Nolan’s Notes: Finding Your Sweet Spot
Standard of Excellence: Delivering Excellence—A Daily Goal
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Tin Whisker Mitigation in Aerospace Applications, Part 3
ASM’s Integrated Smart Factory Makes the Grade at IPC APEX EXPO 2020
February 27, 2020 | ASMEstimated reading time: 3 minutes
The recent IPC APEX EXPO electronics event saw leading smart factory innovator ASM Assembly Systems deliver on its promise of an integrated Industry 4.0-capable solution with connected technologies that span all elements of the factory floor and the global enterprise. Cohesive and open data communication at every level forms the backbone of efficient and effective workflows and, as shown on ASM’s booth, the company is among the first to deliver such as comprehensive solution.
From Concept to Reality
“Within a live factory floor simulation, ASM’s exhibit effectively brought the modern manufacturing operation to life for our visitors and customers,” shares Jeff Timms, ASM Senior Director and Regional Managing Director, Americas. “From personnel task prioritization with ASM Command Center to line-side material delivery via AIVs to ASM Academy online, on-demand and virtual reality training and maintenance, show delegates saw precisely how ASM can help automate complex and time-consuming processes for greater efficiency, quality, productivity and profitability.”
High-speed and flex lines at the center of the display illustrated the breadth of the ASM offer. Market-leading SIPLACE TX 96,000 cph, metric 0201-capable placement platforms, the new five-second cycle time DEK TQ stencil printer and AIV-enabled material delivery demonstrated closed-loop, zero-assist production of today’s most advanced assemblies. For operations that manage more product variation, the flex line with ASM ProcessExpert self-learning print optimization, DEK NeoHorizon 03iX printing platform, high-performance ASM ProcessLens 5D SPI and scalable side-by-side SIPLACE SX placement systems showcased seamless product changeover in a high-mix environment. Underscoring the importance of digitalization and data analysis in the factory of the future, the ASM production lines were bookended by an impressive control center and a hands-on virtual reality training experience.
Award-winning Products
ASM’s latest developments, the DEK TQ print platform and the SIPLACE AutoRefill Feeder, were also recognized with notable industry awards during the event. DEK TQ was the recipient of the competitive IPC APEX EXPO Innovation Award, bestowed by the IPC industry association and evaluated by a panel of judges that hail from top assembly OEMs and contractors. One of only six products selected for this honor, DEK TQ was chosen for its its innovation, manufacturing impact and value to the customer. Through a combination of off-belt printing and a unique clamping system, DEK TQ delivers accuracy of +/- 17.55 µm @ 2 CpK wet print (+/- 12.5 µm @ 2 CpK machine alignment) and ensures reliable printing processes with 0201 metric components. Equally impressive is the platform’s ability to run for eight continuous hours with no assists, thanks to the robust paste management and understencil cleaning systems.
Also acknowledged was ASM’s leadership in placement innovation, as the company’s new AutoRefill Feeder was declared the winner of a Circuits Assembly NPI Award. The AutoRefill Feeder helps eliminate hectic splicing processes and refill delay line stops. In conjuction with the active component reel, a second infeed can be used to equip another tape. If the first reel runs empty, the feeder automatically switches to the second tape reel. With this system, operators can refill reels proactively as time permits—and without any splicing. What’s more, offline setup processes are accelerated via an automatic infeed, the two reel per feeder preparation capability helps reduce refills on the line, and gapless traceability is ensured with automatic reel switch detection.
“Simply put, all of our customers want to maximize production volumes at the highest quality possible,” says Timms, noting that with the broad ASM offer is completely scalable for any size operation—whether small, mid-tier or high-volume. “There was something for everyone at ASM’s APEX exhibit and show delegate enthusiasm for our total solution was further validation of our development priorities.”
The SMT Solutions segment of ASM Pacific Technology
The mission of the SMT Solutions segment within the AMS Pacific Technology Group (ASMPT) is to implement and support the smart SMT factory at electronics manufacturers worldwide.
ASM solutions such as SIPLACE placement systems and DEK printing systems support the networking, automation and optimization of central workflows with hardware, software and services that enable electronics manufacturers to transition to the smart SMT factory in stages and enjoy dramatic improvements in productivity, flexibility and quality.
Since maintaining close relationships with customers and partners is a central component of ASM’s strategy, the company has established the SMT Smart Network as a global forum for the active exchange of information between and with smart champions. In addition to being a founding member of the ADAMOS joint venture for the development of an IIoT platform for manufacturing companies, ASM is establishing together with other SMT manufacturers the open HERMES standard as a successor to the SMEMA standard for M2M communication in SMT lines.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Seeing a Future in Mexico
07/09/2025 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007The Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC) has been instrumental in fostering a partnership with Guanajuato, a state north of Mexico City with 12 industrial clusters and close to 150 companies involved in electronics. This past spring, Alejandro Hernández, the undersecretary for investment promotion in Guanajuato, attended IPC APEX EXPO 2025 at the invitation of IPC Mexico Director Lorena Villanueva, where he met with several companies to discuss the opportunities available in Mexico. He is inviting electronics-related companies seeking long-term investment in a centrally located area with access to highways, railways, and ports.
The Global Electronics Association Releases IPC-8911: First-Ever Conductive Yarn Standard for E-Textile Application
07/02/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announces the release of IPC-8911, Requirements for Conductive Yarns for E-Textiles Applications. This first-of-its-kind global standard establishes a clear framework for classifying, designating, and qualifying conductive yarns—helping to address longstanding challenges in supply chain communication, product testing, and material selection within the growing e-textiles industry.
IPC-CFX, 2.0: How to Use the QPL Effectively
07/02/2025 | Chris Jorgensen, Global Electronics AssociationIn part one of this series, we discussed the new features in CFX Version 2.0 and their implications for improved inter-machine communication. But what about bringing this new functionality to the shop floor? The IPC-CFX-2591 QPL is a powerful technical resource for manufacturers seeking CFX-enabled equipment. The Qualified Product List (QPL) helps streamline equipment selection by listing models verified for CFX compliance through a robust third-party virtual qualification process.
The Knowledge Base: A Conference for Cleaning and Coating of Mission-critical Electronics
07/08/2025 | Mike Konrad -- Column: The Knowledge BaseIn electronics manufacturing, there’s a dangerous misconception that cleaning and coating are standalone options, that they operate in different lanes, and that one can compensate for the other. Let’s clear that up now. Cleaning and conformal coating are not separate decisions. They are two chapters in the same story—the story of reliability.
Advancing Aerospace Excellence: Emerald’s Medford Team Earns Space Addendum Certification
06/30/2025 | Emerald TechnologiesWe’re thrilled to announce a major achievement from our Medford, Oregon facility. Andy Abrigo has officially earned her credentials as a Certified IPC Trainer (CIT) under the IPC J-STD-001 Space Addendum, the leading industry standard for space and military-grade electronics manufacturing.