THAILAND – Bluechips Microhouse Co., Ltd., member of the Zollner Group, has today marked the official opening of a new cleanroom facility on their campus in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The expansion highlights Zollner’s continuous commitment to expanding capacity and capabilities across international markets.

Construction of the new cleanroom building began in June 2025 and, due to cooperation across international Zollner sites, achieved an ambitious schedule to be constructed and certified as ISO Class 7 within six months. The 1000m2 facility has been built as a standalone structure, allowing for stringent adherence to cleanroom standards for logistics, assembly and packing.

The opening ceremony was conducted in the presence of both Bluechips and Zollner management along with our strategic partners who will be served by the new facility. After receiving a tour of both the main factory and the newly built cleanroom, guests were invited to an authentic Lanna market, celebrating both the Thai and German culture that has defined the collaboration between Zollner and Bluechips.

Markus Aschenbrenner, Member of the Managing Board, highlighted the crucial role that expansion in Thailand will play in Zollner’s strategic outlook going forward, stating: “More than ever, our customers need Zollner to offer global solutions. By strengthening our manufacturing network here in Thailand, we continue to ensure a reliable collaboration with our key partners.”

The new cleanroom facility marks the first expansion since the acquisition of Bluechips in July 2025 and is an endorsement of Zollner’s commitment to an expanded global footprint, customer proximity and increased capabilities.

Eindhoven, Netherlands — January 2026 — Keiron Printing Technologies, a global innovator in advanced electronics manufacturing solutions, today announced the appointment of PIT Equipment Services as a sales and technical support representative for its LiFT (Laser-Induced Forward Transfer) technology. PIT will work closely with manufacturers to evaluate, implement, and optimize Keiron’s fully digital solder paste printing solutions in production environments.

Under the leadership of Don Dennison, President of PIT Equipment Services, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering expert representation and hands-on support for advanced electronics manufacturing technologies. With more than 41 years of industry experience, PIT provides deep process knowledge and practical guidance that help manufacturers improve yields, reduce risk, and stay competitive.

Keiron’s LiFT technology replaces traditional stencil- and nozzle-based solder paste deposition with a laser-driven, non-contact digital process, eliminating mechanical contact points that often contribute to variability and defects. Designed for modern high-mix and miniaturized electronics manufacturing, the technology enables precise, repeatable solder paste deposition using standard materials and digital design data.

PIT Equipment Services will support customers through every stage of adoption – from process evaluation and proof-of-concept testing to on-site implementation and optimization – ensuring manufacturers can fully realize the benefits of digital solder paste printing.

“Keiron’s LiFT technology addresses real process challenges we see every day on the factory floor,” said Don Dennison, President of PIT Equipment Services. “It gives manufacturers a practical path to improve paste consistency, speed up changeovers, and reduce the dependencies that come with traditional printing methods. We’re excited to help customers understand where this technology fits and how to apply it successfully.”

Dennison also serves as Director of Technology for SMTA, where he is widely recognized as a leading authority on electronics assembly processes and manufacturing best practices.

For more information about PIT Equipment Services and its offerings, visit www.pit-equipmentservices.com.

For more information about Keiron’s industry revolutionizing technology, visit www.keirontechnologies.com.

RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK ― January 2026 ― Surf-Tech Manufacturing Corp., a multi-faceted provider of contract manufacturing services, has strengthened its ability to support customers with complex advanced packaging and microelectronics programs through the addition of the ViTrox V510i Smart 3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) system.

The new system enables Surf-Tech to deliver greater inspection accuracy, improved defect detection, and more consistent quality for customers working with increasingly miniaturized, reflective, and high-density assemblies. By incorporating real 3D measurement and high-speed inspection, the ViTrox V510i allows issues to be identified earlier in the process, helping customers improve yield, reduce rework, and maintain tighter process control.

Designed specifically for advanced packaging applications, the ViTrox V510i provides reliable inspection of lead frames, die, wire bonds, and mirror or highly reflective components—areas where traditional inspection methods often struggle. Its high-accuracy 3D imaging ensures consistent results even for challenging microelectronics features.

The system also supports real-time closed-loop feedback and data cross-referencing, enabling Surf-Tech to correlate inspection data across processes and respond quickly to trends. This data-driven approach helps customers benefit from improved traceability, faster root-cause analysis, and more stable production outcomes.

“Adding the ViTrox V510i allows us to better meet the inspection demands our customers face as packaging technologies continue to advance,” said Stephen Eggart, President, Surf-Tech Manufacturing. “It strengthens our ability to deliver reliable, repeatable quality for advanced and high-reliability applications.”

Surf-Tech Manufacturing supports customers with surface mount and through-hole assembly, box build, BGA rework, and electro-mechanical integration. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified, ITAR registered, and builds to IPC-A-610 Class 2 and Class 3 standards, providing customers with confidence in quality, compliance, and consistency across a wide range of programs.

For more information, visit www.surftechmfg.com.

Altus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment in the UK and Ireland, has supported Cambertronics, an ambitious contract electronics manufacturer celebrating 35 years in 2026, in upgrading its SMT production with the installation of a Koh Young Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) system.

Looking to further enhance first-pass yield and reduce the chances of costly rework, Cambertronics partnered with Altus to implement the advanced Koh Young KY8030-3 3D inspection solution. The KY8030-3 system features dual-projection 3D technology that eliminates shadow-related measurement errors, real-time PCB warp compensation, and delivers inspection speeds of 91.2 cm² per second. These capabilities enable precise volumetric measurements of solder paste deposits, allowing for the detection of issues such as bridging, insufficient solder, and misalignment at an early stage.

Jasper Whitefield, Business Development Manager at Cambertronics, said: “It is exciting to get the Koh Young unit into our facility, a significant enhancement to ensuring the highest quality output for our customers. More importantly, it allows us to keep our first-time right as high as possible, minimising time spent on rework and enabling us to focus on value-added internal activities.

“In a competitive market, we strive to achieve maximum success, and making these strategic investments is crucial to reaching that goal. We had heard a lot about Koh Young beforehand and their market-leading position, so having this technology in our facility shows our intent to maintain those high standards.”

Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group, said: “We are always pleased to welcome another Koh Young user, especially one that recognises the critical role of SPI in process control. Unlike AOI, which detects defects after they occur, SPI helps address root causes, making it a vital investment. Cambertronics’ decision to select the KY8030-3 was a very astute one.”
With Altus Group’s support and Koh Young’s cutting-edge technology, Cambertronics continues to enhance its quality and process control capabilities to meet the evolving demands of the electronics manufacturing industry.

For further information, visit www.altusgroup.co.uk.