STEINACH, SWITZERLAND – Fast, efficient, and reliable: the VARIOincubator from Swiss electronics service partner Variosystems consolidates all of the activities that take the customer from the initial idea to mass production, and then ensures long-term availability via life-cycle management. By integrating the company Kubeg into the group, Variosystems is now able to produce functional prototypes in just one week, massively shortening time to market. The company plans to further expand the new site in Zizers for rapid prototyping and small batch production in the coming years and to already grow by roughly 20 percent in 2024.

Rapid production of electronic solutions – Variosystems expands its expertise as a global service partner and enhances its portfolio with rapid prototyping. Through the introduction of the VARIOincubator, the internationally active Swiss technology company with headquarters in Steinach covers all activities involved in the development, procurement, and production of electronic products. By integrating the rapid prototyping specialist Kubeg from Zizers into the group, Variosystems is able to produce functional samples for rapid validation of development results after just one week.

“By joining projects from the development stage, providing support during the prototyping phase, and offering coordinated workflows, shorter lines of communication, and fewer iterations, we significantly reduce time to market and therefore cut costs. Depending on the project, we can shorten the duration by several weeks to months,” emphasizes Julian Specker, Head of VARIOincubator. The VARIOincubator partner network consists of more than 100 engineers. Variosystems also offers its own development services via Solve Engineering. While development and industrialization are underway, the electronics service partner ensures the availability of all components early on via life-cycle management, identifies alternatives, and thus guarantees long-term mass production.

Investments in the Zizers Site

The site for prototyping and small batch production in Zizers (in the Swiss canton of Grisons) plays a central role in the company’s strategic orientation as a partner for innovators. The Zizers site currently has around 50 employees. The team, structure, and contacts remained unchanged after the takeover. “The high level of trust has paid off for everyone. We contribute our expertise to the VARIOincubator and combine our strengths with the global competence of Variosystems. In this way, we support innovators in reducing development times and enable companies to make a seamless transition from small batch to mass production during the scaling phase,” says Silvan Wüthrich, site manager in Zizers.

Through its integration into the group and the launch of the VARIOincubator, Variosystems plans to increase sales in the prototype and small batch segment by roughly 20 percent in 2024. “The model has proven to be a win-win for all sides in just a few months and can also become a success story in our other global customer organizations in the future. We are already noticing that processes are speeding up significantly and we are benefiting from early involvement in projects. This is also reflected in the wealth of positive feedback we have received from customers, potential customers, and market experts,” reports Julian Specker.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Partnership for Assured Electronics (USPAE) today announced that the Defense Business Accelerator (DBX) Microelectronics Challenge received twice the number of entries expected. Nearly two-thirds of the entrants are startups, and one-third are small- to medium-sized businesses.

All are vying for a chance at awards between $500,000 and $2 million to advance commercially viable microelectronics solutions.

“We are very excited by the quantity and quality of the DBX entries for innovative electronic technologies and materials,” said Nathan Edwards, USPAE executive director. “This program helps advance solutions that will have commercial and defense applications while further strengthening the U.S. electronics industry.”

In a few weeks, finalists will be notified and invited to pitch their solutions at the Defense TechConnect Innovation Summit & Expo in late November.

“Defense TechConnect draws leaders from private industry, investment and government to accelerate state-of-the-art technology solutions,” said Matt Laudon, vice president of the TechConnect Division at ATI. “The DBX project is a great example of how new approaches can leverage innovation hubs to achieve great success.”

The innovative DBX program brings together the electronics industry expertise of USPAE with the Department of Defense’s (DoD’s) Manufacturing, Capability Expansion, and Investment Prioritization Directorate (MCEIP) to award funding through a process meant to accelerate the development of commercial solutions that the DoD can then leverage.

PENANG, MALAYSIA – ViTrox, which aims to be the world’s most trusted technology company, proudly announced the appointment of Sy Creed as the Business Development Director of ViTrox Americas Inc. based in Austin, Texas, effective October 2, 2023.

Sy's journey in the Electronics Assembly Industry began in 1992, focusing on distribution, particularly in Manufacturing, Repair and Operations (MRO) and benchtop supplies. Over his remarkable 31-year career, he gained recognition for offering tailored solutions, exceptional service, and top-tier products that cater to each customer's unique needs. His dedication to industry excellence is underscored by his notable IPC Certifications, including IPC-610 and IPC J-STD-001ES CIT.

Sy's impressive track record, extensive achievements, and unwavering commitment to excellence mark him as an invaluable addition in his new capacity as Business Development Director for the USA Region. He will play a pivotal role in overseeing ViTrox's complete SMT PCB Assembly Vision Inspection Solutions, where his vast experience is set to enhance our offerings significantly. We firmly believe that Sy's expertise and experience will not only bolster our market presence in the USA and Canada but will also serve as a catalyst for reaching unprecedented sales milestones and taking ViTrox to new heights in these regions.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Sy has excelled in other aspects of life, reflecting his unwavering dedication and success. His recent induction into the prestigious National Shag Dance Hall of Fame as a four-time National Champion serves as a testament to his achievements. Additionally, he holds the title of NC State Champion NCHSAA - Pole Vault, with several record-setting accomplishments.

Mr. Wee Kah Khim, CEO of Board Inspection and Embedded Solutions (BIE), expressed his excitement, saying, "We're thrilled to welcome Sy to the ViTrox family. His extensive experience and dedication to excellence align perfectly with our commitment to delivering top-quality solutions to our customers."

"With Sy's addition to the team, we gain more confidence in delivering top-notch service and fostering innovation in the electronics assembly sector, while also strengthening our sales efforts in the USA and Canada," added Richard Osborne, Sr. General Manager of U.S. and Canada.

ViTrox is confident that this strategic move will further reinforce its position as an industry leader, aligning with its ongoing efforts for growth and excellence.

HALFMOON, NY – PVA, a global supplier of automated dispensing and coating equipment, is pleased to announce is pleased to announce its exciting new partnership with ESD-Center. With its strong presence and expertise in the Baltics and Norway, ESD-Center has been appointed as the official distributor for PVA, solidifying a promising alliance in the field of advanced manufacturing solutions.

PVA's flexible and advanced systems for the application of conformal coating and precise dispensing align seamlessly with the objectives and market requirements of ESD-Center. These robust and repeatable systems not only enhance production throughput but also reduce material waste, ultimately leading to cost savings in the manufacturing process.

Stefan Sjökvist, Managing Director of ESD-Center, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "We're delighted and excited to announce our cooperation with PVA. PVA is well-known with a substantial existing installation base in our territory, and we're confident that together, we can achieve even greater heights."

PVA's over 30 years of experience and industry-leading technological advancements, coupled with the presence of a cutting-edge application and tech center in Europe, bring immense value to both ESD-Center and its valued customers. Combined with ESD-Center's established market position, extensive knowledge in conformal coating processes, and a dedicated local field service organization, this partnership is poised to offer an unparalleled conformal coating and dispensing experience within the Baltics and Norway. This strategic collaboration between PVA and ESD-Center represents a significant step forward in providing high-quality and cost-effective manufacturing solutions to the region, ultimately benefiting a wide range of industries, from electronics to automotive and beyond.

For more information about PVA and ESD-Center, please visit www.pva.net and www.esd-center.se