Target Condition: Are Autorouters Friend or Foe?
Fresh PCB Concepts: Assembly Challenges with Micro Components and Standard Solder Mask Practices
Elementary Mr. Watson: Retro Routers vs. Modern Boards—The Silent Struggle on Your Screen
Niche Electronics Announces Major Manufacturing Upgrade
July 8, 2025 | Niche ElectronicsEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Niche Electronics, a leading electronics manufacturing services company, announced today that it has completed installation of Yamaha’s newest SMT lineup at its Pennsylvania production facility.
By partnering with Yamaha on this huge upgrade – comprising five machines that are now on line and fully functional – Niche provides customers with a full-line solution that delivers significant advantages. Niche Electronics crafts high-complexity circuit board assemblies for many industries, providing services from new product introduction to volume production.
With Yamaha’s built-in software, a single program operates each distinct machine in the lineup — a faster process that results in fewer errors. The all-in-one system also enables Niche to identify and flow back errors all the way through the automated line, further streamlining production.
Frank Bowman, Niche CEO, noted that the new Yamaha equipment is simply the most recent example of the company’s ongoing commitment to securing cutting-edge technology.
“These state-of-the-art machines provide huge advantages to our customers – advanced precision, exceptional versatility, and enhanced quality,” said Bowman. “The Yamaha lineup also broadens the scope of work we can accomplish, for both existing and new customers.”
Niche’s SMT lineup features five interrelated machines with distinct capabilities:
- YAMAHA YRP10 PREMIUM PRINTER This high-speed, high-quality printer offers automatic setups and changeovers while supporting both single- and dual-lane production. A range of features offer advanced precision and compressed production timeframes.
- YAMAHA YRM20 PICK & PLACE MACHINE Niche installed three of these superior surface mounters to deliver flexibility and range. An ideal blend of features and technology, these machines are capable of producing complex designs of the highest quality.
- YAMAHA YRI-V AOI SYSTEM This advanced optical inspection system offers high-speed, high-accuracy 3D inspections. A 20-megapixel, four-angle camera, and OCR-enhanced recognition provide granular level of detail, and defect recognition flows upstream to identify the origin of any error.
Bowman signaled that future announcements may be forthcoming about other upgrades at the company’s three strategically located facilities – one each in Massachusetts and Florida, in addition to Niche’s Pennsylvania headquarters.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Inside Aimtron’s Cross-border EMS Strategy
07/08/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineMukesh Vasani immigrated from a very small farming village in India to the U.S. in 1995 as a civil engineer. After shifting into electronics, Mukesh built his Chicago-based company, Aimtron, into a successful enterprise by combining quality with competitive pricing. He leveraged his roots in India to expand manufacturing without compromising on quality.
Nolan’s Notes: Finding Your Sweet Spot
07/02/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesI grew up in the U.S. Pacific Northwest, where I still call home. In my early years, the region’s economy was fueled by forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. Tektronix ruled the economic landscape, of course, and Nike was just emerging from the University of Oregon track and field program. Intel wouldn’t remake my hometown of Hillsboro, Oregon, for a few more years, so my upbringing was mostly farmland and fishing boats. My dad worked at Tektronix with a side gig operating a commercial fishing boat in the summer.
SMT007 Magazine July—What’s Your Competitive Sweet Spot?
07/01/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamAre you in a niche that’s growing or shrinking? Is it time to reassess and refocus? We spotlight companies thriving by redefining or reinforcing their niche—what are their insights? In the July 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine, we spotlight companies thriving by redefining or reinforcing their niche and offer insights to help you evaluate your own.
What’s Your Process for Developing a Strategy?
08/24/2023 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamDr. Tim Rodgers might not call himself a “business strategies guru,” but the moniker certainly fits. As an adjunct faculty instructor at the University of Colorado, Tim specializes in project management, problem-solving, and streamlining processes in engineering and manufacturing. Plus, Tim knows the business side of PCB fabrication. We asked Tim to discuss the process of developing a successful business strategy for PCB fabricators, why operational efficiency is not a strategy itself, and how smaller companies can differentiate themselves in an industry that’s becoming more and more commoditized.
Global Demand for Notebooks Projected to Grow 11% QoQ in 2Q23
04/06/2023 | TrendForceTrendForce research reveals that global notebook shipments reached 33.9 million units in 1Q23—a 13% QoQ and 39% YoY decline. This drop is primarily attributed to the continued impact of economic headwinds on consumer market confidence, which has hindered notebook channels as they destock.