NEUSS, GERMANY – Yamaha Robotics SMT Section has supplied its 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION for surface-mount assembly to éolane, France’s largest electronic manufacturing services (EMS) provider.

With 2400 employees and 25 SMT lines, operating across 13 production sites in Europe, North Africa, and Asia, éolane offers a portfolio of services that cover the complete product lifecycle. The company is equipped to handle everything, from R&D and new product introduction to box-build assembly, automated testing, field support, and take-back for responsible disposal.

As a large EMS, éolane builds products for companies ranging from famous brands to specialists and startups, including electronics for surgical robots, control and safety systems for renewable energy, industrial automation, transport infrastructure, computing, communication, and networking. As the smart revolution continues to gather pace, the accuracy, precision, and speed of éolane’s manufacturing capabilities are more in demand than ever, building devices including meters, lighting and HVAC controls, and IoT sensors and gateways.

“We invest continually to ensure éolane is always positioned strongly, ready for the future,” comments Vincent Perrault Industrial Manager. “While high-mix assembly remains the dominant trend in Europe, high-volume opportunities are increasing as new markets emerge and world manufacturing patterns adapt. So, to keep ourselves at the forefront as we planned our new SMT line with Yamaha machines to increase flexibility for high mix at the same time as strengthening our ability to handle high-volume business,” explains David Jacquel, France-Morocco Managing Director.

éolane has a long-standing collaboration with TMI Control Plus, Yamaha Robotics’ distributor in France, which has consulted on capital equipment selection, supply, and support at éolane’s manufacturing sites through several investment cycles.

“Our approach is to understand our clients’ business, their goals and values, and apply our engineering skills to deliver the best solution,” explains Hervé le Métayer, CEO of TMI Control Plus. “The 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION from Yamaha delivers the flexibility and raw placement speed. The underlying equipment is of a high standard, known for excellent stability, with powerful efficiency-boosting options and the YSUP software environment. The software is easy to use with many automated features and intuitive 3D graphics.”

After close collaboration, the two teams chose to build the line with Yamaha’s latest-generation YRP10 printer and YSi-SP solder-paste inspection system, three YRM20 mounters, and the YRi-V 3D automatic optical inspection (AOI) system. Capable of fully automated setups and changeovers, including stencil changeover, the YRP10 has a core cycle time of 6 seconds. The printer is capable of fully independent dual-lane production, with capacity for large boards on both lanes simultaneously.

Yamaha’s YRM20 mounters support a choice of three optional multi-nozzle heads to place a wide range of component types and sizes with high speed and efficiency. The RM rotary head, which has 18 nozzles, handles component sizes from 0201 to 12mm x 12mm x 6.5mm high, and places up to 57,500 cph. The general-purpose HM head has 10 nozzles inline and handles components from 0201 to 55mm x 100mm x 15mm high. The FM head has an ultra-wide range for odd-shaped components up to 30mm high, while also accepting standard-sized parts down to 03015 SMD chips.

éolane’s line contains three dual-beam YRM20 mounters, each fitted with two RM high-speed heads, two HM general-purpose heads, and two FM heads respectively. The third mounter also has the optional tray sequencer to facilitate non-stop production. Together, the trio of YRM20s provides maximum throughput of 248,000 cph in a compact footprint, enabling éolane to take on high-volume production jobs with confidence and deliver fast turnaround.

The YRi-V 3D automatic optical inspection (AOI) system is positioned inline after the mounters and delivers high accuracy, with lighting designed to minimize shadows. Special features accelerate programming and setup, including automatic parameter setting leveraging original PCB information, which cuts data-tuning time by as much as 50%. There is also automatic inspection-data creation, and component library matching enhanced with AI.

Integrated with the YSUP software environment, the YRi-V inspection system connects with the mounters and printer to assist with troubleshooting. In addition, the Mobile Judgement app shares error information instantly with operators to prevent line stoppages.

By choosing the YSUP-PG programming and scheduling tool, éolane’s production team can accelerate new product introduction, streamlining known pain points such as data conversion. YSUP-PG’s graphical editing tools and database tools make fast work of programming equipment and balancing the line, working offline to avoid disrupting current production tasks. Convenient features include simultaneous view of tabular and graphical part information, which makes creating data much faster and more efficient. The visual data editor allows desktop trial mounting based on board CAD data and provides 3D graphical views to confirm that the program will place parts correctly. YSUP-PG also supports full traceability, meeting automotive manufacturing requirements.

While the line is operating, the YSUP Dashboard keeps the team informed, including parts remaining, quality control data, and equipment status to help manage the line, keep production running, and quickly pinpoint the causes of any issues as soon as they arise.

éolane’s new Yamaha SMT line is now up and running at the company’s site in Valence, France, supported by TMI Control Plus in conjunction with Yamaha Robotics Europe providing training and backup. “Flexibility, accuracy, and speed are the core attributes of our 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION and, in this case, the key to éolane’s preparations for the future,” said Fabien Arts, Area Sales Manager, Yamaha Robotics Europe. “We now look forward to building on this success and realising a long and fruitful connection with éolane.”

PHELPS, NY – Z-AXIS, a fast-growing provider of electronic design and manufacturing services, is the first company on the U.S. East Coast to install Mycronic MYPro series A40DX™ pick-and-place machines for PCB assembly. Mycronic, a world-leading provider of electronics manufacturing equipment, credits Z-AXIS’ co-owner and president, Michael Allen, for his continuing commitment to innovation. Z-AXIS now operates seven Mycronic machines and has two additional units on order. The company is in the second phase of a $1.5 million expansion.

“Michael Allen is always innovative,” said Liz Morrill, Mycronic’s Regional Sales Manager for the Eastern United States and Canada. “We’ve had a 25-year relationship with Z-AXIS, and Michael is always one of the first to adopt our latest technologies. In fact, Z-AXIS is one of the largest users of Mycronic equipment in the commercial industry.”

Mycronic MYPro A40DX™ pick-and-place machines are designed to help electronics manufacturers speed high-mix PCB assembly in medium to higher volumes. With a top speed of 59,000 components per hour (CPH), these new machines include high-speed mount heads and support on-the-fly changeovers. Mycronic MYPro A40DX™ equipment can also pick-and-place larger and longer components while speeding workflows thanks to an easy-to-use touchscreen interface. These modular units can achieve 48% faster top placement speeds while supporting full traceability.

Z-AXIS learned about this new equipment from Mycronic and then saw it in-person at IPC APEX Expo in Anaheim, California in April. Under Michael Allen’s leadership, Z-AXIS has also invested in MYTower 6x component storage systems and a MYPro S30™ Stencil Printer since this industry-leading tradeshow. MYTower technology puts generous but flexible storage in a compact design with rotating columns, enabling the storage of nearly 2,000 reels (8 mm). The MYPro S30 stencil printer features an advanced vision system for complete alignment between the stencil and PCB and a climate control system that maintains the physical qualities of solder paste for consistent print quality.

“Z-AXIS is committed to continuous improvement and innovation,” said Michael Allen. “As we continue our most recent expansion, we’re confident that the investments we’re making in the latest equipment will help us continue to become more efficient as we grow.”