-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- smt007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current Issue
Wire Harness Solutions
Explore what’s shaping wire harness manufacturing, and how new solutions are helping companies streamline operations and better support EMS providers. Take a closer look at what’s driving the shift.
Spotlight on Europe
As Europe’s defense priorities grow and supply chains are reassessed, industry and policymakers are pushing to rebuild regional capability. This issue explores how Europe is reshaping its electronics ecosystem for a more resilient future.
APEX EXPO 2026 Preshow
This month, we take you inside the annual trade show of the Global Electronics Association, to preview the conferences, standards, keynotes, and other special events new to the show this year.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - smt007 Magazine
Yamaha Appoints Shuichi Imai New European Sales General Manager for Surface-mount Equipment Portfolio
July 2, 2024 | Yamaha Robotics SMT SectionEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Yamaha Robotics SMT Section is welcoming Shuichi Imai as the newly appointed Sales General Manager for Europe, working from the company’s branch office in Neuss, Germany.
An experienced sales manager, Mr Imai has been with Yamaha for 12 years. His knowledge of the EU market comes from having provided sales support for the region, from Japan, since 2020. He first joined the company’s SMT Section in 2012 as sales for Japan, subsequently managing sales in Korea from 2015 until taking over support for EU sales.
“The Yamaha SMT portfolio enjoys a great reputation, bringing speed, precision, efficiency, and the latest technologies to production lines all over the world,” said Mr Imai. “Our success in Europe continues to grow, as everywhere, and I aim to build on the well-established trust of our customers and distribution partners in the region.”
“We know Imai-san well, having worked with him as one of our main contacts in Japan for the past four years, and we are now looking forward to cooperating directly as we continue to strengthen our position here,” commented Ai Nagakubo, Branch Manager of Yamaha Robotics European headquarters. “We hope he will enjoy his new role and we expect to achieve many successes together through our combined energy and enthusiasm.”
Mr Imai will manage direct sales of the Yamaha surface-mount assembly equipment portfolio and will support the company’s distributors, which are active in all territories in the region. The portfolio includes screen printers, mounters, and inspection systems such as SPI and AOI, as well as intelligent-factory software tools such as dashboard, middleware system for MES connection,, and productivity boosting accessories and innovations. Together, these comprise the 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION that delivers state-of-the-art capabilities and lets customers efficiently build, optimize, and scale their electronic manufacturing capabilities.
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Standard of Excellence: Engineering Is the New Sales—How Technical Collaboration Wins Business
04/15/2026 | Anaya Vardya -- Column: Standard of ExcellenceWhen it comes to complex, high-performance electronics, the line between sales and engineering has all but disappeared. Customers want more than a quote. They’re not simply buying boards; they’re buying understanding, so engineering is now the front line of customer trust, problem-solving, and long-term success. There was a time when sales meant persuasion, and engineering meant production. Today, the two are inseparable.
Technica and Supply Partners Participate in Dallas SMTA Expo & Tech Forum
04/07/2026 | Technica USAFor the second consecutive year, Technica USA participated in the Dallas SMTA Expo & Tech Forum, held Tuesday, April 7, at the Plano Event Center
The Marketing Minute: Your Marketing Funnel Has a Memory Problem
03/11/2026 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteMany marketing teams work incredibly hard to generate attention. They launch campaigns. Announcements go out. New content is published, and digital promotions are pushed across multiple channels. For a short period, engagement spikes, website traffic rises, and the leads come rolling in. For sales, it all feels so promising. But then traffic returns to normal levels, engagement softens, and the sales team finds itself restarting conversations that never fully developed. When this happens, companies often assume they have a lead problem.
The Chemical Connection: Some Amusing Stories from APEX EXPO
02/24/2026 | Don Ball -- Column: The Chemical ConnectionOnce again, it’s time for APEX EXPO, a chance to see what’s new in the industry, meet and speak with old friends and colleagues you haven’t seen in a while, and have face-to-face meetings with your suppliers. This last point is especially important for capital equipment suppliers like us, where months or even years might go by without physical contact. So often, contact is just phone calls and emails, and sometimes not even those.
The Marketing Minute: Same Trade Show, Stronger Story
01/14/2026 | Brittany Martin -- Column: The Marketing MinuteEvery year, many companies attend the same trade shows, set up the same booths, hand out the same giveaways, and hope to meet new customers and make new sales. This approach begs the question: Is using the same trade show strategy working for you?