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In this interview, Nolan Johnson speaks with Rehm Mexico General Manager Luis Garcia about the growing electronics manufacturing market in Mexico, renewed investment in production equipment, and increasing demand driven by AI, automotive, electromobility, and medical applications. Garcia also discusses Rehm’s expanding technology portfolio and what the company will showcase at SMTA Guadalajara.
Transcript:
Nolan Johnson: Hi, Nolan Johnson here for I-Connect007, and I have the pleasure right now of speaking with Luis Garcia. He is the general manager at Rehm Mexico. Luis, welcome.
Luis Garcia: Hello, Nolan. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Johnson: We are coming up on the SMTA Guadalajara show, which is, for a regional show, one of the largest technical and business expositions for electronics manufacturing I think I've ever seen. REHM is planning on being there at the show with a very strong presence this year.
Garcia: Yes, we are working on the final details for our booth as this event, SMTA Guadalajara, is the most important show in Mexico. During the last few years, it has been growing, and even this time I think it could be around 30% larger than last year.
Most of the brands present machines, and Rehm Mexico is planning to get the equipment there, and we are planning to have all our team from Mexico to present our equipment to our customers who are visiting us. Then we'll be there expecting for the customers to be visiting us.
Johnson: The show has grown 3% over last year, but the Mexican industry for electronics manufacturing certainly seems to be growing faster than that. What are some of the current opportunities that you see in Mexico?
Garcia: It's well known that now the political situation in the world is helping Mexico this time. Because the USA is planning to have more industry, more production from local areas in North America, and we are seeing a benefit for Mexico. Some years ago, many lines of production were moved to Asia, and now we are seeing companies from Asia that are coming to Mexico to produce.
On the other hand, the most important thing is that the technological products that North America is requesting are production lines in Mexico. We are seeing demanding lines for PCBs products related to AI. Mexico is very strong in car manufacturing, and we are seeing a lot of new investments for all products, electronic products related to electromobility for electric cars, and medical products too. Then Mexico is not only manufacturing, but now new products and new technologies are coming more to Mexico for producing, especially for North America.
Johnson: This must mean a lot of opportunities for capital equipment manufacturers. There must be a lot of investment going on in new equipment, whether it's new facilities or upgrading existing facilities. Is that what you're seeing?
Garcia: Yes. We are seeing in 2026. Last year, 2025, because there was a lot of uncertainty about what was going on in the world. We saw reduction on investments, but during 2026, there is more and more. New lines and new factories are opening, and companies that delayed the investment now are in negotiations for new lines, for replacement of old equipment too. The vision that we have is better in the coming months for investments in Mexico.
Johnson: Luis, when you're talking to your customers about new capital equipment, what are their key areas of interest when it comes to Rehm equipment?
Garcia: Rehm is very strong for reflow ovens. Our technology has the leading concepts, and we are very well-positioned in manufacturing for highly demanding lines, 24/7, because the equipment is very robust. We are seeing demand on reflow ovens. Some of the demand is with the vacuum chambers to reduce voids, and because the new products, for example, AI with very big components or for car chargers or modules to control motors or even we are seeing modules for control the cooling sections for the data centers. All this equipment has more complex PCBs, and we have the vapor phase technology that is very capable for these products. We are seeing more interest in new customers in this vapor phase reflow technology.
Finally, Rehm now has a machine for dispensing conformal. In Mexico, we already have a machine like this in our demo center. We are seeing more demand for this kind of technology because the products for the cars must be covered with a conformal.
Johnson: With that kind of interest, what are you choosing to put on the show floor to show customers at SMTA Guadalajara?
Garcia: Last year we opened our own building in Mexico, because before we were renting. In this building, we have a bigger area for demonstrations, for showing our equipment, a bigger area for spare parts, and better support for our customers.
Then for presenting in this year, we are planning in two ways. We are going to present a standard reflow oven, and we are presenting a dispensing machine. But the first night, we will have an open house in our office. Then before the show closes, we invite our customers to come to our booth.
We have a bus, and we will take the customers to our building. In our building, we will demonstrate one reflow in vapor phase, one live production of a vapor phase machine, and we will show the machine with vacuum too. Then we will present our building to the customers that have not seen our new structure. Then we will finish with a dinner to our customers.
Johnson: What a wonderful time. I remember last year, about this time, we spoke as well, and you were just opening up the new facility. So it's great to know that you have a great way to show off multiple pieces of equipment and connect with your customers.
Luis, I wish you good luck this year at SMTA Guadalajara, and throughout the rest of the year. The Mexican market certainly is thriving. Thank you for taking the time to join us here today.
Garcia: Thank you so much, Nolan, for your time. We can keep touch.
Johnson: Here with Luis Garcia, general manager of Rehm Mexico. I'm Nolan Johnson for I-Connect007. Thanks for listening.
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