Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current

Press Releases

LOS ANGELES ― Pemtron Technology, an inspection equipment developer and supplier, is gearing up for the 2023 IPC APEX EXPO, scheduled to take place Jan. 24-26, 2023 at the San Diego Convention Center in California. The company plans to bring a full line up this year: Saturn 3D Inline Solder Paste Inspection System, Athena 3D Automated Optical Inspection System, TWIN 3D Automated Optical Inspection System, TROI 8800 CI Series Conformal Coating Inspection System and Mercury Automated X-ray SMD Counter. Be sure to visit Booth #2314 during the IPC APEX EXPO.

Pemtron’s Saturn 3D Inline Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) System features Moiré technology, combining 2D color images with 3D measurement data. The result is more accurate and realistic 3D inspection images unlike conventional methods that display the solder paste through a color map only. With quad projection, 10/15 or 18um resolution a 4MP camera (optional 10MP) and three-stage conveyor (rail extensions optional), the Saturn is the most advanced 3D SPI system.

The Athena 3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) System uses 12-way projection for 3D measurements on all models to minimize errors due to shadow effects, and performs 100 percent of 2D & 3D inspection concurrently in all FOV areas. This significantly reduces false calls while providing near-perfect detection. The system offers 10/15 or 18um resolution, a 10MP camera (optional 12MP) and a three-stage conveyor.

Also on the AOI side, Pemtron will showcase the TWIN 3D AOI system for top/bottom double-sided simultaneous inspection. Pemtron’s new head type has been upgraded for 3D formation that is identical to the real image and is more stable.

Pemtron’s TROI 8800 CI Series Conformal Coating Inspection System with optional inline Coating Thickness Measure provides the most reliable conformal coating inspection. With simple programming, the machine can inspect defects like cracks, coating voids, wrong coating thickness (too-thin or too-thick).

The Mercury Automated X-ray SMD Counter provides real-time data with Artificial Intelligence. The system offers a reel capacity of up to four 7” reels or a single 13” reel, a scanner and label printer interface, real-time ERP reporting and annual stock through barcode monitoring. For more information about Pemtron’s technology, meet with company representatives in Booth #2314 at the IPC APEX EXPO or visit https://pemtron.com/

AUSTIN, TX ― Cetec ERP, a leading cloud ERP software provider, will exhibit at the 2023 IPC APEX EXPO, scheduled to take place Jan. 24-26, 2023 at the San Diego Convention Center in California. The company will discuss a new generation of cloud ERP software for manufacturers and distributors in Booth #1649.

The company delivers a web-based ERP system in a practical, logical and low-cost manner that dramatically helps small and mid-sized companies. Cetec ERP’s all-in-one platform includes everything from sales and quoting to inventory management, document management, shop floor control, quality management and financial accounting.

Cetec ERP is committed to working closely with manufacturing companies around the world who want to take advantage of a completely full-suite platform. With a platform that is at once enterprise-caliber and extremely user friendly, Cetec ERP aims to become a trusted standard for both financials and operations excellence on behalf of manufacturers old and new looking to be smart about business software.

Cetec ERP’s leading-edge system helps customers handle stringent regulatory requirements and track dynamic production environments, all from a single, friendly web interface. All modules, support, maintenance and upgrades are included in the monthly subscription. To learn more, meet with the Cetec ERP team during the 2023 IPC APEX EXPO or visit http://cetecerp.com/

AUBURN HILLS, MI – The Murray Percival Company, the leading supplier to the Midwest’s electronics industry, and 2022 GLOBAL Technology Award recipient for Distributor of the Year – Americas, is pleased to announce the sale of an Apollo Seiko J-CAT Lyra soldering robot to Altronic Hoerbiger in Girard, OH. This capital win was facilitated by Murray Percival’s own Josh Funk.

“Our initial goal in implementing soldering robots into our manufacturing process was to improve the speed and efficiency of soldering components,” commented Alyssa Garrett, Manufacturing Robotics Engineer, Altronic Hoerbiger. “Having a soldering robot improves the consistency and speed of our assembly process while also freeing up the operator to complete tasks while the robot is running.”

The J-CAT Lyra is a new soldering robot with significantly improved base operational features, increased usability and durability.

Apollo has excellent customer service and is located in the United States. Apollo’s process monitoring camera system allows operators to view each soldering joint as it is being formed. Machine capabilities allow the user to solder virtually any board by allowing control of changing temperatures, timing, and soldering techniques. Usability in Apollo robots is key for any production floor. Additionally, the robots are user-friendly for operators of all levels, as well as engineers.

