Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Current

Press Releases

AUBURN HILLS, MI – The Murray Percival Company, the premier manufacturer’s rep in the Midwest and one of the longest tenured distributors in the electronics industry, is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming SMTA Michigan Expo & Tech Forum on August 27, 2024, in Livonia, Michigan, and the SMTA Ohio Valley Expo & Tech Forum on August 29, 2024, in Independence, Ohio. Attendees are invited to visit The Murray Percival Company at both events to explore a range of cutting- edge PCB solutions and services offered.

Murray Percival III, the company’s Sales Manager, expressed enthusiasm about the company’s involvement: “We are proud to support and participate in the SMTA expos, which are crucial for fostering growth and innovation within the local electronics manufacturing community. These expos not only allow us to showcase our advanced solutions but also to engage deeply with the community and other professionals who are shaping the future of our industry.”

The Murray Percival Company continues to be a bastion of expertise and support for the PCB sector, providing unparalleled service and solutions that help manufacturers enhance efficiency and productivity. These expos present an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to learn about the latest trends and technologies that Murray Percival offers.

Join us to see how we can bring excellence to your manufacturing processes and discuss potential collaborations that can drive your business forward. See you at the expos!

For further inquiries or to explore how The Murray Percival Company can address your PCB supply needs, please visit www.murraypercival.com

PHELPS, NY – Z-AXIS, a leading provider of electronic design and manufacturing services, has promoted Scott Lazarony to Design Engineering Manager and Joe Sklepik to Production Manager. The Rochester-area contract manufacturer has a full design team, skilled technicians, and the latest equipment for printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).

Scott Lazarony earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and joined Z-AXIS as the company’s Quality Manager in 2009. He was then promoted to Manufacturing Manager in 2016. Joe Sklepik earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from RIT and joined Z-AXIS as a Manufacturing Engineer in 2017.

“Please join me in congratulating these two dedicated employees as they take on their new roles,” said Michael Allen, President of Z-AXIS. “We’re excited to have Scott as our Design Engineering Manager and Joe as our Production Manager. Z-AXIS continues to grow."

DAYTON, OH – Libra Industries, a privately-held systems integration and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert "Bob" Hermann as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer (COO). In his new role, Hermann will oversee all aspects of Libra’s manufacturing operations, driving the company’s efforts to achieve its business goals through operational excellence and strategic alignment.

Hermann brings more than 30 years of extensive experience in manufacturing and operations, having managed plants and multi- site operations across a variety of industries, including automotive, industrial, military and aerospace. Throughout his career, Hermann has led operations, engineering and business teams at prominent Fortune 500 companies such as Ford Motor Company and Eaton. His expertise in deploying Lean and continuous improvement programs has consistently delivered significant enhancements in operational efficiency and business performance.

"We are excited to welcome Bob to the Libra Industries leadership team," said Andrew Williams, President and CEO of Libra Industries. "His deep industry knowledge and proven leadership make him the ideal choice to drive our manufacturing operations forward and support our growth objectives."

Hermann holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. He is also a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, demonstrating his dedication to quality and continuous improvement.

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

CRANSTON, RI – AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce the signing of Electronic Production Tool & Supply, Inc. (EPTS) for distribution in the Long Island region. Committed to providing reliable solutions to electronics manufacturers, EPTS aligns perfectly with AIM Solder’s values.

EPTS is a factory-authorized distributor of chemicals, tools, and supplies for the assembly and repair of electronic equipment. They specialize in contract vendor management of shelf-life dependent materials and sell aerosols, benches, lighting, ESD supplies, solder, soldering equipment, and microscopes.

“We are excited about this new partnership with EPTS,” said Kelly Cardone, AIM Solder Director of Marketing & Customer Experience. “Together, we look forward to delivering innovative soldering solutions to our customers in the Long Island area.”

Visit EPTS at https://epttool.com, or email Rob Engel at rengel@epttool.com to learn more.

REDDITCH, UK – Altus Group, a leading supplier of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry in the UK and Ireland, is pleased to announce the successful installation of a second Koh Young Zenith 3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) system at Active-PCB Solutions. This latest investment highlights Altus’ commitment to providing innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and quality in the Electronics Manufacturing Services sector.

Active-PCB Solutions, a leading contract electronics manufacturer, previously invested in the Koh Young Zenith Alpha HS+ AOI two years ago, achieving outstanding results with the initial system. Pleased with its performance, the company has now expanded its capabilities by adding a second unit. This new investment will further enhance their inspection processes, enabling comprehensive 3D inspection and meeting the demanding standards of modern electronics manufacturing.

