Press Releases
SILICON VALLEY – Zero Defects International [ZDI] has announced the acquisition by Altest Corporation of a state of the art XRay inspection system for utilization in their printed circuit board assembly [PCBA] manufacturing facility located in San Jose, California. This X8011-III – 2D and 3D X-ray will enable high quality inspection usage and will further assure continued outstanding product performance as delivered to Altest customers.
Brian Seng, CEO, mentioned several selection factors including technical capabilities and equipment reliability as well as the importance of both Viscom and ZDI's well known reputations for technical service and support. The system is equipped with computer tomography to do failure analysis. This trend-setting, three dimensional inspection technique opens completely novel glimpses into the inner structure of an object that until now were not possible without destroying it. Additionally, the X8011-III X-ray system can be integrated into the production line and intelligently networked with other systems to optimize the manufacturing process. ZDI President, Michaela Brody, expressed appreciation for Altest’s selection in the context of a highly competitive environment for this type of equipment.
CHATSWORTH, CA – NEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the high-tech industrial, medical device, and aerospace/defense markets, is pleased to announce that its Suzhou, China electronics manufacturing site has achieved certification for IATF 16949, the International Standard for Automotive Quality Management Systems. This prestigious certification marks a significant milestone for NEOTech, allowing the company to expand its high-tech industrial focus to include automotive products such as electronic automobile diagnostic tools and emission measuring units.
The attainment of the IATF 16949 certification underscores NEOTech’s commitment to delivering high-quality electronic solutions across a diverse range of industries. By meeting the stringent requirements of this internationally recognized standard, NEOTech reaffirms its dedication to manufacturing excellence and customer satisfaction in the automotive sector.
“We are thrilled to announce that NEOTech Suzhou has obtained the IATF 16949 certification,” said Rich Fitzgerald, CEO of NEOTech’s Industrial/Medical Division. “This achievement demonstrates our unwavering commitment to providing superior quality products and services to our customers in the automotive industry. Our team in Suzhou has exhibited remarkable dedication and expertise throughout this process, and their success serves as a testament to NEOTech’s ongoing pursuit of operational excellence.”
The IATF 16949 certification will play a crucial role in guiding NEOTech’s Quality Management System, ensuring the company’s continued adherence to the highest standards of quality and reliability in automotive electronics manufacturing. By leveraging this certification, NEOTech aims to enhance its ability to produce repeatable, high-reliability systems that meet the stringent requirements of automotive OEMs worldwide.
“Our entire organization is incredibly proud of the accomplishments of our team in Suzhou,” added Fitzgerald. “Through their dedication to internal training programs, low turnover rates, and relentless focus on continuous improvement, they have set a benchmark for excellence that inspires all NEOTech manufacturing sites to strive for greater efficiency and quality in everything we do.”
NEOTech remains committed to driving innovation and delivering best-in-class manufacturing solutions across all industries, and the attainment of the IATF 16949 certification further solidifies its position as a trusted partner for electronics manufacturing. With more than 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEOTech specializes in high- reliability programs in the Aerospace & Defense industry, Medical products, and High-Tech Industrial markets. NEOTech is well recognized as a premier EMS provider with in-depth experience manufacturing high-tech products and managing stringent US government requirements. For more information about NEOTech and its comprehensive range of manufacturing services, please visit www.NEOTech.com
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TX – TestEquity, the largest distributor of electronic test and measurement solutions and production supplies, announced that it will now offer IONA Tech products to provide real-time, actionable data for prevention of electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage caused by mobile workers.
ESD is responsible for 30% of failed products in electronics manufacturing, which can lead to devastating consequences in the aerospace and automotive industries. While conventional methods of ESD management involve tethering workers with ground straps or use of conductive flooring, shoes and apparel, IONA Tech products take a fresh approach to ESD damage prevention through an innovative solution and real-time, actionable data.
