Apr 07, 2016 ASM Assembly Systems can look back on a very successful APEX 2016 trade show. The two lines being shown, one a high-speed line with the latest DEK NeoHorizon and SIPLACE TX modules and the other a high-mix line with super-flexible SIPLACE SX, attracted lots of visitors. The industry professionals were especially impressed that ASM already has concrete products for its Smart #1 SMT Factory concept in its portfolio, making it the leading technology partner for the future of electronics manufacturing. One of these products was the SIPLACE BulkFeeder, an innovative feeder module for high-volume production that trade publication Circuit Assembly immediately honored with its highly respective NPI Award. The SIPLACE BulkFeeder holds up to 1.5 million loose components and feeds them with exceptional precision – without tapes or splicing and the associated risks. The concept of the ASM ProcessExpert is equally revolutionary. With its integrated 5D SPM (solder paste management) system, the world's first inline expert systems controls and optimizes printing processes fully automatically. Another innovation was shown at the booth of ASM distributor Technica: With the E by SIPLACE, ASM addresses customers and applications in the mid-speed, small-lot and prototype manufacturing segments.
“The APEX visitors appreciated especially that we were able to present concrete solutions that can be deployed today or in the near future for each of the four innovation drivers of the Smart #1 SMT Factory: first-class production equipment, automation, materials logistics and process integration. Whether we are talking about our highly flexible printing and placement platforms, the SIPLACE BulkFeeder for automation, the self-learning ASM ProcessExpert system as a technological milestone in process integration or our integrated material logistics solutions on the basis of the SIPLACE Material Manager – the tailwind generated by this year’s APEX show will help us to further solidify our position as the leading equipment supplier and partner of the electronics manufacturing industry,” says Jeff Timms, Head of Americas Organisation ASM Assembly Systems.
New high-speed solutions for mass production
The compact SIPLACE TX modules were demonstrated “live” at the ASM booth. Only 1 meter wide and 2.3 meters long, the SIPLACE TX features speeds of up to 78,000 cph and is able to handle the latest generation of 0201 (metric) components. With specifications like these, the SIPLACE TX is setting new industry standards in terms of speed, accuracy and floorspace performance. Also being shown as the ideal printing solution was the new DEK NeoHorizon with modular design and many options that allow to be adapted to the various requirements of high-mix or high-speed production lines.
No tapes, no splicing
With the SIPLACE BulkFeeder, ASM demonstrated a tool for the tapeless feeding of 01005, 0201 and 0401 components. Using vibration, the feeder spreads the components out on a glass surface. The integrated camera identifies them, and the ultra-fast SIPLACE heads pick them up at full speed. Each cartridge for this innovative feeder holds up to 1.5 million components. The SIPLACE BulkFeeder relieves lines operators from the time-wasting and error-prone splicing process and the many steps involved in the handling and disposal of tapes and tape fragments. At the same time, it increases the placement accuracy in high-density applications like smartphone production, because – unlike with traditional tape-based pickup processes – the camera-supported pickup process ensures perfectly centered components every time.
The ASM ProcessExpert inline expert system is self-learning
Another source of excitement at this year’s APEX show was the ASM ProcessExpert, the world’s first self-learning inline expert system for SMT production. The interaction between the ASM ProcessLens, an integrated and extremely precise 5D SPM system, and the ASM ProcessEngine real-time software with its knowledge databases enables SMT lines for the first time to control themselves completely automatically. In live demonstrations, ASM's booth staff showed how the ASM ProcessExpert can perform a valid DFM HealthCheck based on virtual prints and Gerber data long before the first board enters the line. During the production run, the ASM ProcessExpert monitors the paste printing quality and controls the networked DEK printers.
For more information about the APEX program and ASM products, visit
www.asm-smt-solutions.com/APEX2016.
At this year’s APEX the industry professionals were especially impressed that ASM already has concrete products for its Smart #1 SMT Factory concept in its portfolio.
Many visitors and high interest in ASM’s Smart Factory solutions at this
year’s APEX.
The SMT Solutions segment of ASM Pacific Technology
Since the acquisition of printing specialist DEK and its integration into ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) on July 2, 2014, ASM Assembly Systems has been operating as ASMPT's SMT Solutions segment consisting of the Printing Solutions Division (DEK) and the Placement Solutions Division (SIPLACE).
SMT Solutions develops and distributes best-in-class DEK printers, stencils and printing accessories for the SMT, semiconductor and solar markets, as well as best-in-class SIPLACE SMT placement solutions. Both divisions use the ASMPT organization to let their customers enjoy significant competitive benefits. ASMPT’s SMT Solutions segment shares and expands its expertise with electronics manufacturers and partners all over the world. Its goal is to improve its customers’ workflows and use new technologies to advance process integration in the industry.
For more information about SIPLACE, visit www.siplace.com.
For more information about DEK, visit www.dek.com.
ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) has been listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange since 1989. The ASMPT Group develops systems and solutions for semiconductor production and packaging as well as surface mount technology applications. The company has plants in China (incl. Hong Kong), Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
ASMPT is currently one of the constituent stocks on the Hang Seng HK MidCap Index under the Hang Seng Composite Index, the Hang Seng Information Technology Industry Index, the Hang Seng Hong Kong 35 index and the Hang Seng Global Composite Index.
For more information about ASMPT, visit www.asmpacific.com
