FRANK Elektronik, an electronics service provider established in the market for 25 years, is taking a further innovative step with the purchase of an ultra-modern SMT line. The company serves well-known customers in the industrial electronics, medical technology, automotive & e-mobility, railway and measurement technology, and lighting industries.

Under the leadership of Alexei Sub and Robert Both, FRANK Elektronik has undergone a decisive transformation in the last two years. While the focus was previously mainly on the assembly of longboards up to 1500 mm in length, the investment in leading-edge ASYS technology is creating new possibilities in production.

“With this investment, we have created an additional pillar in high-value electronics,” explains Robert Both. The new SMT line enables extremely precise manufacturing processes with high throughput, while also expanding production capacities for complex assemblies.

High-tech equipment in detail

The new SMT line combines advanced solutions, such as the very latest 3D SPI and AOI systems with AI support, the VEGO handling series and the INSIGNUM 6000 XL laser marker from ASYS, as well as the SERIO 4000 precision printer from EKRA.

The VEGO handling series ensures a reliable material flow between production processes thanks to its modular design and robust construction. It offers the flexibility needed to be prepared for future requirements in modern production environments.

The SERIO 4000 sets new standards in paste printing. Its MultiClamp technology ensures maximum stability, while the closed-loop system automatically corrects

WASHINGTON, MO ― SASinno Americas is proud to announce the opening of its new 15,000-square-foot facility in Washington, Missouri—an exciting step forward in expanding support for the North American electronics manufacturing industry. Designed to deliver an immersive and hands-on customer experience, the new facility features a fully equipped demo center and expansive showroom, showcasing the latest in advanced soldering technologies.

The new location is a strategic hub for customer engagement, technical training, and application development. Visitors will experience firsthand the performance and precision of SASinno’s cutting-edge solutions, from high-speed selective soldering systems to advanced process control tools—all housed under one roof.

“This facility is more than just a building—it’s a gateway to innovation and collaboration,” said Mike Young, CEO of SASinno Americas. “We’ve created a space where customers can explore our equipment, receive personalized support, and develop optimized processes tailored to their unique manufacturing needs.”

With a showroom stocked with the latest models of selective soldering, wave soldering and soldering robots —and staffed by experienced soldering specialists, the facility is set to become a go-to resource for manufacturers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

SASinno Americas is the North American arm of DongGuan Sasinno Technology Co., Ltd, a global leader in selective soldering and automation solutions. The company is dedicated to helping electronics manufacturers improve throughput, quality, and cost-efficiency through precision-engineered technologies and customer-focused service.

To schedule a visit or learn more about SASinno Americas’ solutions, visit: www.sasinnoamericas.com.

MANASSAS, VA – ZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions, will host a free technical webinar on May 22nd, titled “Electronic Assembly Failures, Solutions and Lessons Learned for Long Term Reliability.” This webinar marks the launch of ZESTRON’s new Reliability and Solutions (R&S) service initiative.

Presented by Dr. Denis Barbini, a recognized expert in electronics reliability, the webinar will include forensic accounting of potential failure modes, uncovering the root causes stemming from environmental conditions, design flaws, manufacturing process variables, and improper handling. Through detailed case studies, Dr. Barbini will explain how early identification of vulnerabilities using advanced precision tools and expert review can significantly enhance product reliability and prevent costly failures.

Focusing on a proactive approach, from design to early-stage production, this session will emphasize how collaborative evaluation of products, processes, and materials helps uncover potential vulnerabilities. Attendees will gain critical insights into both common and complex failure mechanisms encountered by the ZESTRON R&S team across various applications.

Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding of failure prevention and discover how to construct more reliable assemblies using data-driven, field-proven practices.
Register Now: https://pages.zestron.com/2025-webinar-series-electronic-assembly-failures-solutions-and-lessons-learned-for-long-term-reliability

About ZESTRON

ZESTRON is headquartered in Manassas, Virginia, and operates in over 35 countries. With eight technical centers worldwide and an industry-leading team of engineers focused on high-precision cleaning, ZESTRON’s commitment to ensuring that its customers surpass even the most stringent cleaning requirements is unparalleled. For additional information or to schedule a tour of one of our technical centers, please visit www.zestron.com.

The smart revolution, driving more and more intelligent “things” into homes, vehicles, factories, cities, and many other aspects of life, is presenting attractive opportunities for high-tech innovators. Companies capable of conceptualising and delivering suitable products can thrive, if they can deliver at the right price. To build the hardware at the heart of these smart devices, the manufacturers need surface-mount assembly equipment that delivers premium productivity at a lower cost.

Meeting Emerging Demands

To respond, equipment suppliers need to design imaginatively. An effective approach is to draw on innovations proven in high-end platforms, reinvented in a new and more affordable form, combining these with refinements to existing features and new software-based capabilities. Yamaha created the YRP10e screen printer this way, achieving core cycle time close to some of today’s fastest equipment as well as introducing inventive new features that save time and enhance productivity.

The YRP chassis used for all the latest-generation equipment is cost-effectively re-used to prevent vibrations or deflections due to movement of the printing mechanisms. Building on this, the YRP10e introduces a three-stage conveyor that permits efficient loading and removal of boards from the print process. With this, the core cycle time of the entry-level machine is only 6 seconds; comparable to some of today’s fastest printers positioned for high-volume applications.

