NEWMAN LAKE, WA – Hentec Industries/RPS Automation, a leading manufacturer of selective soldering, lead tinning and solderability test equipment, is pleased to announce that K&F Electronics has purchased their second Hentec/RPS Vector 300 selective soldering system.

The Vector 300 is a small board size selective soldering system with a compact factory floor footprint and is ideally suited for prototype or small batch production. The Vector 300 is fully lead-free compatible and features an integrated computer with unlimited program storage, integrated system software, witness camera and auto fiducial correction.

Available in either standalone or SMEMA in-line configurations, the Vector 300 is offered with topside preheat, spray or drop-jet fluxer, dual flux nozzles, and custom or wave solder nozzles. The Vector 300 is UL and CE compliant and carries both a two-year system warranty and a four-year solder pot warranty.

About K&F Electronics

Headquartered in Frasier, Michigan. K&F Electronics provides PCB manufacturing, assembly services and in-house engineering services for complete design, prototype and building of printed circuit boards. Their comprehensive range of services serve a wide range of end-user applications. For more information, please visit: www.circuitboards.com.

About Hentec Industries

Hentec Industries/RPS Automation is a manufacturer of automated selective soldering, component lead tinning, and solderability test equipment for electronics and electronic component manufacturing, assembly, and distribution. Hentec/RPS has been advancing automated soldering and lead finishing technology for defense, aerospace, automotive, contract manufacturers and micro-electronics component manufacturers since the early 90’s. All Hentec/RPS products are designed and manufactured in Newman Lake, Washington. For more information, please visit us at www.rpsautomation.com.

PENANG, MALAYSIA — ViTrox is delighted to receive Etron's satisfaction testimonial who was astonished by the capabilities of V510i Advanced 3D Optical Inspection (AOI) Solution and the outstanding support from ViTrox’s Sales Channel Partner (SCP) in Mexico, SMTo Engineering SA de CV.

Etron is a world-renowned fabless IC design and product company that specialises in the production and research of buffer memory, logic chip designs, electronic applications, and system-on-chips. With strong business growth, Etron Technology expands its footprint in Mexico. Etron Monterrey has successfully implemented ViTrox’s V510i Optimus 3D AOI XXL to increase product efficiency, and cost savings for electronic manufacturing services for the business expansion.

José Mata, Etron Engineering Manager at Etron Technology said, “Firstly, let me congratulate every SMTo worker on the exceptional support of 24/7 and the development of our staff that they have provided us, for which we are grateful. When it comes to the ViTrox AOI system's performance, we were astonished by its tremendous capabilities, as it has exceeded our expectations in terms of meeting our clients' demand for the highest quality products, which has consequently shown itself in the highest levels of performance.” Jose added, “The team has a remarkable capacity for inspection. This system has proven to be very beneficial for our needs as it has greatly enhanced our plant's manufacturing processes. Let me congratulate the entire SMTo team for this great job!.”

SMTo is a key valued partner of ViTrox in Mexico, best known for its outstanding service support in handling customer inquiries and ensuring customer satisfaction. Besides that, SMTo Engineering has established full sales and service support in Tijuana, Monterrey, Reynosa and Chihuahua to provide better support to the customer. For more information on SMTo, please contact Juan Carlos Santoyo (juancarlos.santoyo@smto.mx) for further assistance.

About ViTrox Advanced 3D Optical Inspection (AOI) Solutions

ViTrox V510i Optimus 3D (AOI) XXL is equipped with substantial 3D inspection capabilities, resulting in an AOI system that manages 2D + 3D inspection simultaneously to enhance productivity and high detection range. The latest AI technology in programming and review stations makes ViTrox AOI the pioneer in the SMT Inspection solution market. It is proud to mention that Vitrox AOI is selected by the top 10 EMS companies in the world where they trust in ViTrox AOI Technology with our breakthrough AI technology that brings benefits to the customer. For more details about ViTrox’s AOI products and services, please contact Ken Soon (chuan-sen.soon@vitrox.com) or visit www.vitrox.com.

REDDITCH, UK — Altus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment in the UK and Ireland, has announced the appointment of Jiri Kucera as Operations Director, strengthening its after sales and delivery department.

Jiri joins Altus as an experienced professional in engineering and operations development and will take the newly created role to support the company’s growth as the business continues its rapid expansion and solidifies its management team for future growth.

He brings a wealth of experience and in-depth industry knowledge, having worked with several of Altus’s key customers in his career, and having worked closely with Altus as a business consultant, where he advised on processes and management of the customer ecosystem. This enabled the company to offer its customers and suppliers even more value over the last 18 months.

Joe Booth, Altus Chief Executive Officer said: “The last few years of Altus Groups development has been superb to see and play a part of. We have made significant changes to our internal processes, supplier portfolio and approach to sales and marketing. We are seeing those efforts pay dividends now with the projects that the market trusts us to fulfil, surpassing all prior records set across most metrics.

“Now is the perfect time to bolster our senior management team and bring in an individual with the skill set of Jiri. He will be able to leverage all of his prior knowledge from working on the customer side to offer the highest standards of support available across pre and post sales. I am delighted for Jiri, whom we have known for a long time. I am also pleased for Altus Group and our wider team to be able to bring on a person of this calibre to help guide the company through its next stages of evolution.”

Jiri said: “I am thrilled to be joining such an exciting team of individuals and at a point where they are making a big market on the sector. It’s a great time to be joining Altus Group. The company has been on a very exciting growth path over the past few years and I’m looking forward to playing a key role in the next chapter of enhance the aftersales.”

Jiri will oversee all after-sales operational elements of the business’s strategy and help to lead Altus on its impressive growth trajectory. Most recently, Jiri was Head of Engineering for STI Ltd and has held similar top tier management roles as Operation Director at Fabrinet.

DERRY, NH – StenTech Inc., the leading provider of stencils to the electronics manufacturing industry in North America, is pleased to announce the appointment of Greg Starrett to Director of Sales – United States. An experienced and respected leader in the Surface Mount Technology (SMT) industry, Starrett has more than 29 years of experience in all aspects of the business.

Starrett is a true resource for laser cut stencil technology, from running the lasers and modifying stencil designs, to managing employees and securing millions of dollars of business. He has a thorough understanding of the SMT industry and practical, working knowledge of all aspects of the business which makes him an invaluable asset to StenTech and its customers.

Because of his extensive and varied experience in both operations and manufacturing, Starrett is uniquely qualified to understand and anticipate the needs and challenges of existing and potential customers. His priority is to first connect with his customers so that he can understand and meet their needs. Starrett is both extremely knowledgeable and personable (never forgets a name!) and prides himself on being a trusted and reliable partner to his customers.

To learn more visit www.StenTech.com or www.photostencil.com.

About StenTech, Inc.

StenTech has been leading the way in laser cut stencils, being the first company to introduce Fiber Diode lasers into North America. With over 20 experienced CAD designers, their strength is the support they provide in stencil edits, material, and thickness recommendations. StenTech offers a complete array of stencil technology, custom- tailored to suit your manufacturing requirements. They manufacture any type of stencil for the SMT industry. To learn more visit www.StenTech.com.