SAN FRANCISCO – Simbe, the leading provider of Store Intelligence™ solutions that increase retailer performance through unprecedented visibility and insights, today announced a partnership with Plexus Corp. to bring its best-in-class retail robotics-as-a-service to market quickly and at global scale.

This partnership has been rigorously validated through the past year's production ramp, supporting Simbe's rapid, chainwide retail deployments. It will assist Simbe’s growing operations and customer base, which spans numerous countries, enabling the company to meet surging interest from prospective retail partners around the world.

Plexus Corp. is the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) industry leader in the design, manufacture, and service of highly complex products and demanding regulatory environments. Plexus partners with global, market-leading Healthcare/Life Sciences, Industrial, and Aerospace and Defense companies to provide innovative design and development, supply chain, new product introduction, manufacturing, and sustaining services solutions across its 26 facilities in the AMER, APAC, EMEA, and LATAM regions. This robust manufacturing partnership will empower a growing network of ecosystem and technology leaders like Avery Dennison Corp, Google Cloud, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, NVIDIA, and others.

“Simbe is an innovative and respected leader in the retail robotics market, and we’re delighted to aid in scaling their business through our industry-leading engineering and manufacturing solutions,” said Brian Wilson, Plexus’ Market Sector Vice President - Industrial. “Our partnership bolsters Simbe’s state-of-the-art technology in support of Plexus’ vision to help create products that build a better world.”

With more than four decades of experience and a team of over 20,000, Plexus delivers the expertise required to help Simbe accelerate the production and shipment of its advanced technology to retail customers globally. Simbe's operations are concentrated in Plexus' locations that have the capacity to produce thousands of new units each day.

“Throughout our first year of work together, Plexus has proven their commitment to supply chain, capacity, and quality to facilitate global production," said Gary Galensky, COO of Simbe. “This strategic partnership ensures that Simbe can continue to meet the rising market demand for cutting-edge retail technology and help our customers solve operational inefficiencies, boost revenue, and enhance the overall in-store experience.”

The demand for retail technology has reached a crucial tipping point, according to a Coresight Research report released in March 2024. On average, retailers are losing at least 4.5% in revenue to in-store inefficiencies. To address revenue gaps, the majority of retailers will invest up to 9 figures annually in new in-store technology to improve performance across inventory management, operations, and planning.

This news follows a year of steadfast growth for Simbe. In 2023, the company recorded a 3X increase in its subscription revenue base. Thus far in 2024, Simbe has introduced the industry’s first intelligence platform for wholesalers, building on a successful launch and chain-wide deployment with BJ's Wholesale Club in four months; expanded its partnership with SpartanNash to an additional 60 locations; and announced the expansion of its leadership team with the strategic hiring of several key executives.

YPSILANTI, MI – Michigan-based Coherix is working with Eastern Michigan University (EMU) in Ypsilanti to develop "factory-of-the-future" manufacturing and assembly technology.

The three-year program at the university's GameAbove College of Engineering and Technology is focused on precision-manufacturing applications in the growing field of adhesive-dispensing technology and is supported by a $385,000 grant from Coherix.

Mohamad Qatu, dean of Eastern's GameAbove college, notes that an important objective of the project will be to help expand the use of computer vision, virtual reality and adaptive-process-control systems in the automotive, medical and consumer-electronics industries.

"The program will provide our students with experience in the programming and use of industrial robots to dispense adhesives and sealants in the manufacture of cars, medical devices and consumer electronics – technology that could save billions of dollars in manufacturing costs," explains Qatu.

"We are looking forward to partnering with Eastern Michigan University," notes Dwight Carlson, Coherix chairman and CEO. "Our goal is to offer engineering students at the university advanced factory-of-the-future training as well as access to the latest adaptive-process-control and dispensing-system technology under development at Coherix."

Over the next three years, more than 70 mechanical-engineering graduate and undergraduate students are expected to take part in the program developed and directed by Associate Professor Emad Tanbour. A major part of their work will take place in a computer-vision and virtual-reality research facility at EMU provided by Coherix.

According to Tanbour, all of the undergraduate students currently enrolled in the Coherix program are Michigan residents with an interest in pursuing engineering careers at companies with facilities in the state.

Several other companies provided equipment for the Coherix laboratory. Kawasaki Robotics, for example, donated an industrial robot while Sames supplied dispensing equipment and the Gonzalez Group provided safety fencing.

Tyler Werth, an EMU mechanical-engineering senior from Milan, Michigan, says, "I feel as though I am getting a real engineering experience thanks to Coherix and Professor Tanbour. Through the Coherix program, I'm finally able to get the co-op internship experience that I have wanted. I also have been able to work on my senior project with some of the best dispensing engineers in the nation."

