Real Time with... SMTAI 2025: SPEA Bridges the Gap Between Legacy and Next-Generation Test Solutions

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Established in Italy in 1976, SPEA (pronounced “Spay-A”) designs and manufactures automatic test equipment for various industries, including automotive, aerospace and defense, medical, consumer electronics, and energy. Recognized as one of Italy’s top-performing companies, SPEA continues to innovate in test automation technology.

At SMTAI 2025, Dustin Warren, vice president of sales for SPEA America, discussed how the company is bridging the gap between older in-circuit test (ICT) systems and newer, more advanced testing solutions. The company is enhancing the quality, coverage, and effectiveness of electronic testing, showing that testing is not merely a cost, but a competitive advantage.

Trends in the U.S. Test Equipment Market

Marcy LaRont: Dustin, what trends do you see in the U.S. automatic test equipment market, and how is SPEA positioning itself?

Dustin Warren: Many customers continue to rely on outdated ICT systems, mainly due to the perceived high costs of upgrading. Capital expenditures are always a major consideration, but the largest expense often lies in the test fixtures and the engineering time required to maintain and adapt test programs.

LaRont: When you talk about total manufacturing and testing costs, what impact does this have?

Warren: The cost impact is significant. Fixtures can easily cost multiple times more than the capital cost of the tester itself.

LaRont: Is SPEA developing tools to ease the transition from ICT to more modern test methods? What’s the ROI?

Warren: Absolutely! To reduce fixture costs, we are developing a universal receiver that will allow customers to use legacy ICT fixtures in our state-of-the-art 3030 series ICT testers. We are also using AI to transfer existing test programs, allowing customers to reuse what they have already developed. The ROI is strong. The cost savings from five to ten fixtures alone can cover the price of the tester.

LaRont: That’s compelling, especially for manufacturers with large fixture inventories.

Warren: Exactly. Fixtures can quickly exceed the cost of the tester, so minimizing their use is a huge advantage.

Advancements in Flying Probe Technology

LaRont: SPEA is well known for its flying probe testers. What’s new in that area?

Warren: I’m really excited about our flagship 4080 system, the first with a granite chassis. Most flying probes use structural steel, but granite, used in semiconductor lithography equipment, offers exceptional vibration damping. Its mass allows the probe heads to accelerate rapidly, up to 15 G, while maintaining precision. That combination of speed and accuracy is transformative. This system has been out on the market for several years now, but we are bringing the same features of our flagship to the rest of our flying probe line. So now, you will be able to get the speed and accuracy of the 4080 with eight flying heads in our four and six-flying-head systems also.

LaRont: So, speed doesn’t come at the expense of accuracy?

Warren: Not anymore. Our latest systems approach ICT-level speeds, but with far better coverage. Because of our precision, we can test more of the board directly without needing dedicated test pads, saving space, complexity, and cost in the PCB design.

Beyond Pass/Fail: DEEPICT® and AI Integration

LaRont: How does SPEA help customers catch issues that traditional tests might miss?

Warren: Many manufacturers rely heavily on functional or final tests. Those can confirm that a board works now, but not whether it will fail later. Our systems incorporate DEEPICT®, which combines AI and parametric testing to analyze component integrity at a deeper level. For example, we can detect tolerance drift in capacitors or identify weak components that might fail in the field.

LaRont: How does AI factor into this?

Warren: We are using AI across multiple domains. By combining AI with advanced optical imaging, we have moved beyond simple pass/fail testing to deliver actionable diagnostics. Our machine-learned defect database helps pinpoint fault locations and probable causes. AI also enables automatic component recognition, allowing us to generate test programs even when full design data, like CAD files, is not available.

Commitment to Sustainability and Workforce Development

LaRont: SPEA is known for its focus on sustainability and workforce development. How does that manifest today?

Warren: Sustainability has been a passion of our founder, Luciano Bonaria, since 1976. The electronics industry generates substantial waste, and we are committed to reducing it at the source by preventing weak or faulty devices from entering the market. We recently installed five photovoltaic plants at our headquarters in Italy, and every new building will follow that example. This is just one example of the Sustainability Charter that our ownership laid out for SPEA in 2024.

LaRont: And workforce development?

Warren: Like many in the industry, we have seen a shortage of qualified technicians and engineers. We are working with universities and technical schools worldwide to train students who can immediately contribute to the workforce. In regions like China and Thailand, we help individuals gain technical skills that lead to stable, well-paying careers. It benefits both the industry and the communities we serve.

LaRont: Dustin, thank you for taking the time to share these insights.

Warren: It’s been a pleasure, Marcy. Thank you.

SPEA continues to advance testing technology by combining precision, intelligence, and accessibility, helping manufacturers bridge legacy systems with next-generation performance while promoting sustainability and global workforce growth.