company name, Vero Precision Engineering Ltd, was changed to VPE Ltd to continue with the machine-tool operations. In 1996 VPE Ltd was brought to an end by final dissolution. Electronics In 1959 VPE managing director Geoffrey Verdon-Roe hired two former Saunders-Roe Ltd employees, Peter H Winter (aircraft design department) and Terry Fitzpatrick (electronics division) to form an Electronics Department commissioned to investigate electronic control for the VPE machine tools. A control system based on a Moire pattern sensor feeding a semiconductor decade counter was produced but the project failed to achieve the required machining accuracy - resulting in the termination of all electronics design activity in 1960. However the Electronics Department continued to function in the short term as a result of success with the invention and development of Veroboard - a new type of universal printed circuit board which would be manufactured by the VPE machine tool department. After initial production problems were overcome output rates improved and attention moved from product development to commercial activities resulting in the VPE Electronics Department being closed down. In 1961 Vero Electronics Ltd was set up as a separate company to take over the further development, marketing and sales of Veroboard and a number of associated electronics products. Early success for the new venture was demonstrated by their 1964 catalogues which featured Veroboard in 92 formats - together with many accessories and a rack assembly system. Company Development Vero Electronics Ltd was incorporated 22 Aug 1961 (as 'Company No 00701364 Limited'). The rapid growth of the company soon necessitated removal from the VPE factory site and by 1967 Vero Electronics Ltd were in larger premises at School Close, Chandler's Ford, Hampshire. In 1975 Vero Electronics Ltd main offices remained in Chandler's Ford and with continued expansion there were new facilities for product production in Spring Rd, Sholing, Southampton, a Finishing Dept. in Botley plus Stores and Despatch at Eastleigh. VERO Electronics GmbH had been established by 1964 (as a subsidiary of VERO in the UK) to market Veroboard in Germany. Production was parallel with that in the UK at a small facility set up in Bremen. By 1977 VERO Electronics GmbH had also built up a power supplies division and launched 19" switched-mode power supplies for use in their 19" racks. From year 2000 the company was entirely concerned with power supply products and was eventually renamed EPLAX GmbH. BICC-Vero Electronics Ltd