“IONA Tech is an exciting addition to our ESD management portfolio,” said Steve Riel, Product Manager at TestEquity. “The industry as a whole has remained largely unchanged over the last century, with conventional ESD prevention offerings like wrist straps, apparel, conductive flooring, ionizers and humidifiers. IONA Tech has entered the landscape as the first new player in decades, bringing with them a new and more proactive approach to ESD mitigation.”
With their introduction of the StatIQ Band, a wearable IIoT sensor providing real-time measurements of personal body voltage, IONA Tech effectively redefines modern static management. Designed to generate an alarm when voltage levels exceed limits or when ESD events are detected, the StatIQ Band empowers workers to operate without being tethered, ensuring that circuit damage is prevented, while also allowing managers to monitor the overall effectiveness of all ESD controls in their facility. Whereas conventional ESD prevention methods lack ongoing validation, IONA Tech's StatIQ System guarantees that your processes effectively prevent latent electronics damage to finally close the loop on ESD.
VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN, GERMANY – Kübler US Corp. High Tech Solutions is excited to announce the appointment of Todd Foster of Foster Innovative Technology (FIT) as its newest representative. Serving the strategic regions of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, Foster's expertise will be instrumental in introducing Arcadia's award- winning products to the Pacific Northwest.
FIT, renowned for its commitment to providing world-class solutions, aligns perfectly with Arcadia's mission of delivering top- tier inventory control and component management systems. The ARCHIMEDE Smart Storage System, celebrated for its space efficiency and cutting-edge technology, is set to transform inventory management with its innovative design and comprehensive features.
Boris Kubler, Managing Director of Kubler US, is spearheading the initiative to bring these groundbreaking products to the American market. "We are thrilled to have Todd join our esteemed network of representatives," says Kubler. "With top reps like Don Dennison in the Northeast, The Murray Percival Company in the Midwest, and SmartSol in Mexico, we're building an unparalleled network to offer these industry-leading solutions at prices well below our competitors."
Todd Foster shares the excitement for this new venture. "The Pacific Northwest's tech industry is vibrant and always seeking innovation. Arcadia's ARCHIMEDE system is exactly the kind of breakthrough that our customers have been waiting for. I'm proud to bring this technology to our market," he stated.
Under the guidance of Boris Kubler, Arcadia continues to expand its reach across North America, ensuring that more industries can benefit from its award-winning products and exceptional technological advancements.
For further information on Kubler US, ARCHADIA SRL and its pioneering inventory control solutions, please visit https://www.arcadiasrl.it/?lang=en
PLYMOUTH, WI – Kurtz Ersa Inc., a leading supplier of electronics production equipment, is proud to announce a new partnership with Comtree, a renowned provider of capital equipment solutions in the Canadian Electronics Manufacturing Community. This collaboration aims to strengthen the availability of spare parts for Kurtz Ersa's cutting-edge equipment within Canada.
Teaming up with Kurtz Ersa, Comtree will now stock an extensive range of spare parts at its Mississauga warehouse location. The collaboration ensures that Canadian customers can access a comprehensive inventory of soldering consumables with hundreds of common products readily available in stock.
"At Kurtz Ersa, we are delighted to partner with Comtree, a company with a proven track record of excellence in providing capital equipment solutions. This collaboration reflects our commitment to ensuring that our Canadian customers have swift access to high-quality spare parts, further enhancing their experience with our advanced soldering technology," said Ernie Grice at Kurtz Ersa.
Established in 1995, Comtree has distinguished itself by offering exclusive capital equipment solutions coupled with world-class customer support and after-sales service. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for providing top-notch capital equipment with an exceptional cost-to-performance ratio, positioning itself as the preferred supplier for such equipment in Canada.
This strategic partnership combines the technical prowess of Kurtz Ersa with Comtree's robust distribution network, offering a seamless solution for Canadian customers seeking reliable spare parts. For spare parts inquiries in Canada, email info@comtreeinc.com or visit www.Comtreeinc.com
For more information about Kurtz Ersa Inc., visit www.ersa.com
KREUZWERTHEIM, GERMANY – SEHO, a worldwide leading manufacturer of complete solutions for soldering processes and automated production lines, is thrilled to present a wide range of THT inspection solutions and soldering systems at the IPC APEX Expo 2024 in Anaheim. The machines are designed to increase productivity in electronics production and take users a further step towards zero-defect manufacturing. SEHO looks forward to welcoming visitors to booth #1034.
