Sony's factory in Pencoed, South Wales, which builds professional broadcast cameras for the world and makes Raspberry Pi computers for other customers.
Sony UK Technology Centre (Sony UK TEC) in Pencoed, South Wales, is a factory that builds professional high-definition and 4K broadcast cameras and the equipment used with them. It also does contract manufacturing for other companies, most famously the Raspberry Pi, a small low-cost computer that began as an education project. Manufacturing Today says the site has shipped more than 13,000 camera units a year and produced around 37 million Raspberry Pis; Sony's own news release gives 50 million by July 2024.
Sony has made products in Wales since the early 1970s. A trade article says the site was opened in 1973 by the then Prince Charles, and Sony's news release puts the first Bridgend site at 1974. It began with colour televisions for the Trinitron range, became one of the largest colour TV factories in Europe, and moved to broadcast and professional cameras from 2000. The current Pencoed plant was opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1993. Sony Group's late co-founder Akio Morita is credited in the news release with the conversations that led to investment in Wales.
The site covers 20,000 square metres and employed about 600 people as at July 2024, according to Sony. The managing director at that time was Rob Wilson, and his predecessor Steve Dalton OBE called the factory in 2013 the only professional device manufacturer building its products in Europe. In July 2024 King Charles visited to mark 30 years at Pencoed and 50 years of Sony in Wales, and completed the 30,000th high-definition camera unit made there.
The centre's stated priorities are investing in technology, processes and people, reaching Net Zero, encouraging young people to study science and engineering, and supporting the local community. The site reports 900 solar panels, 100 per cent green electricity and no waste sent to landfill, and has honeybee colonies whose honey is sold in the staff restaurant to raise money for local charities. For its 50-year event, staff received long-service awards totalling more than 1,100 years of service and took part in a family day celebrating the site's Welsh and Japanese heritage. Its school visits have reached more than 31,000 pupils, according to Sony.
A factory that does this work needs assembly and test technicians, electronics and software engineers, procurement and supply chain staff, accountants, repair and customer service teams, and business development staff. A 2014 trade article listed these functions when the site took on graduates and apprentices, so the detail is dated. Awards include Queen's Awards for Export and Environment and Britain's Best Factory. Look at Sony's site for current openings and ask about the Sony Wales Academy training on site.
Website: www.sony.co.uk
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