LOS ANGELES -- Placement, placement, placement. It’s the most expensive machine on the line, and at Apex the OEMs showed once again why that’s the case.
vPlan is an enterprise-level, electronics assembly process engineering software tool. The new tool synchronizes process engineering in an easy-to-use package, from CAD to the machine level (SMT, PTH, and manual assembly) in three steps.
The tool defines the product, creating a normalized and validated virtual PCA using a lean data model that enables quick-change management, DFx analysis, and an optimized assembly processes. Next, it defines production resources. Virtual machine lines can be easily defined and machine library data can be auto-generated for all machine configurations with the help of Valor’s VPL service. This step is said to practically eliminates machine library management. Finally, vPlan generates manufacturing process definitions, which contain optimized output and documentation for assembly machines and manual work cells, matched to available resources and the product model.
BROMONT, CANADA – Panasonic
Factory Solutions Co. of America and Cogiscan have collaborated on an RFID smart feeder kit for Panasonic's IPAC machine.
In a statement, Panasonic engineering manager Gene Dunn said that customers have sought to include automatic feeder tracking and closed
loop slot verification. He said the integration of Cogiscan's
RFID smart feeder system with Panasonic's verification
and traceability software is a first major step in that direction.
The kit is offered on new machines and can be retrofitted on existing
machines.
Cogiscan's RFID smart feeder reportedly tracks, traces and controls feeders on and off the assembly line,
without human intervention. The companies said tape feeders of any model and year can be upgraded
into intelligent feeders by attaching a low cost RFID tag.
LOS ANGELES –UP Media Group Inc. on Monday announced the winners of its 2007 Service Excellence Awards for EMS providers and electronics assembly equipment, materials and software suppliers. Circuits Assembly magazine recognized the companies that received the highest customer service ratings, as judged by their own customers, during a ceremony at the Apex trade show in Los Angeles.
In the EMS category, the overall winners were Integrated Microelectronics Inc. (revenues greater than $100 million) and Key Electronics (revenues less than $100 million).
LOS ANGELES -- P. Kay Metal today named Tamura
Corp. of Korea and Tamura H.A. Machinery will
distribute the company's molten solder surfactant in Korea and North America.
Tamura president James Kim stated,
"We have been searching for ways to assist our customers eliminate solder dross,
especially with expensive lead-free alloys, and this partnership with P. Kay
Metal will allow us to bring this new technology to them."
Larry Kay, president of P. Kay Metal, said, "We are
very excited with the possibilities afforded us by the addition of Tamura
Corporation of Korea and Tamura H.A. We look forward to
the additional opportunities created by partnering with this well-respected
group with such extensive wave soldering experience."
More equipment debuted at IPC Apex today than any
trade show in recent memory. As usual, the placement machines grabbed the headlines, and with good reason: some are pushing 100,000 cph placement rates. Another exciting development was Viscom's combination x-ray/AOI machine.
Still, the show itself is more modest than in years past.