YOUNGSVILLE, NC – East West Manufacturing will close its facility here in March and lay off 107 workers there, according to paperwork filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce.

TAIPEI – Foxconn expects a year-over-year drop in revenue in the first quarter of 2024 after slower market demand impacted the prior quarter.

CHENNAI, INDIA – Syrma SGS Technology has announced the incorporation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, Syrma Mobility Private Limited.

It was gratifying to see the throngs return for Productronica in November. To the tune of 42,000 visitors, the crowds showed up for the granddaddy of shows in the Western world. (Nepcon Japan is roughly twice as big.)

And there was plenty to see. One of the improvements that jumped out was the increase in speeds, especially on the assembly line. Machine speeds are rising at remarkable rates, with placement machines hitting their fastest speeds ever, even while many of them add multifunctional heads for more flexible line setups.

Yamaha’s YRM20 placement machine allows nonstop cart and feeder changes. Fuji’s AIMEXR SMT placement machine, for NPI runs, relies on linear motors for its fastest speeds yet. So what if the semiconductor market is predicted to rise by double-digits this year? These machines can take the pressure.