This year marks a milestone for OnBoard Solutions — 25 years of supporting Australia’s electronics industry. Over that time, we have seen the sector transform through innovation, resilience, and collaboration. We have always believed that progress in manufacturing happens when businesses work together, share knowledge, and uplift one another.

That belief underpins our next step forward: extending our partnership with the Surface Mount & Circuit Board Association (SMCBA) and becoming a Sponsor Member.

Strengthening collaboration within the industry

The SMCBA plays a vital role in advancing Australia’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem. As the national association for professionals in surface mount technology, PCB design, and electronic manufacturing, SMCBA provides a platform for technical education, standards development, and collaboration across the supply chain. Their training, certification, and annual Electronics Design & Manufacture Conference have been instrumental in lifting capability and connecting experts across the country.

“We greatly value OnBoard Solutions’ ongoing commitment to the SMCBA and the wider industry. Their support over the years has helped drive innovation and professional development across the sector, and we look forward to working together on new initiatives that continue this momentum.” — Anthony Tremellen, CEO, SMCBA

By deepening our involvement, we are reinforcing our shared commitment to supporting industry growth, innovation, and resilience. We see this partnership as an opportunity to contribute more directly to initiatives that strengthen Australian manufacturing — from promoting advanced manufacturing and onshoring to building sovereign capability in critical supply chains.

“As we celebrate 25 years of service, extending our partnership with SMCBA feels like a natural next step. Collaboration has always been at the heart of our success, and we are proud to contribute to the continued advancement of the local electronics community.” — Peter Ruefli, Managing Director, OnBoard Solutions

Looking ahead

Through this new level of our involvement in the industry, OnBoard Solutions will continue to champion knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation, working alongside SMCBA members to help shape a stronger and more connected Australian electronics industry.

Stay up to date with OnBoard Solutions’ latest projects, events, and insights. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay connected with Australia’s electronics community.

We are excited to share that ONBoard Solutions is taking its strategic partnership with Panasonic Connect to the next level, bringing Australian manufacturers access to advanced smart factory solutions, cutting-edge equipment, and end-to-end support. 

Your business takes more than just a printer, a placer, and software. You need a complete, connected manufacturing ecosystem to stay competitive. That is where Panasonic Connect’s Total Solutions Offering (TSO) comes in. By integrating best-in-class equipment, software, and technology into one seamless solution, backed by industry-leading support, Panasonic Connect keeps operations running at peak performance. 

With TSO, manufacturers can: 

• Mitigate risk with turnkey, fully integrated production solutions managed by the PanaCIM ecosystem. 

• Overcome staffing challenges by optimising resources with automation and training platforms. 

• Optimise supply chains to meet deadlines with smarter inventory management and production efficiency. 

• Enable smart factory operations through real-time monitoring, automation, and 24/7 support. 

• Advance sustainability with waste reduction and intelligent hardware/software solutions. 

As Panasonic’s strategic partner in Australia, ONBoard Solutions is excited to deliver these capabilities locally. 

Why is this partnership important? 

As a global distributor, ONBoard Solutions enables local businesses to tap into Panasonic Connect’s leading capabilities. Our partnership provides Australian manufacturers access to high-reliability SMT production, cleanroom equipment, and automation solutions. ONBoard’s technical staff will always share industry expertise and provide ongoing support throughout every project. 

Spotlight – Advanced Manufacturing Equipment 

• As a Tier 1 quality supplier, Panasonic Connect plays a major role in PCBA and advanced manufacturing. Their portfolio goes beyond standard SMT machines, offering specialised systems for the microelectronics device manufacturing with high-precision and advanced packaging manufacturing applications. Key equipment includes: 

• Plasma Cleaner – for surface preparation and contamination removal 

• Ultrasonic Bonder – enabling high-strength, reliable interconnects 

• Flip-Chip Bonder – for advanced semiconductor and microelectronics packaging 

• Die Bonder – delivers precise die placement and attachment for semiconductor devices 

• Dry Etcher – for ultra-accurate patterning and microfabrication 

• Plasma Cleaner (advanced variants) – tailored to critical cleanroom and semiconductor requirements 

These technologies, combined with Panasonic’s renowned SMT systems, provide manufacturers with flexible, all-in-one solutions designed to meet the highest quality and productivity standards. 

Total Integrated Smart Factory 

One of the most important standouts of Panasonic Connect is their Total Integrated Solutions approach that brings together equipment, software, and automation into a fully connected smart factory ecosystem. 

From screen printers, SMT machines, and optical inspection to microelectronics, metrology, and material management, all solutions are designed to optimise productivity, reduce risk, and support sustainability across diverse manufacturing environments. 

Software Integration – PanaCIM 

Driving systems’ integration is PanaCIM, a powerful platform that unifies production, materials, and compliance. It connects every stage of production into one seamless system. For manufacturers, it delivers real-time monitoring, material control, and full traceability, helping to reduce scrap, cut inventory costs, and speed up changeovers. With ERP integration and scalable modules, PanaCIM gives Australian manufacturers the flexibility to start small and expand, while ensuring compliance, productivity, and sustainability across their operations. 

