Panasonic Launches Odd-form and Insertion Solution NPM-VF

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Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America has launched the new, labor-saving, high-speed NPM-VF, an odd-form and insertion solution to help manufacturers offset increasing global labor costs and manual assembly complexity. The new NPM-VF, built on the award-winning NPM Platform, introduces several innovations to reduce labor requirements and cost, while boosting productivity, enhancing versatility, and helping ensure quality through-hole and odd-form component insertions. 

The industry’s only dual-gantry, multi-head, odd-form machine achieves 4500-cph throughput within the narrow footprint of a compact SMT mounter. The standard vacuum nozzle handles a gamut of packages and three additional process heads are available for components up to 130x35mm and 60mm tall, requiring 100N force (nearly 22.5 lbf).

In keeping with Panasonic’s Total Solutions for Any Mix, Any Volume philosophy, manufacturers can select a body chuck for gripping large odd-form devices without a pick surface (e.g. power transformers), a lead chuck for gripping through-hole devices (e.g. electrolytic capacitors), and a swing nozzle for inserting through-hole devices oriented in packaging other than insertion orientation. Additionally, the flexible NPM-VF tenders myriad feeder types from bowl feeders to stackable stick, through-hole, vacuum-formed/JEDEC trays, and tape feeders up to 104mm.

“Odd-form automation requires more than placement, so the NPM-VF integrates an active, under-board clinch, which traverses the population area,” remarked Shawn Robinson, Sr. SMT Product Manager, Panasonic Factory Solution Company of America. “We’ve adopted Panasonic’s pioneering through-hole technology and incorporated our active clinch system that secures various through-hole lead diameters at multiple rotations. And when it’s not required, the clinch doubles as localized board support for snap-in/press-fit components.”

Panasonic is simplifying odd-form and manual assembly with a solution that helps reduce labor cost, while improving quality, and minimizing resource challenges. The NPM-VF and other new solutions demonstrate that Panasonic has expanded its total line solutions capability. It’s now about the entire process, the entire line.

Learn more about Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America, click here.

About Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America

Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America, a North American source for electronic assembly equipment (SMT), software, and technical support, provides total business systems solutions for electronic semiconductor and packaging companies in the global marketplace through one provider. The company is a unit of Panasonic Corporation of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation.