Standard of Excellence: Delivering Excellence—A Daily Goal
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Tin Whisker Mitigation in Aerospace Applications, Part 3
The Knowledge Base: Building the Workforce of Tomorrow With EMAC
ITL Invests in AOI Systems to Assure Quality of Medical Device PCBAs
February 22, 2019 | ITL GroupEstimated reading time: 1 minute
ITL Group is further investing in its in-house SMT manufacturing facility by acquiring optical inspection and electrical testing systems to boost the quality of its medical device PCB assemblies (PCBAs).
Headquartered in Kent, UK, ITL is an ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 accredited company offering design and manufacturing services to the medical and life science sectors. In the medical electronics industry, quality and precision are crucial, so as device designs become more complex, the need for advanced inspection becomes critical.
The equipment upgrade includes an automated optical inspection (AOI) system set to become inline as part of the company’s SMT process, and an SMD component tester, to ensure the quality of electrical components before placement.
The ALD770S i3D Inline AOI is one of the fastest and most accurate machines available on the market. It is designed to overcome all PCB design challenges including shadows, different component colors, PCB warp and more.
“The investment in the ALD770S i3D AOI reflects our focus on assuring the quality of finished medical devices. We understand that optical inspection is an essential part of the quality process in manufacturing, that’s why we continue to invest heavily in the latest technologies to assure our customers have confidence in the quality of our PCBs,” said Tristan Lambert, Production Manager at ITL.
The component tester can measure resistors, capacitors, diodes and inductors with voltages up to 40V. It can be programmed to test all components prior to placement, or the first and last components to verify correct feeder loading.
All test data is held at component level providing control and, where necessary, traceability at individual circuit level, giving customers and end-users confidence that ITL has completed the process within design and production limits.
“Continuous improvement has been a guiding force for ITL since the beginning, this recent investment in new equipment ensures quality, increases accuracy and prevents potential errors from occurring,” Tristan said.
Share on:
Suggested Items
DownStream Acquisition Fits Siemens’ ‘Left-Shift’ Model
06/26/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007I recently spoke to DownStream Technologies founder Joe Clark about the company’s acquisition by Siemens. We were later joined by A.J. Incorvaia, Siemens’ senior VP of electronic board systems. Joe discussed how he, Rick Almeida, and Ken Tepper launched the company in the months after 9/11 and how the acquisition came about. A.J. provides some background on the acquisition and explains why the companies’ tools are complementary.
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
06/26/2025 | John Watson -- Column: Elementary, Mr. WatsonThere's a story about a young woman preparing a holiday ham. Before putting it in the pan, she cuts off the ends. When asked why, she shrugs and says, "That's how my mom always did it." She asks her mother, who gives the same answer. Eventually, the question reaches Grandma, who laughs and says, "Oh, I only cut the ends off because my pan was too small." This story is a powerful analogy for how many PCB designers approach routing today.
Siemens Turbocharges Semiconductor and PCB Design Portfolio with Generative and Agentic AI
06/24/2025 | SiemensAt the 2025 Design Automation Conference, Siemens Digital Industries Software today unveiled its AI-enhanced toolset for the EDA design flow.
Cadence AI Autorouter May Transform the Landscape
06/19/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazinePatrick Davis, product management director with Cadence Design Systems, discusses advancements in autorouting technology, including AI. He emphasizes a holistic approach that enhances placement and power distribution before routing. He points out that younger engineers seem more likely to embrace autorouting, while the veteran designers are still wary of giving up too much control. Will AI help autorouters finally gain industry-wide acceptance?
Beyond Design: The Metamorphosis of the PCB Router
06/18/2025 | Barry Olney -- Column: Beyond DesignThe traditional PCB design process is often time-consuming and labor-intensive. Routing a complex PCB layout can consume up to 30% of a designer’s time, and addressing this issue is not straightforward. We have all encountered this scenario: You spend hours setting the constraints and finally hit the Go button, only to be surprised by the lack of visual appeal and the obvious flaws in the result.