Press Releases
BESIGHEIM, GERMANY – Weller Tools, a leader in hand soldering solutions and part of the Apex Tool Group, is pleased to announce that it has expanded its new Weller Web Communication Platform, a dynamic customer communication portal that connects with users worldwide. The platform is now live in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and rest of world regions. Building on the success of the platform’s availability in the US and LATAM regions since October 2022, Weller Tools is expanding its reach to cater to a global audience.
The new Weller Web Communication Platform is designed to enhance the user experience and strengthen communication with customers. With language options including English, German, French, Italian, and Chinese, in addition to the existing English and Spanish options, Weller Tools ensures that customers worldwide can access relevant information in their preferred language.
Extensive research and analysis were conducted during the discovery phase to create a targeted and engaging user experience. Customer journey and user experience research, along with an optimized search functionality, were integral parts of this phase. The insights gained allowed Weller Tools to tailor the platform to meet customers' specific needs and preferences.
“Our goal with the new Weller Communication Platform is to increase brand awareness, improve customer satisfaction, and deliver exceptional service,” said Sonja Gabler, Sr. Manager, Marketing Communications Brand & Digital of Weller Tools and responsible for the global Weller websites. “By leveraging the power of the platform, we aim to provide a seamless and engaging experience for our customers worldwide.”
The Weller Communication Platform retains the e-commerce functionality with Nexmart, enabling customers to seamlessly navigate from product pages to distributors' e-shops for convenient purchasing options.
With the launch of the new Weller Web Communication Platform, Weller Tools is poised to elevate its brand awareness and enhance customer satisfaction. The platform serves as a gateway for customers to explore the world of Weller and stay connected with the latest soldering solutions and innovations.
For more information, please visit weller-tools.com.
WINDSOR, UK – RED Semiconductor (“RED”), a fabless semiconductor company, has added David Harold to the management team as Head of Business Development. Harold has over 25 years of semiconductor industry experience and was most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Imagination Technologies. He will be responsible for commercial strategy for the launch of RED’s innovative vector processor chip and will report to CEO James Lewis.
RED has created the Vector+1 ISA which makes the key algorithms required for AI, IoT and autonomy significantly more power-efficient and secure. The instruction-light ISA is the basis for a ground up low-power microprocessor design that RED will bring to market, initially for Edge A/IoT. This chip will cut the processing overhead for complex compute routines by an order of magnitude enabling the migration of more compute-capability to the Edge.
Quotes
Says David Harold: “This is an important time for the UK semiconductor industry, with a new government strategy launched to ‘double down on design, research and advanced chip leadership – securing the UK’s position as a global science and technology superpower’. The world is watching what the UK will do next. RED Semiconductor has innovated a game changing solution that will impact on a global scale, closing the gap between next-gen application demands and silicon capability. I’m thrilled I’m going to get to take these chips to market.”
Says James Lewis, CEO, RED Semiconductor: “We are delighted to have David’s experience on the team at RED Semiconductor. He has a proven track record of successfully promoting complex concepts and value propositions to extremely demanding customers and has a deep understanding of the dynamics of partnerships with some of the world's largest technology companies. With the team we are putting together, and the technology we have created, RED is ready for great things.”
Says David Calderwood, Chairman, RED Semiconductor: “I’ve spent my career building outstanding teams for Arm, AMD, CSR, and others, and RED Semiconductor today has extraordinary talent at its heart. We have technical genius, visionary leadership, world-class delivery, and accomplished advisors. And there is more to come.”
SHANGHAI – USI (SSE: 601231), a leading global electronics manufacturing services provider, is expanding its expertise and capabilities in the EV industry. With the growing demand for electric vehicles worldwide, USI is committed to integrating the production of powertrain systems, a critical component in the electric vehicle industry.
International Energy Agency (IEA) released a report in April 2023 indicating that global electric vehicle sales are projected to grow by 35% compared to the previous year, reaching nearly 14 million vehicles. This rapid growth reflects the continuous expansion and innovation within the electric vehicle industry, with estimates from Goldman Sachs Research this February suggesting that electric vehicles could capture about 50% of global car sales by 2035.
The powertrain system, including components such as batteries, motors, inverters, and controllers, plays a pivotal role in the electric vehicle industry. It is responsible for converting electrical energy into mechanical energy and delivering it to the wheels. The powertrain system's design and manufacturing capabilities directly impact electric vehicles' performance, efficiency, reliability, and competitiveness.
