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
ASM’s Integrated Smart Factory Makes the Grade at IPC APEX EXPO 2020
February 27, 2020 | ASMEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
The recent IPC APEX EXPO electronics event saw leading smart factory innovator ASM Assembly Systems deliver on its promise of an integrated Industry 4.0-capable solution with connected technologies that span all elements of the factory floor and the global enterprise. Cohesive and open data communication at every level forms the backbone of efficient and effective workflows and, as shown on ASM’s booth, the company is among the first to deliver such as comprehensive solution.
From Concept to Reality
“Within a live factory floor simulation, ASM’s exhibit effectively brought the modern manufacturing operation to life for our visitors and customers,” shares Jeff Timms, ASM Senior Director and Regional Managing Director, Americas. “From personnel task prioritization with ASM Command Center to line-side material delivery via AIVs to ASM Academy online, on-demand and virtual reality training and maintenance, show delegates saw precisely how ASM can help automate complex and time-consuming processes for greater efficiency, quality, productivity and profitability.”
High-speed and flex lines at the center of the display illustrated the breadth of the ASM offer. Market-leading SIPLACE TX 96,000 cph, metric 0201-capable placement platforms, the new five-second cycle time DEK TQ stencil printer and AIV-enabled material delivery demonstrated closed-loop, zero-assist production of today’s most advanced assemblies. For operations that manage more product variation, the flex line with ASM ProcessExpert self-learning print optimization, DEK NeoHorizon 03iX printing platform, high-performance ASM ProcessLens 5D SPI and scalable side-by-side SIPLACE SX placement systems showcased seamless product changeover in a high-mix environment. Underscoring the importance of digitalization and data analysis in the factory of the future, the ASM production lines were bookended by an impressive control center and a hands-on virtual reality training experience.
Award-winning Products
ASM’s latest developments, the DEK TQ print platform and the SIPLACE AutoRefill Feeder, were also recognized with notable industry awards during the event. DEK TQ was the recipient of the competitive IPC APEX EXPO Innovation Award, bestowed by the IPC industry association and evaluated by a panel of judges that hail from top assembly OEMs and contractors. One of only six products selected for this honor, DEK TQ was chosen for its its innovation, manufacturing impact and value to the customer. Through a combination of off-belt printing and a unique clamping system, DEK TQ delivers accuracy of +/- 17.55 µm @ 2 CpK wet print (+/- 12.5 µm @ 2 CpK machine alignment) and ensures reliable printing processes with 0201 metric components. Equally impressive is the platform’s ability to run for eight continuous hours with no assists, thanks to the robust paste management and understencil cleaning systems.
Also acknowledged was ASM’s leadership in placement innovation, as the company’s new AutoRefill Feeder was declared the winner of a Circuits Assembly NPI Award. The AutoRefill Feeder helps eliminate hectic splicing processes and refill delay line stops. In conjuction with the active component reel, a second infeed can be used to equip another tape. If the first reel runs empty, the feeder automatically switches to the second tape reel. With this system, operators can refill reels proactively as time permits—and without any splicing. What’s more, offline setup processes are accelerated via an automatic infeed, the two reel per feeder preparation capability helps reduce refills on the line, and gapless traceability is ensured with automatic reel switch detection.
“Simply put, all of our customers want to maximize production volumes at the highest quality possible,” says Timms, noting that with the broad ASM offer is completely scalable for any size operation—whether small, mid-tier or high-volume. “There was something for everyone at ASM’s APEX exhibit and show delegate enthusiasm for our total solution was further validation of our development priorities.”
The SMT Solutions segment of ASM Pacific Technology
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.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Advancing Aerospace Excellence: Emerald’s Medford Team Earns Space Addendum Certification
06/30/2025 | Emerald TechnologiesWe’re thrilled to announce a major achievement from our Medford, Oregon facility. Andy Abrigo has officially earned her credentials as a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) under the IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, the leading industry standard for space and military-grade electronics manufacturing.
Magnalytix and Foresite to Host Technical Webinar on SIR Testing and Functional Reliability
06/26/2025 | MAGNALYTIXMagnalytix, in collaboration with Foresite Inc., is pleased to announce an upcoming one-hour Webinar Workshop titled “Comparing SIR IPC B-52 to Umpire 41 Functional & SIR Test Method.” This session will be held on July 24, 2025, and is open to professionals in electronics manufacturing, reliability engineering, and process development seeking insights into new testing standards for climatic reliability.
IPC Rebrands as Global Electronics Association: Interview With Dr. John W. Mitchell
06/22/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Today, following a major announcement, IPC is embracing the rapid advancement of technology with a bold decision to change its name to the Global Electronics Association. This name more accurately reflects the full breadth of its work and the modern realities of electronics manufacturing. In this exclusive interview, Global Electronics Association President and CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell shares the story behind the rebrand: Why now, what it means for the industry, and how it aligns with the organization’s mission.
Global Electronics Association Debuts; New Name Elevates IPC’s 70-Year Legacy as Voice of $6 Trillion Electronics Industry
06/25/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationToday begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
06/20/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007It’s been a busy week in this industry, and we have news and articles from the PCB design, fabrication and assembly communities. Some of this news is out of this world. We may be losing the high ground—the really high ground. Columnist Jesse Vaughan explains how the U.S. seems to be falling behind in space, and how this could affect our ability to defend ourselves in the future. We have an update on the U.S.-China tariff talks, which seem to be moving forward, though sometimes at a snail’s pace.