Strong demand for the Raspberry Pi (
www.raspberrypi.org) — a small single-board computer intended to stimulate young people’s interest in computer programming and electronics — has helped to increase production at Sony’s manufacturing operation in South Wales.
Sony UK Technology Centre (UK-TEC) (
www.sonypencoed.co.uk/)is increasing production from18,000 units per week to 80,000 to cope with the expected level of demand for the next-generation Raspberry Pi 2, which was launched world-wide earlier this month.
The Raspberry Pi 2 Model B has significantly upgraded capabilities, with faster processor cores and double the memory capacity. Its new processor makes it over six-times more powerful than the first-generation model.
Since Sony UK-TEC began working with the Raspberry Pi Foundation in August 2012, the site has manufactured more than 3.5 million of these computers and created 70 jobs. With demand for the latest model growing, the business expects 30 more people to be added to its workforce.
Eben Upton, the co-founder of the Raspberry Pi business, said; “Sony UK-TEC has worked closely with us to deliver the new model. Its expertise in rapid prototyping and production engineering has allowed us to proceed from first prototypes to full mass production in less than four months, with an unprecedented level of confidence in product quality and delivery schedules.
“This is our sixth project with Sony UK-TEC since 2012. We look forward to working with the company through 2015 and beyond to bring more exciting Raspberry Pi products to market.”
Steve Dalton, managing director of Sony UK Technology Centre, said: “The Raspberry Pi is a fantastic example of UK innovation, design and engineering at its best. This credit-card-sized mini-computer has taken the world by storm since it was launched in 2012.
"From the day the product launched, we knew the Raspberry Pi would be a success and we wanted to be part of it. With this extraordinary product continuing to evolve, we have risen to the challenge to meet the level of demand across the world.”