Werth adds, "I'm learning technology I didn't even know existed. I have programmed a robot to do things I didn't know were possible. This course of studies will open a lot of doors for me and has been the absolute highlight of my four years at Eastern Michigan University."

Coherix, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024, is a pioneer in the development of 3D-enabled adaptive-process-control technology. Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the company provides high-performance adhesive-dispensing inspection technology to global OEMs, tier-one suppliers, line builders, dispensing-equipment companies and vision-system integrators in a variety of industries.

The company's post-Covid sales have increased at an annual rate of 35 percent and are expected to continue at a similar pace over the next five years. Nearly 150 of the world's leading automakers and tier-one automotive suppliers are Coherix customers with more than 4,000 dispensing systems equipped with Coherix 3D computer-vision technology installed on manufacturing and assembly lines around the world.

The growing reputation of Eastern Michigan's engineering programs has been documented by U.S. News & World Report.

EMU introduced its undergraduate engineering program in 2017 and broke into the U.S. News & World Report national rankings just four years later. The program today is recognized as the 69th best among 273 engineering colleges in the publication's ranking of "Best Colleges."

MANASSAS, VA – ZESTRON, the leading global provider of high-precision cleaning products, services, and training solutions in the electronics manufacturing and semiconductor industries, is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar titled "Advancements in Solder Paste Printing: Cleaning Compatibility of Jettable and Screen-Printable Solder Pastes in Advanced Electronic Assemblies," scheduled for May 16, 2024, at 2:00 PM EDT.

Hosted by ZESTRON Academy’s Kalyan Nukala and featuring Evan Griffith of Indium Corporation, this webinar will delve into the growing trend of solder paste jetting in response to the demands of miniaturization and complex electronic assemblies. Nukala and Griffith will comprehensively examine the cleaning compatibility between jettable and screen-printable solder pastes, covering critical aspects such as formulations, reflow properties, and cleaning characteristics.

The webinar will showcase a detailed study incorporating four distinct solder paste formulations, each subject to various cleaning chemistries and adhering strictly to IPC standards for visual inspection, ion chromatography, and SIR (Surface Insulation Resistance) testing. Attendees will benefit from insights derived from these rigorous evaluations, gaining a clearer understanding of the best and worst-case cleaning scenarios and unveiling key findings essential for achieving optimal process efficiency.

Registrants for the webinar will be able to engage with industry experts, ask questions, and gain valuable perspectives on the latest advancements in solder paste printing and cleaning techniques. Interested individuals can register for the webinar HERE.

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, announces a significant investment in acquiring new Palomar 8100 wire bonder machines, enhancing the company’s positioning as a leader of cutting-edge microelectronics assemblies for mission-critical applications. This strategic move further solidifies NEOTech’s commitment to delivering unparalleled quality and reliability for microelectronics assemblies destined for uniquely harsh environments, including military, aerospace, and space applications.

The addition of Palomar 8100 wire bonder machines to NEOTech’s manufacturing arsenal marks a pivotal moment in the company’s journey to become the industry leader in meeting and exceeding customer demands and unique product specifications. These state-of-the-art machines renowned for their precision and reliability, plus NEOTech’s engineering and manufacturing expertise, will enable the organization to elevate its manufacturing capabilities to new heights, ensuring consistently superior results in quality and reliability.

Daniel Deharo, General Manager at the NEOTech Chatsworth facility, expressed his enthusiasm about the company’s latest investment, stating, “Utilizing the Palomar 8100 wire bonding machines, coupled with NEOTech’s years of expertise in microelectronics manufacturing, positions us at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. Our commitment to meeting and exceeding customer expectations remains unwavering, and with these new machines, we are poised to deliver unparalleled quality and reliability.”

NEOTech’s investment in the Palomar 8100 wire bonder machines underscores its dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and electronics manufacturing excellence. By investing in top-of-the-line, high-technology equipment, NEOTech reaffirms its commitment to staying ahead of the curve and delivering superior solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers.

NEOTech continues to prioritize innovation and customer-centric solutions, ensuring that its services consistently meet the evolving needs of products used in mission-critical applications. The company’s goal is to successfully convert customers’ product technology into engineered products, providing the most capable supply base, manufacturing products with care and delivering them on time. The company is large enough to offer refined Tier 1 tools, processes, and capabilities, yet small enough to provide individualized care and service. NEOTech provides tailored project-by-project services that focus on each customer’s individual, unique needs. The result is a true collaboration in which the customer’s needs are met – or exceeded – in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.

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