Steven Su, GM of APE & Wireless & Wearable Miniaturization Solutions Business Group, said "USI is committed to integrating the manufacturing of electric vehicle powertrain systems. Currently, the company produces IGBT and silicon carbide (SiC) power modules primarily used in electric vehicles' power inverters and onboard chargers. These modules are crucial components for achieving efficient energy conversion and charging capabilities. In the future, there are plans to expand the application of these power modules to other components, such as inverters for electric compressors and DC-DC converters. Furthermore, USI's powertrain solutions encompass power inverters, batteries and thermal management systems. These components ensure optimized energy flow management and effective heat dissipation, enhancing overall vehicle performance and safety. By integrating upstream and downstream capabilities, USI provides customers with comprehensive one-stop service experiences, simplifying procurement and supply chain management, accelerating time-to-market, and boosting competitiveness."
USI has successfully verified and developed various manufacturing processes, including die and wire bonding for Power Modules in electric vehicles, as well as sintering, Cu clip packaging, welding, molding, and other customized processes required to meet specific manufacturing needs. USI has gained significant production experience in most of these processes. Moreover, for powertrain system assembly products, USI provides tailored design solutions for automated production based on customer product characteristics. Key processes include SMT component placement, wave soldering, conformal coating, ultrasonic welding, and the expansion into automated assembly lines. This enhances manufacturing design capabilities (DFM) and fosters close collaboration with customers through joint development initiatives (JDM) to improve the cost competitiveness of their products.
With the continuous growth in demand for electric vehicles, USI provides strong support to the automotive industry with its powerful electronic manufacturing capabilities. By combining expertise in powertrain systems, advanced manufacturing technologies, and a commitment to automotive safety standards, USI has gained recognition and orders from automotive original equipment manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in Europe, the United States, and Japan. The application models include sedans, pickups, SUVs, and commercial trucks/buses.
Among USI's 28 factories in the globe, 13 of them have obtained the IATF 16949 certification for automotive standards. Among these, the Zhangjiang, Kunshan, and Mexico factories have also achieved ISO 26262 certifications for manufacturing sections of Chapter 2 and Chapter 7, meeting the stringent automotive functional safety standards required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Furthermore, Zhangjiang facility has obtained TISAX Level 3 certification in 2023, demonstrating compliance with automotive safety standards set by OEM customers.
FARNBOROUGH, UK – Gen3, Global leader in SIR, CAF, Solderability, Ionic Contamination & process optimization equipment, is pleased to announce the addition of Daniel Ryland to their team. Daniel joins Gen3 as the new Area Technical Manager for the Southern Region, where he will support existing customer accounts and drive new business opportunities for both their manufactured and distribution equipment across the UK.
As a highly experienced professional in the electronics industry, Daniel brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Gen3. With more than 20 years of experience working in various departments and roles within contract electronics manufacturing environments, including surface mount, wave soldering, material control, purchasing, and production engineering, he is well-equipped to provide exceptional technical support and guidance to Gen3's customers.
Andy Naisbitt, CEO of Gen3, stated, "We are incredibly excited to welcome someone of Daniel's caliber to our growing team. His extensive experience and knowledge of the electronics industry make him a valuable asset, and we are thrilled to provide him with the opportunity to leverage these skills and drive Gen3's continued success. With an impressive existing customer database to manage and numerous exciting new opportunities on the horizon, we are confident that Daniel will thrive alongside the rest of the Gen3 team."
Daniel expressed his enthusiasm for joining Gen3, saying, "I am thrilled to join the esteemed team at Gen3 and embark on a new chapter in my career. This incredible opportunity allows me to further develop my expertise alongside a remarkable group of professionals. I am eager to make a significant impact on Gen3's progress by utilizing my extensive knowledge and experience in the electronic manufacturing industry."
For more than three generations, Gen3 has been at the forefront of designing, engineering, manufacturing, and distributing test and measurement equipment that ensures the reliability of circuits in the field. With over 50 years of industry experience, Gen3 provides the essential tools necessary for safeguarding electronic systems from failure.
As Gen3 continues to push boundaries and innovate within the electronics industry, the addition of Daniel Ryland to their team marks an exciting milestone. With his expertise and dedication, Gen3 is well-positioned to deliver exceptional solutions and exceed customer expectations.
For further information about Gen3 and their range of reliable test and measurement equipment, please visit www.gen3systems.com
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – ADCO Circuits, a Michigan-based Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) provider, has built a reputation as one of the most advanced, well-organized, and cleanest assemblers in the industry. Visitors are routinely impressed with their Rochester Hills plant and how it reflects the company’s unrelenting operational and capital investment strategy — one that creates efficiencies and results in consistent quality for customers while positioning ADCO for the next generation of advancements in PCB assembly.
ADCO’s investments in speed, efficiency, and quality are preparing the company for the technological challenges ahead as designs grow ever more complex. The leadership and engineering teams prioritize good planning, smart design, and detailed documentation, an approach that drives their 2023 capital investment plan. ADCO is announcing four strategic investments that focus on boosting production speed and efficiency. These investments will lead to expediting delivery times, increasing component inventories, and maintaining high levels of quality.
- Automated vertical storage system. Vertical storage solutions improve the speed and flow of parts to assembly lines, saving significant time. Due to an increase in business, ADCO installed a seventh vertical storage system that adds capacity for an additional 27k 8mm reels. The ergonomic Hänel Lean-Lift® storage system retrieves items in seconds and protects sensitive electronic components.
- Automated IMS bar coding system at receiving. ADCO’s new Scienscope Reel Smart™ Incoming Material Station further automates the receiving process by capturing multiple reel’s barcode information simultaneously. The IMS improves accuracy and component receiving velocity.
- New robotic thermal adhesive dispenser. A new dispenser system for a major new customer project allows the ADCO team to program the precise dispensing of complex patterns of thermal adhesive material. Along with ADCO’s four other robotic dispensing systems, the new dispenser helps to improve product quality and consistency while reducing manufacturing costs.
- ADCOproto expedites prototyping. ADCO has been a leader in prototype assemblies for more than 30 years. The company recently unveiled ADCOproto.com version 2.0, their online tool that provides engineers with instant component availability for uploaded BOMs. It also suggests alternates if there is a supply issue or allows the engineer to specify an alternate — all in real time!
A friendly reminder to order your parts. Despite ADCO’s investments, electronic assemblers in the US, are still challenged with supply chain issues. ADCO reminds customers to preorder as many parts as possible, even before designs are finalized. Since components are typically a modest percentage of the total BOM costs, the risks are low compared to longer lead times.
CHATSWORTH, CA – NEOTech, a leading provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), design engineering, and supply chain solutions in the high-tech industrial, medical device, and aerospace/defense markets, announces the recent implementation of new automated production and inspection robots enabling higher level of performance and improving efficiency of their customers’ product builds. As a leader in electronic manufacturing of advanced high-tech products for OEMs, NEOTech continues to offer best-in-class services by showcasing their commitment to investing in state-of-the-art equipment, keeping them ahead of their competitors. While NEOTech already utilizes several automated robotic manufacturing processes, their technology team continues to find and implement the newest high-tech manufacturing solutions.
NEOTech is well known in the industry for its commitment to provide high-quality and high-reliability electronic manufacturing services with the continued investment in cutting-edge manufacturing equipment. Through careful research to identify the best automated solutions, NEOTech’s team implemented recognition cameras on robotic arms, along with precise schematic diagram programming, to perform automated visual inspection of completed assemblies. This ensures assembly that orientation of items like buttons and switches are accurate before shipment. Quality assurance is achieved in much less time, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
NEOTech’s team of technology experts constantly researches additional ways to implement automated manufacturing processes. Steps also have been taken to begin utilizing the multiple robotic arms for conducting In-Circuit Testing (ICT) and depanelization of PCBAs during SMT assembly.
“The highest levels of quality for our customers’ product is our top priority. Whether it is a lifesaving medical device in a hospital, a radar tracking system in a military aircraft, or a power generator being used at a hurricane disaster location, our team is honored to be part of the process in providing these products to the end user,” stated Kunal Sharma, President and Chief Operating Officer. “That is our motivation to continually research, examine, and test the newest high-tech equipment for our manufacturing processes. These investments result in better quality, improved efficiency, and ultimately lower production costs. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
NEOTech’s goal is to successfully convert customers’ product technology into engineered products, providing the most capable supply base, manufacturing products with care, and delivering them on time. The company is large enough to offer refined Tier 1 tools, processes, and capabilities, yet small enough to provide individualized care and service. NEOTech provides tailored project-by-project services that focus on each customer’s individual, unique needs. The result is a true collaboration in which the customer’s needs are met – or exceeded – in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
With more than 40 years of heritage in electronics manufacturing, NEOTech specializes in high- reliability programs in the Aerospace and Defense industry, Medical Products, and High-Tech Industrial markets. NEOTech is well recognized as a premier EMS provider with in-depth experience manufacturing high-tech products and managing stringent U.S. government requirements. For more information about NEOTech services, visit the company’s website at www.NEOTech.com