With the PowerVision, SEHO focusses on two key points in the manufacturing of THT assemblies: Continuous quality assurance and cost-efficient production processes. SEHO PowerVision stands for fast, automated, optical inspection, and it is particularly designed for THT processes. It reliably detects typical soldering defects such as incomplete solder joints, solder bridges or solder balls. Additionally, the system is capable of reading and processing product ID’s.
The stand-alone variant of SEHO PowerVision can be flexibly integrated into each fully automated production line. Moreover, the AOI system can be directly integrated in many of SEHO’s selective soldering systems, thus providing additional benefits, particularly in terms of floor space and board handling costs.
Generation of test plans is performed easily and conveniently at any PC using an offline teach program. An easy-to-use assistant guides the operator through the programming process. The comprehensive and individually expandable component library, as well as an automatic inspection search simplify programming. Even optimization of a test plan, which usually requires temporary interruption of the production to adjust parameters, can be made offline. Thus, the AOI system is permanently available for production.
The database supported PowerVision software provides analyzing tools that enable fast and efficient optimization of the entire manufacturing process. These tools include a heatmap that visualizes error frequencies based on their geometrical location on the PCB and a trend analysis that effectively supports optimization of the test program.
Detected defects can easily and quickly be classified using the intuitive interface of the SEHOverify software. Based on this classification of the test results, different statistical key figures such as first pass yield, false call rates or defect rates can be calculated and graphically displayed.
Maximum ROI is achieved by combining SEHO PowerVision with SEHO AssemblyCheck, a component placement control system optimized specifically for THT assemblies.
Both systems can be integrated in just one module that is installed in front of the soldering system. At the assembling transport level, AssemblyCheck checks for correct component placement. After the soldering process, SEHO PowerVision carries out the solder joint inspection at the return conveyor level of the module.
The benefits are obvious: Early identification of defects allows a fast increase of the overall manufacturing quality. Simultaneously, production costs can be sustainably reduced.
Take a sneak-peak in further highlights at the SEHO booth:
SEHO AssemblyCheck, the latest addition to SEHO’s range of inspection systems, integrated as component placement control system in a typical workstation. THT components are often assembled manually or semi-automatically, so the risk of errors is correspondingly high. AssemblyCheck provides immediate feedback whether the components are assembled correctly. Only then can the circuit board be released for further processing in a wave or selective soldering system. This eliminates possible errors, which leads to a significant increase in quality and yield.
Typical inspection tasks include the presence of the correct components, correct orientation or polarity, component colours are recognized and compared, text verification (OCV) and code reading. Circuit boards with a bad mark marking are automatically recognized and not checked.
Short cycle times and an assembly size of up to 24” x 20” [610 x 510 mm] guarantee high system efficiency.
SelectLine-C, SEHO’s modular and expandable inline selective soldering system, has been supplemented with additional modules that significantly increase the flexibility of the system and ensure higher productivity. A highlight of this machine is the award-winning SmartSplit function, which turns an already efficient system into a highly flexible and highly productive selective soldering system for high-mix-high-volume production. SmartSplit controls and coordinates the process flow for different assemblies in mixed operation. The soldering process for an assembly is automatically divided among the process stations available in the respective system. Up to 6 soldering units can be integrated in one system. As a result, SmartSplit enables cycle times to be halved in mixed operation, without major investments and without restricting the maximum available working area of the system.
The PowerWave wave soldering system offers a remarkable performance at simultaneously low investment costs. The system has been designed for medium to large production series. Complex mixed boards are just as reliably soldered as conventional through-hole assemblies – due to modern solder nozzle geometries, a flexible preheat area, and an open-ended control unit ensuring easy operation, and many functions for automated process control.
The modular construction of SEHO PowerWave offers the ideal concept for all production requirements and allows the machine to be integrated into any fully automated manufacturing line.
