TOKYO -- Juki Corp. celebrated its 70th anniversary this week by announcing the sale of its 20,000th placement machine.

Just ahead of the Protec trade show, one of the world's largest for assembly, Juki celebrated its December 1938 founding by 900 machine makers located in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The companies formed Tokyo Juki Manufacturers Association in Kokuryo-Cho, Chofu-City, Tokyo. (It was renamed in September 1943.)

The company also announced the donation of 8 million yen to the Chinese government and China Red Cross in the name of the Sichuan earthquake survivors.

Last week at the SMT/Hybrid/Packaging trade show in Nuremburg, Germany, the company sold a reported 10 machines.

Overall, Juki sells more than 200 placement machines each month, president Bob Black reportedly said.