Luke Minnis, Manufacturing Product and Process Engineer at Active-PCB, said: "I have been a Koh Young and Altus partner for many years now, and we are really happy to keep building on our partnership and to bring in another 3D AOI. This investment is a clear sign of our ambitions for the future and our desire to implement the best-in-class processes at our facility."

Anthony Oh, Technical Applications Manager at Altus Group, said: "It is always gratifying to receive repeat orders from our partners. This ultimately means the machine is generating the expected return on investment they had planned. Active-PCB is a significant player in the UK CEM space, so to have their continued trust and investment is something we are very proud of. We look forward to continuing to support them as they leverage the AOI platform to drive further improvements in their manufacturing processes."

The Koh Young Zenith Alpha HS+ is known for its high-speed, AI-driven 3D measurement capabilities. With a 4-projector setup using Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology, the system offers 15-micron resolution and full 3D metrology up to 25mm in height. These advanced features ensure precise and reliable inspection of complex assemblies, meeting rigorous quality standards.

REDMOND, WA – Data I/O Corporation (NASDAQ: DAIO) today announced a Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) transition plan, with industry veteran and current Data I/O Board member William “Bill” Wentworth to become President and CEO. Bill will replace Anthony Ambrose through a managed transition plan.

“We are very pleased to announce a leadership transition plan today with Bill Wentworth coming on board to lead Data I/O,” said Sally Washlow, Independent Chair of the Board of Directors of Data I/O. “Already a highly respected Board member of the Company, Bill will take on an executive role as he becomes President effective September 1, 2024 and CEO effective October 1, 2024.”

Mr. Wentworth, age 58, comes to Data I/O with a wealth of industry experience spanning over 35 years, including private equity and M&A exposure. As the CEO of Source Electronics, the global market share leader in programming and test services, he was a Data I/O customer and led the sale of controlling interest of Source Electronics to HIG Capital in 2001 and the company’s subsequent sale to Avnet in 2008 with significant investor return. Under Mr. Wentworth’s leadership, Source developed compelling programming solutions for the automotive and consumer industries, expanding the business and limiting its industry and customer concentration. More recently, as President and owner of Wentworth Advisors, he has consulted in the programming, IT, and private equity markets, focusing on expanding deal flow, performing due diligence and Board service. Mr. Wentworth has been a member of the Board of Directors of Data I/O since May 2023, serving as Chair of the Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee and member of the Audit and Compensation Committees.

“I am incredibly excited to become the next leader at Data I/O,” said Bill Wentworth. “Data I/O is the leading supplier to the global automotive industry and has developed industry-leading programming technology, automated solutions, and software. As a longtime customer of Data I/O over the past 40 years, I was a hands- on user of the industry’s first programming solution, the Data I/O 1. As a Board member for the past year, I’ve brought unique perspectives to the Company’s products and go-to-market strategies. Data I/O has the best balance sheet in the industry, an impressive global customer base, and critical programming technologies for automotive electronics market leadership, thanks to Anthony and his team. Our first objectives will be to capitalize on these attributes to generate growth, add new revenue streams, investigate new go-to-market models, and build the most robust, consistent, and reliable solutions for the markets we serve. The team and I will be evaluating from day one a comprehensive set of organic and inorganic opportunities for growth. Using our current strengths and industry-leading position, we will invest and innovate for the future with a goal of attaining sustainably greater profits and returns for shareholders.”

“I would like to thank Anthony Ambrose for his 12 years as CEO,” said Sally Washlow. “Anthony led our transition to Automotive First and introduced the PSV family of programming systems, the most successful family of programming systems in the industry with over 500 systems sold in the past decade. Anthony will assist Bill during his transition period and will be available to consult for the Company for the next 12 months. We all wish him well in his retirement from Data I/O.”

“It’s been my great pleasure to lead Data I/O for the past 12 years,” said Anthony Ambrose. “I recently discussed succession planning with the Board of Directors and I am pleased to hand off leadership of Data I/O to Bill Wentworth. He has the experience in our industry and financial markets to take Data I/O to the next level, and I look forward to fully supporting him during the transition period and beyond.”

Mr. Wentworth will continue to serve on Data I/O’s Board of Directors, although he will be reclassified from an Independent member to an Executive member, with Committee participation subject to change. After October 31, 2024, Mr. Ambrose will no longer be a member of Data I/O’s Board of Directors following his retirement as CEO of the Company, leaving 4 members of which 3 will be independent.