About Us

Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI) was founded in 1982, fueled by the determination and entrepreneurial spirit of the American Dream. The Chin family, originally from Macau, immigrated to the United States with little technical knowledge but a great interest in electronics. Driven by curiosity and ambition, they began studying circuitry and assembly, eventually launching their journey into electronics manufacturing. 

Starting with a ping pong table as their workstation, the four brothers, two sisters, and their parents worked tirelessly to assemble printed circuit boards (PCBs) by hand—long before Surface Mount Technology existed. After six months of working from their garage, the family pooled their life savings and took a bold leap, moving into a 1,200-square-foot office space.

EMI’s breakthrough came with AST Research, their first major customer, for whom they manufactured Apple memory packs and computer add-on cards. CP Chin, EMI’s President and CEO since its inception, began his electronics career as an assembler for AST Research. Reflecting on their early days, CP recalls, “We shared everything, and things were incredibly tight. My original career goal was to become a clothing tailor, but we saw the future in electronics and seized the opportunity.”

By the end of 1983, EMI had moved into a larger facility, grown to a team of 90 employees, and established itself as one of Southern California’s fastest-growing contract manufacturers. During this time, EMI supported prominent companies like Kingston Technology and Xerox.

EMI empowers customers to strengthen their market position by offering seamless transitions from quick-turn prototypes to high-volume production. We specialize in building printed circuit boards (PCBs) using a variety of processes, including consignment or turnkey manufacturing, Design for Excellence (DfX), and advanced testing solutions. These processes effectively bridge the gap between custom designs and full-scale production.

Today, over 40 years later, EMI is a leader in electronic manufacturing services. With more than 600 employees in Southern California and over 500 team members overseas with EMI China and EMI Vietnam, EMI continues to innovate and expand, delivering high-quality solutions to a global market.Our global presence ensures a streamlined and winning experience for customers, from concept to delivery.

At EMI, we pride ourselves on our proactive approach to customer service. By understanding both our products and our partners’ unique business strategies, we provide tailored solutions to meet their specific needs. Whether it’s a single prototype or high-volume production, customers can rely on EMI for professionalism, attention to detail, and exceptional results.

You Design. We Build.

These four words embody our commitment to delivering world-class, end-to-end manufacturing solutions. At Express Manufacturing, Inc. (EMI), our customers’ needs define our direction, while our core values drive us to achieve and exceed expectations. With unwavering pride, passion, and performance, we strive to be the first and ultimate choice for electronic manufacturing services.