“Our process has improved greatly with consistency and speed,” added Garrett. “The soldering robot allows our operators to complete various tasks while the robot is soldering. We currently use three soldering robots for production, essentially giving us three full-time soldering operators that are quick and efficient. It also has allowed us to meet high consistency quality requirements for our end-use customers on high-reliability product applications.”

To learn more about the Murray Percival Co. and all the products on its line card, contact the company at info@murraypercival.com, 800-405-1730, or visit www.murraypercival.com

DAYTON, OH ― Libra Industries, a privately-held systems integration and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, today announced the promotion of Nicole Warfe to Senior Manager, Human Resources. Warfe will lead the US HR Operations for all plants and will continue to manage the daily operations at Libra’s Dayton facility.

A Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Warfe has an extensive background in HR generalist affairs. She has experience in employee recruitment and retention, staff development, mediation, conflict resolution, benefits and compensation, HR records management, HR policy development and legal compliance.

In her new role, Warfe will lead the payroll, recruiting and benefit programs for Libra’s US employees. She will continue to support the company’s efforts of strategically building out performance management programs, career mapping, employee programs and corporate training efforts.

This movement in HR allows Libra the ability to build out employee programs, trainings and a performance management program that provides opportunities for our employees to have career development and advancement at Libra.

Libra Industries continues to invest to provide customized manufacturing solutions for its customers’ complex product requirements. Through its broad range of capabilities, Libra offers its customers the most capable manufacturing team in the industry. For more information about Libra Industries, visit www.libraindustries.com

PLYMOUTH, UK – Bentec is pleased to announce that it has installed the “Bentec AOI Island” into its UK demonstration facility in Yaxley near Peterborough. The AOI Island is proving to be popular, with multiple customers using the setup to replace reliance on a dedicated operator. Typical payback is only a little more than a year compared to a system requiring an operator and, at this time when recruitment and retention of staff is proving to be so difficult, the AOI Island offers manufacturers a cost-effective solution.

The AOI Island is fed from one direction; simply take a magazine of PCBs to the loader/unloader and push the start button. The boards load and unload into the AOI from the same side, and after inspection they are sorted into either good or no-good magazines, allowing the good boards to be removed and continue the production process, whilst the failed boards can be taken to the remote repair area.

The AOI system is the multi award-winning Mirtec MV-6 Omni 3D Inspection system, which is recognised as having the best cameras, 3D sensors, Z-axis and double-sided inspection capability available, as well as a lighting array combined with automatic programming and debug software to provide unparalleled inspection quality.

“We have more than 140 Mirtec installations within our marketplace, and many of our customers are looking for a more automated solution due to the labour issues that do not seem to be improving any time soon,” said David Bennett, Managing Director of Bentec Ltd. “We developed the AOI Island and, with so many wanting to see it for themselves, it became obvious we needed one at our demonstration facility. There will always be customers who choose the benchtop solution that Mirtec leads the world in, but as both the inline and benchtop are identical in specification, we can offer the best solution that suits our customers’ needs.”

Bentec is the UK/Ireland distributor for the Mirtec inspection range with 15 years of equipment experience having evolved from the Mirtec Europe team, which launched the brand across the whole of Europe. The team remains together within the Bentec organization, offering unequalled technical knowhow on this market-leading range of inspection technologies.

OSHAWA, ON — Synkar Autonomous, a Canadian Startup based in Oshawa and developer of autonomous delivery systems is proud to announce their partnership with Microart Services, an Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider, to support the build out Synkar's robotics vehicles.

Synkar's mission, "To bring robotics, AI, and innovation into everyday logistics" is being realized through growth and effective partnerships.

CTO Lucas Assis notes: "Our partnership with Microart is an important milestone for our scaling as a robotics company. The ability to build and assemble our vehicles alongside an established and seasoned Canadian company assures the quality and control needed to deploy our autonomous fleet all over the world."

Microart Services understands how companies working in this sector need to be able to innovate fast and deliver solutions that work, while navigating regulations and certifications to ensure product quality. Here is where they can deliver.

"Microart's foundation has been carefully built by partnering with the world's most advanced innovators, such as Synkar. As technologies evolve, it's natural that Microart continues to closely collaborate with emerging technology leaders who help us to advance our manufacturing and services capabilities. Synkar is the strategic partner we are excited to work with to move a great product to market, as well as to utilize as technology within our own EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) space." Says Mark Wood, CEO, Microart Services Inc.

Microart is able to move fast from design to product, while maintaining that peace of mind associated with a long term partner in a mission critical industry.

Synkar Autonomous remains focused on robotics and autonomous vehicles designed to bring industrial automation to the logistics sector while aiming to supply emerging markets using a Robot as a Service (RaaS) model, offering affordability and scalability.