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Mek Unveils ROI Calculator to Help Electronics Manufacturers Assess AOI Investment
February 17, 2025 | Mek (Marantz Electronics)Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Mek (Marantz Electronics), a leading provider of Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) and Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) systems, is proud to launch its new Return On Investment Calculator, designed to help electronics manufacturers determine the financial viability of investing in Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) systems. This transparent, unbiased tool allows users to enter key production data such as operator and programmer wages, annual PCB output, and batch size, providing detailed insights into the cost-effectiveness of automated versus manual inspection.
The calculator offers an easy-to-understand estimate of potential savings, payback periods, and long-term ROI for AOI adoption. By using trusted industry standards, the tool offers users transparent calculations with formulas visible next to each parameter. This makes it accessible for manufacturers of all sizes to make informed decisions about optimising their inspection processes.
“We believe that AOI can offer substantial savings for manufacturers, but understanding the return on investment is crucial,” said Shoich Rashid, Sales Director at Mek. “Our new calculator is the first step in helping businesses determine whether automated inspection is the right solution for their operations.”
The tool is freely available online and provides a no-obligation, simple way for companies to assess their potential savings with AOI technology.
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/30/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007I don’t have a scorecard, but I do have a weekly wrap-up of must-reads that I think deserve another “bite of the apple,” so to speak. IPC’s Rich Cappetto shares his perspective on everything from tariffs to the CHIPS Act. Columnist Josh Casper discusses the use of AI in 3D AOI systems and the immediate benefits that AI can bring about. Columnist Anaya Vardya explains how technologies like AI can improve our customer service, as well as our manufacturing processes.
Smart Automation: AI—Revolutionizing Inspection in Electronics Manufacturing
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I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/23/2025 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007In the electronics manufacturing industry, the global PCB market is estimated to reach $86.5 billion by 2029, a 5.9% annual growth, per IPC’s Global Market Forecast, and the global new cycle is still being dominated by U.S. news. This week, we are talking about the status of the CHIPS Act and what the new tax and incentives bill does and does not include. We also take a minute for some marketing wisdom to shed light in a challenging and noisy market environment.
Hunting for Clues: Feng Xue Solving Circuit Board 'Crimes' With AOI Standard
05/08/2025 | Linda Stepanich, IPCWhen residents in sleepy English villages needed a top-tier detective to solve a murder, they called on Belgian super-sleuth Hercule Poirot, author Agatha Christie’s fictional detective famous for using his “little grey cells” to solve crimes. In the same way, IPC standards development committees, when creating a standard to detect defects in circuit boards using Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), call on IPC A-Team, Hercule.