Engage directly with our engineering experts to discover how our joint capabilities in manufacturing, printing, welding, or software can help you succeed. 

Peter Ruefli reflects on the ONBoard Solutions journey. Working both hard and smart with dedication, surrounding the business with the right people, and never losing sight of technology developments. He shares how the right mix and balance of these ingredients have shaped two and a half decades of success. 

Peter, how did it all start? What was your path into the electronics industry?
I grew up in Solothurn, Switzerland, and began an apprenticeship in electromechanics at 16. I worked at Robert Bosch for a year before my military service, and then I joined Zevatech Automation, which was the European agent for Juki SMT equipment. In my early twenties I travelled widely, installing machines throughout Europe for customers in defence and consumer electronics. I learnt a lot. That experience gave me both technical grounding in the PCBA segment and international exposure. 

What brought you to Australia?
I always wanted overseas work experience. A Juki agent in Australia offered me a service engineer role, so I applied for a visa. When it finally came through, I was 27, packed my bags, and arrived in Sydney with a one-way ticket. I started in Bankstown, first as a service engineer and soon after as National Sales Manager. 

How did that experience lead to starting your own business?
After spending some time in Australia, I worked for a small company specialising in surveillance systems, but the products proved unsuccessful and luckily for me, I failed. When that ended, I decided to follow my own vision. In June 2000, with a handful of dollars and a spare bedroom in Coogee, Sydney, I founded ONBoard Solutions. My first supplier was Inventec Chemical Performance, a French company providing solder paste and cleaning materials. 

Was there any breakthrough moment? How did you start growing beyond consumables?
In 2002 after a year of qualification work I won the supply contract for solder paste at Robert Bosch in Clayton. It was averaging 1 tonne per month, which still today is more than all combined Australian customers. 

Joshua Lawson joined me, and together we built a broader portfolio. By 2006 we could offer turnkey SMT solutions, both in equipment and materials. Around that time, we also expanded into cleanroom consumables, recognising that production in a controlled environment has a better product quality outcome. Especially in Microelectronics. 

That opened new markets in universities, research, semiconductors, and later pharmaceuticals. Joshua is one of the people who had a great impact on me and the business. 

What does OnBoard look like today?
We now have three strong divisions: 

• SMT equipment – representing tier-one suppliers like Panasonic Connect & Rehm Thermal Systems. 

• Materials technology – Epoxies, Pastes, coatings, cleaning products & Dielectric cooling fluids and more. 

• Cleanroom consumables – supporting electronics, medical, and pharmaceutical customers. 

Although we are a small team of eight, our customers span defence, medical devices, universities, OEMs, subcontractors, and pharma. 

You achieved ISO 9001 certification quite early on. Why was that important?
It formalised how we operate and opened new opportunities. Among our peers as an international supplier, we remain one of the few players in Australia with ISO 9001. I believe it shows the maturity of the business. We are serious about what we do and how we do it. 

How do you choose suppliers like your latest Panasonic Connect?
We only represent technologies we fully believe in. Panasonic Connect is a global leader in pick-and-place equipment, with unmatched precision and throughput. Speed on a small footprint, the ability to place both very small and large components, and seamless integration with third-party systems make Panasonic stand out.
With its factory integration software called PanaCim it can easily help manage your production floor, from materials management to traceability 

If you do not trust the manufacturer, you can’t sell with confidence. 

Sustainability is a growing focus. How are you approaching it?
Environmental responsibility is a big topic for me personally. We invest time and effort in running our operations as sustainably as possible. For example, we run a solvent recycling program. We collect used material from customers, distil it, and return a purified product.
This reduces waste and lowers costs. In cleanrooms, we also partner with companies that recycle gowns and gloves. It is about thinking outside the box and offering customers the practical ways to act sustainably. 

What has been your proudest achievement so far?
The team. Building a dedicated group that supports each other and our customers is more important to me than revenue numbers. Of course, reaching 25 years in operation is also something I am very proud of. I am grateful to the people who helped me along the way. Being surrounded by smart, educated and courageous people has always inspired me and pushed me to grow. 

Another achievement worth mentioning is the deliverables to our clients. We have always gone beyond to make sure orders are on time and technical assistance is provided promptly. 

Looking ahead, what is next for ONBoard?
We want to strengthen rather than chase breadth. That means investing in a larger facility to better operate our business pulling back from 3PL for better control, possibly with our own cleanroom facilities. Our role is to stay ahead of technology trends and help customers manufacture better, whether through equipment, materials, or consulting. Building networks and connecting people will also play an important role, as we see ourselves contributing to shaping the industry and supporting growth through knowledge sharing and education. 

What advice would you give your younger self?
Have a balance between education and enjoying good times with friends.
Follow your intuition, be carefree and at the same time be mindful of the path ahead creating your curriculum vitae. 

Travel, explore, and gain experiences—those broaden your perspective and make you better prepared for the path ahead. 

Success can be measured in many ways, do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone—it always pays off.