ASMPT to Invest in SMART Factory Software Solutions

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ASM Pacific Technology Ltd (ASMPT) has announced a strategic investment in Portugal-based software developer Critical Manufacturing S.A. Critical Manufacturing is a software developer and publisher of state-of-the-art manufacturing execution systems (MES). As an experienced software solutions provider of state-of-the-art MES platforms, Critical Manufacturing has significant expertise in the integration and networking of machines and systems, as well as IT systems and cloud solutions. This strategic investment would accelerate ASMPT's efforts to build a portfolio of Industry 4.0 solutions and will boost ASMPT's software competence in enabling smart factories.

Günter Lauber, CEO of ASMPT SMT Solutions Segment and serving concurrently as an Executive Committee member responsible for ASMPT's software solutions, explains the rationale behind this strategic investment, "We want to focus more on comprehensive software solutions to help customers improve their quality, flexibility and efficiency with smart factories.  Initiatives like The Hermes Standard and ADAMOS already represent major steps in this direction, but we want to speed up our integration and smart manufacturing capabilities and extend our reach beyond hardware solutions."

Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO of Critical Manufacturing, comments, "We are extremely pleased to be integrated into ASMPT and have access to its vast resources and customer/support networks. We share the same vision and a common focus on delivering the most advanced Industry 4.0 solutions to enable the digital world. Our combined knowledge and resources will accelerate our roadmap to bring strong business value and competitive advantage to our current customers and innovative manufacturers across our industry segments."

The SMT Solutions segment within the ASM Pacific Technology Group

The mission of the SMT Solutions segment within the AMS Pacific Technology Group (ASMPT) is to implement and support the smart SMT factory at electronics manufacturers worldwide.

ASM solutions such as SIPLACE placement systems and DEK printing systems support the networking, automation and optimization of central workflows with hardware, software and services that enable electronics manufacturers to transition to the smart SMT factory in stages and enjoy dramatic improvements in productivity, flexibility and quality.

Since maintaining close relationships with customers and partners is a central component of ASM’s strategy, the company has established the SMT Smart Network as a global forum for the active exchange of information between and with smart champions. In addition to being a founding member of the ADAMOS joint venture for the development of an IIoT platform for manufacturing companies, ASM is establishing together with other SMT manufacturers the open HERMES standard as a successor to the SMEMA standard for M2M communication in SMT lines.

For more information about ASM, visit www.asm-smt.com.

ASM Pacific Technology Limited

ASMPT, founded in 1975, is the only company in the world that can offer high-quality equipment for all major steps in the electronics manufacturing process - from carrier for chip interconnection to chip assembly and packaging to SMT. No other supplier offers a comparable range and depth of process expertise.

ASMPT’s Back-end Equipment Business offers a diverse product range from bonding to molding and
trim & form to the integration of these activities into complete in-line systems for the microelectronics, semiconductor, photonics, and optoelectronics industries. Its Materials Business provides customers with a variety of leadframes such as etched and stamping as well as advanced packaging materials. ASMPT SMT Solutions develops and sells best-in-class DEK printers for the SMT, semiconductor and solar markets as well as best-in-class SIPLACE SMT placement solutions.

ASMPT is listed in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1989. For more information about ASMPT visit www.asmpacific.com.