia. It's on our radar now and people are talking about it, so it's good to hear this, and I wish you nothing but success. Thank you very much.