SMT Resource Group LLC (SMTR, Wake Forest, NC), a reseller and integrator of new and refurbished electronics assembly equipment, is celebrating its fifth year of operations.

SMTR has delivered approximately 500 machines to customers worldwide during its first five years. The majority has been sold internationally, especially to Asia, where China is the biggest market, followed closely by Korea. The mix of customers includes local customers and North American companies manufacturing in Asia.

SMTR has increased profits every year, converting them into inventory and leveraging them into financial relationships with banks.

SMTR's Eastern Technical Center with 6,000 sq. ft. is located in Wake Forest, NC, and includes the company's administrative offices. The Central Technical Center in Temple, TX, has 50,000 sq. ft.; the Western Technical Center has 12,000 sq. ft. and is located in Concord, CA. SMTR has over 100 major pieces of equipment in inventory. Additionally, the company has sold 200 machines during the past year.

Eric Berg founded Encore Trading East LLC in December 1998, after a career with GE Capital, Universal Instruments and Texas Instruments. Chris Thornton founded Encore Trading West LLC in early 1999 with the intention of working with Encore Trading East. This resulted in the joint formation of Encore Trading International on April 15, 1999.

Malcolm Montanjees owner of Equipment Services LLC worked with Berg and Thornton at GE Capital and assisted Encore Trading Intl., which lead to formation of SMTR on Jan 1, 2002.

SMTR wants to recognize Dave Heller, who began with Encore Trading on April 15, 1999. Heller has worked in the used equipment business, beginning with Universal Instruments close to 20 years ago after being employed at IBM. He is now the Tech Center Manager for SMTR's Eastern facility.