CRANSTON, RI – AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce its participation in the upcoming Advanced Electronics Assembly Conference taking place on November 9, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Beke Hotel in Budapest, Hungary. AIM Technical Application Engineer, Norbert Labai, will present on the topic: Addressing Concerns of Ultra-Miniature Component Assembly: M0201, 008005, and Micro/MiniLEDs.

Norbert Labai has been in the electronics industry for over 20 years. Mr. Labai supports AIM customers throughout Eastern Europe in solving the most challenging technical issues and adopting the latest application technologies.​​ The abstract for his presentation is as follows:

The use of ultra-miniature components is driven by the demand for increased functionality in electronic devices. SMT components such as 008004/M0201 are being used in consumer and automotive applications today. Similarly, MiniLED components are finding their way into displays available in the market. Manufacturers are creating new PCB designs, using novel assembly techniques, and introducing innovative materials to overcome the unique challenges faced when implementing these components. This presentation will discuss how to overcome the challenges faced in ultra-miniature component assembly and address the needs of emerging markets.

Mr. Labai will deliver his presentation at the Advanced Electronics Assembly Conference at 11:15 am on November 9. To learn more about AIM’s products and services, visit www.aimsolder.com

JASPER, IN – Kimball Electronics, Inc. (Nasdaq: KE) was honored for achieving the Highest Overall Customer Ratings in four categories of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY’S 2023 Service Excellence Awards: Dependability/Timely Delivery, Technology, Value for the Price, and Manufacturing Quality.

CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, a leading industry publication covering the mixed-technology electronics assembly marketplace, recognized companies that received the highest customer service ratings, as judged by their own customers. The awards were recently presented during a ceremony at the Surface Mount Technology Association (SMTA) International Conference on October 10th, 2023. The awards are presented to outstanding Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) providers, as well as to suppliers of electronics assembly equipment, materials, and software.

The results, based solely on direct customer input, are an indication of outstanding achievement in service excellence. Customers of the participants rated EMS providers in seven service categories: Manufacturing Quality, Dependability/Timely Delivery, Responsiveness, Value for Price, Flexibility, Technology, and Overall Satisfaction. Kimball Electronics was honored for achieving the highest customer ratings in four service categories for EMS companies with annual sales over $500 million.

Ric Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of Kimball Electronics, stated, “I am very proud of our team’s consistent focus on building long-term relationships with all our customers, whether they be new customers or customers we’ve worked with for a decade or more. Being recognized with Service Excellence Awards in four categories is very gratifying. Our customers recognize they are working with a great team, with a great culture, and a partner with a common set of priorities. The hard work and dedication of our people have allowed us to continuously improve and keep our promises to our customers.”

“Thank you to our customers for choosing Kimball Electronics as your partner of choice. Our commitment to outstanding customer service has helped us build lasting relationships. Congratulations to all our global team members for living our guiding principles while consistently meeting or exceeding our customers’ expectations,” stated Kathy Thomson, Chief Commercial Officer of Kimball Electronics.

Kimball Electronics has participated in the Service Excellence Awards for the past ten consecutive years, winning awards for excellence in multiple categories in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019. Kimball Electronics won the award for Highest Overall Customer Rating in 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2021. In 2022, Kimball Electronics received awards in all seven award categories, including two newly added categories. For 2023, Kimball Electronics received Highest Overall Customer Ratings in four of the seven categories including: Dependability/Timely Delivery, Technology, Value for the Price, and Manufacturing Quality.

This is the 31st year CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY has sponsored the awards program.

HANOVER, GERMANY – At productronica in Munich, Germany, taking place from November 14 to 17, 2023, Viscom AG will present for the first time its latest high-end iS6059 Double-Sided Inspection system. At Viscom's Booth A2.177, visitors to the world’s leading trade fair for electronics manufacturing can learn more about the advantages of simultaneous optical assembly inspection from above and below using the new machine’s special features.

The iS6059 Double-Sided Inspection is equipped with two state-of-the-art sensor heads that capture images and 3D height information on separate positioning units to reliably find top and bottom side defects. Through-hole technology (THT) is still needed and used in the areas of electric vehicles, charging infrastructures and renewable energies due to high current flows. In addition to inspecting components topside, the bottom side must also be critically examined to determine whether a pin is missing or if there is insufficient solder. Components pressed in without soldering (press-fit) can also be accurately inspected. Pin lengths, for example, are precisely measured and displayed in profiles.

Another area of application for the iS6059 Double-Sided Inspection involves various applications from the field of automotive electronics with double-sided SMD assembly. For example, one assembled side passes through the soldering process, is then turned over and must remain fully intact during a re-melting of the solder joints in the oven – all while the second side is soldered after its assembly. The iS6059 Double-Sided Inspection then reliably inspects both sides.

Like other Viscom systems, the iS6059 Double-Sided Inspection can be comprehensively networked. In this context, visitors to the company's trade fair stand can expect to see various vConnect features. This future-oriented modular platform from Viscom has a lot to offer – from location-independent predictive maintenance to cloud solutions and centrally controlled IT services as well as statistical process control. Other Viscom inspection systems that will be on display at productronica include: iS6059 PCB Inspection Plus (3D AOI), iX7059 PCB Inspection XL (3D AXI), X8011-III (3D MXI), X7056-II (3D AOI and 3D AXI combined) and S6053BO-V (3D Bond). The topics of inspection program generation and verification using artificial intelligence are on the agenda at Viscom too – as are solder paste (SPI) and conformal coating inspection (CCI).

BILLINGSTAD, NORWAY – BRC Solar GmbH has chosen Kitron to produce the Power Optimizer, an innovative new product that improves the performance of solar panels.

The value of the agreement is expected to reach an annual level of approximately EUR 10 million within three years. Production will take place at Kitron’s facility in Lithuania.

“We are proud that BRC Solar, a dynamic company in the growing solar industry, has trusted Kitron with the production of this exciting product, which targets a booming market and fits perfectly with Kitron’s focus on electrification as a megatrend and growth driver,” says Mindaugas Sestokas, Managing Director of Kitron Lithuania and VP Central Eastern Europe.

The performance of solar panels degrades when some modules connected in series are shaded or if modules have different alignments or inclinations. The Power Optimizer solves these problems and can be combined with a variety of panels and inverters already on the market.

Kitron will produce the full Power Optimizer product, from printed circuit board assembly to top-level assembly and testing. Because of the high quantities expected, production will be highly automated.

“We were looking for a top-notch EMS partner in Eastern Europe and chose Kitron because of its technical competencies and experience, automatization solutions, high quality of services and capacity possibilities. We look forward to ramping up this partnership as the Power Optimizer hits the market,” says Pascal Ruisinger, Managing Director of BRC Solar.