MARYVILLE, TN – SMTXTRA USA, a renowned leader in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) equipment services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Performance Technologies Group (PTG) as its representative for the region spanning from Virginia to Maine. This strategic collaboration enhances SMTXTRA’s presence and accessibility in the SMT industry, particularly in aerospace, automotive, energy, medical, and general sectors.

As a leading Manufacturers’ Rep in the Electronic Production Supply industry, PTG is committed to maintaining its position in providing the latest technologies to the SMT marketplace. The partnership with SMTXTRA reflects a shared commitment to delivering cost-effective products manufactured to the highest industry and customer standards, ensuring technical competency, reliability, accuracy, and durability.

At the forefront of SMTXTRA’s offerings is the Feeder Repair and Fuji Head repair. Featuring an impressive 3-month warranty. This service is designed to optimize performance, enhance reliability, and extend the lifespan of feeders and heads. Meeting the stringent precision requirements of electronics manufacturing. Complementing this, SMTXTRA’s Calibration Services, catering to a range of SMT equipment brands, assure clients of precision, accuracy, and reliable functionality. “We are excited to partner with Precision Tool Group to extend our reach and provide world-class service to customers in the fastener industry across the Virginia to Maine region,” said Paul Pittman, Vice President of Sales at SMTXTRA USA.

To learn more about SMTXTRA and its range of services, visit www.smtxtra.com 

POOLE, UK – Europlacer will show its newly-launched ii-P7 surface mount screen printer at the Southern Manufacturing event in Farnborough next month. It will be the first time that the new top-tier printer has been seen in public in the UK. Visitors to the Europlacer stand can also get hands-on with the company’s compact, high-speed ii-A2 SMT placement machine.

The ii-P7 printer is the latest addition to Europlacer’s full-line-solution portfolio. It is a premium, state-of-the-art platform that elevates the company’s already successful printer range to a new level by offering a range of unique features and exceptional performance. Print cycle time in standard mode is shortened by 25% compared to Europlacer’s previous flagship printer, the EP710, which the ii-P7 supersedes. With special motor technology available as an option on the new printer, that cycle time is reduced by more than 50%.

The new print platform introduces a range of productivity enhancements that include a maintenance-free printhead offering active closed-loop squeegee pressure with zero squeegee calibration, underscreen cleaning process and consumables improvements, different sizes of stencils with no adaptors for fast setup and changeover, and an industry-leading underside component clearance of 30mm.

The compact Europlacer ii-A2 pick & place machine is also on display at Southern Manufacturing. With placement speeds up to 50,000cph, the ii-A2 levels up a surface mount assembly line as a resource that optimises the placement process while maximising the performance and throughput of Europlacer machines downstream. It is fully compatible with all relevant atom platform innovations and options, and with all Europlacer intelligent feeder technologies. Despite the compact module format and small footprint, the ii-A2 can handle boards up to one metre in length.

Visitors to Southern Manufacturing will find Europlacer displaying its new branding on Stand No. H130. New brand enhancements spotlight the business as a pre-eminent global supplier of electronics manufacturing technologies and solutions for high-mix SMT assembly, capitalising on the company’s reputation for legendary product flexibility.

The event showcases technology and innovation for UK manufacturing and its supply chain, and takes place at the Farnborough International Exhibition & Conference Centre from Tuesday 6 th to Thursday 8 th February 2024.

TIMISOARA, ROMANIA – Danutek Balkans Srl, a leading distributor and service provider in the electronics PCBA manufacturing industry is pleased to announce the inauguration of their new purpose-built headquarters and demonstration centre in Timisoara, Romania. The opening of this facility represents a significant strategic investment into Danutek’s future, enabling the company to deliver enhanced services to customers and suppliers.

The state-of-the-art facility boasts cutting-edge technology, enabling interactive equipment demonstrations, hands-on sample testing, and training sessions – all away from the pressure of the production floor. This innovative approach promises to transform the pre-sales and post-sales experience, streamlining decision-making and fostering deeper customer-supplier relationships.

"I am really pleased with our new headquarters and the renewed energy it has brought to the Danutek Team,” said Marian Gavrilia, General Manager of Danutek.

“This facility is something to be proud of, offering an outstanding venue to showcase our solutions to partners and enhance the overall pre and post-sales experience. I eagerly anticipate the opportunities this space offers to host customers for equipment demonstrations, not to mention provide best-in-class sample testing and hands-on product experiences away from the production line."

DAYTON, OH – Libra Industries, a privately-held systems integration and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, proudly announces the appointment of Ray Page as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). With over 25 years of experience in financial leadership and a proven track record in optimizing operating profit, Page brings a wealth of expertise in contract manufacturing, particularly in the Medical Device, Aerospace, Defense, Telecommunications and Industrial sectors.

In his previous role as Manufacturing Operations Controller at Benchmark Electronics, Page led global operations finance, overseeing domestic and international plants to optimize profit. His accomplishments include driving four simultaneous plant turnarounds and achieving impressive EBITDA growth of over $16M in just one year. Page established systems and fostered a data-driven culture by implementing new processes, methodologies, and consolidation tools, enhancing overall operational efficiency.

In a prior role as CFO, Page showcased his proficiency in ERP implementation, leading the creation of a component manufacturing division. Under his leadership, the organization experienced substantial growth of over 35% in one year. Page played a key role in due diligence and seamlessly integrated a new manufacturer into the organization within two months.

Page is recognized for his "short-sleeve," hardworking, positive, and high-energy approach. His ability to collaborate with individuals at all levels of an organization has consistently yielded positive results. Page is known for being a systems and software expert, capable of creating and driving data-driven solutions to enhance financial and operational performance.

Key responsibilities in his role as Libra Industries CFO will include team building, treasury and cash management, banking relationships, external audit relationships, customer pricing and contract negotiation, as well as oversight of AR, AP, HR, and Legal functions.

"We are excited to welcome Ray to the Libra Industries team as our CFO,” said Andrew Williams, CEO at Libra Industries. “His extensive experience, particularly in the contract manufacturing landscape, aligns seamlessly with our goals for growth and operational excellence.”

Page's appointment reflects Libra Industries' commitment to strategic leadership, and his expertise will undoubtedly contribute to the company's continued success.

Libra Industries continues to invest to provide customized manufacturing solutions for its customers’ complex product requirements. Through its broad range of capabilities, Libra offers its customers the most capable manufacturing team in the industry. For more information about Libra Industries, visit www.libraindustries.com