To maximise the advantages gained through efficiently queueing the boards, preparing each board for printing as quickly as possible upon its arrival is essential. Stopperless board transport, already proven in machines like the YRi-V AOI system, allows boards to enter the machine quickly, at speeds up to 600mm/s, while eliminating the settling time and positional errors that can occur with conventional mechanical stoppers. On the other hand, the YRP10e is equipped with the mechanical board stopper with position adjustment giving more flexibility to accommodate complex PCB outlines and different sizes.

For setting up stencils, manual systems are typical of entry-level printers. An experienced operator who is familiar with a set of stencils can quickly ensure the patterned area of the stencil is in the right position relative to the board. On the other hand, staff with less experience can take longer and errors are easily made. The universal stencil holder, available as an option, allows one-touch automated adjustment for any standard-sized stencil and is designed to ease the operator’s workload and eliminates dependence on personal judgement. This enables all operators to quickly find the best setting.

Adapting high-end features for different market levels is an approach also seen in the graphic visual alignment system that ensures the stencil and board are correctly positioned before first printing. This alignment system delivers a boost for low-volume manufacturing, by letting users avoid the teaching process after each changeover that typically requires printing five or six prints for fine-tuning. Good results can be achieved from the first print.

Accuracy and Speed

After the correct alignment is established, the board is fixed in position using conventional vacuum and tooling. Edge-clamp pressure is placed under software control, letting operators easily ensure a high level of uniformity and accuracy.

Then an additional vacuum jig provides further stability for the stencil. This ensures the stencil remains in its correct position as the squeegee moves across the surface and prevents unwanted variations in solder paste position, which can occur depending on the squeegee direction of movement. Although this direction-dependent variation is usually small, typically between 5-10 microns, removing this error with the stencil vacuum system enhances repeatability and minimizes the influence of PCB and stencil condition on print results. Repeatable printing has been demonstrated with a stencil-to-board gap of up to 4mm. The stencil vacuum jig is a proven feature of high-end equipment and is now available at the entry level with the arrival of the YRP10e.

In addition, two patented enhancements are included to improve print quality and ensure faster cycle time. The first takes advantage of the unique 3S squeegee head to keep the squeegee blade in contact with the paste roll at the end of each print stroke. The usual sequence, in any printer, is to raise the squeegee to a position a few centimetres above the paste roll before lowering against the other side of the paste to move in the return direction. Yamaha’s patented belly-roll system rotates the squeegee over the solder-paste roll, ensuring continuous contact with the material. This shortens the excursion of the squeegee mechanism, helping reduce the time taken to change direction, as well as preventing air inclusion in the paste roll thereby preventing soldering problems due to voids.

A second new and patented technique available with this printer is overprinting, which is performed after fitting a new stencil or immediately after a long period when the line has been stopped. Taking advantage of the printer’s superior positional stability, the stencil and board are separated to clean the stencil after the first pass with the squeegee. While the paste roll must conventionally be worked for a few cycles after a long stoppage, overprinting prepares the stencil apertures properly by cleaning to enhance aperture filling in the next few print cycles. Thus, satisfactory print results can be achieved from the very first print after changing the stencil, or if the line is stopped for a long period.

Other capabilities not typically provided with entry-level equipment include the 3SR stepped squeegee, with its advanced shape that increases aperture filling by 5% and ensures optimal paste rolling. The hardness of the steel blade is optimized to minimize wear and thus preserve the stencil condition for longer, even when squeegee pressure is set to a high value.

On the other hand, the printer’s software capabilities are upgraded to boost the capabilities without additional hardware. In addition to basic setup verification, typically available on all machines, high-value features such as stencil and paste lifetime checking and squeegee validation are added. Stencils that are found to be excessively worn can have their identity recorded for discarding but may be be mistakenly returned to the stencil storage after use. If retrieved they can be fitted unknowingly and produce poor results. Automatically verifying the stencil identity before use, by checking the 2D barcode fixed to the stencil, effectively prevents errors like this. This system is now available as a standard feature, ensuring optimum printing and providing a failsafe backup for stencil management.

In addition, the YRP10e checks that the correct squeegee type and size are being used, as specified in the board data file, and verifies the correct paste type and lifetime management including seasoning time and open time. These safeguards have been available for high-end machines for some time and are now offered to the entry-level market.

Moreover, automatic measurement of paste-roll width assesses the paste remaining on the stencil after every second print stroke. The system compares the measured width against acceptance criteria specified in the board data file and prompts the user to replenish the paste before the paste roll reduces below the minimum value acceptable for proper aperture filling.

A Question of Strategy

Clearly, electronic manufacturers’ needs are changing and the latest entry-level printers show how equipment suppliers are responding. On the other hand, the markets for extensively automated equipment needed for efficient high-volume manufacturing remain. Hence, while emerging entry-level equipment like the YRP10e offer one-touch stencil adjustment and clamping, automated stencil loading is reserved for its value in high-volume manufacturing. Similarly, paste-roll measurement lets entry-level equipment alert operators when replenishment is needed, although paste dispensing is not automated as with more highly specified models. Other critical features, such as automatic backup-pin exchange, remain with equipment designed from the outset for high-mix, high-volume scenarios

Conclusion

Rising global demand for smart “things” is a major factor expanding opportunities for electronic manufacturers. On the other hand, costs are always under pressure and capital equipment suppliers need to respond with solutions that can effectively help their customers acquire the necessary capabilities needed on affordable terms. Through a combination of careful hardware design and re-engineering features implemented in software, new generations of entry-level surface-mount equipment are able to deliver throughput and productivity close to the levels typically associated with more expensive high-end models.