AUSTIN, TX – Cetec ERP is excited to announce its participation in the upcoming Advanced Manufacturing Expo (AME) 2023, scheduled to take place on August 9-10, 2023. The event, known for bringing together top industry professionals and showcasing cutting-edge technologies, will be held at the DeVos Place Grand Rapids, Michigan.

As a trusted name in the manufacturing software industry, Cetec ERP is dedicated to empowering manufacturers with advanced solutions that streamline operations, optimize productivity, and enhance overall business performance. With their extensive expertise and innovative cloud-based platform, Cetec ERP enables manufacturers to achieve operational excellence and maintain a competitive edge in the dynamic manufacturing landscape.

During AME, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with the Cetec ERP team at booth 217 and explore the comprehensive range of software solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of modern manufacturers. Whether it's inventory management, production planning, quality control, customer relationship management, or financial management, Cetec ERP offers a fully integrated system that centralizes critical business processes, eliminating inefficiencies and providing real-time insights.

"This event provides an excellent platform for us to engage with manufacturing professionals, understand their specific needs, and demonstrate how Cetec ERP can revolutionize their operations,” said Scott Ryan, Cetec ERP Senior Consultant. “We are developing a local approach to marketing in the western Michigan region to deliver exceptional customer experiences.”

By leveraging the power of cloud technology, Cetec ERP allows manufacturers to access vital business information anytime, anywhere, from any device. The intuitive user interface, combined with robust features such as real-time analytics, demand planning, and supply chain management, enables companies to make data-driven decisions and respond quickly to market demands.

"We invite all attendees to visit our booth and discover the transformative potential of Cetec ERP," added Ryan. "Our local consultant will be available to provide personalized demonstrations, answer questions, and discuss how our software solutions can help businesses achieve operational excellence, drive growth, and succeed in the ever- evolving manufacturing industry."

To learn more about Cetec ERP and their advanced manufacturing software solutions, visit www.cetecerp.com

NEW YORK – Sourcemap, the leading global provider of supply chain mapping and monitoring software, today announced the close of a $20 million Series B investment led by Energize Ventures with participation from the E14 Fund. Sourcemap will leverage this latest funding to further expand its global footprint and add business-critical solutions to its supply chain mapping and monitoring software suite.

New regulations in North America and Europe require companies to map and monitor their end-to-end supply chains to ensure uninterrupted production, avoid shortages of critical components and root out social and environmental problems. Since June 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection alone has seized more than 4,000 imported U.S.-bound shipments on suspicion of forced labor, leading to major disruptions across the electronics, automotive, apparel and food industries. Hundreds of farmed, mined and manufactured goods are subject to these supply chain mapping requirements including the packaging, chemicals, polymers and metals that are part of every company's supply chain.

Sourcemap provides the only enterprise solution able to meet the full suite of global supply chain due diligence requirements, including end-to-end supply chain mapping, transaction traceability and verification, real-time risk monitoring, business continuity planning and consumer-facing transparency.

"Traceability in our supply chains is one of the critical challenges we face in the drive to a more sustainable energy and transportation future," said Juan Muldoon, Partner at Energize Ventures and a director on Sourcemap's board. "Many of the incentives laid out in the Inflation Reduction Act are contingent on a company's ability to accurately and responsibly trace its supply chain all the way down to the raw materials. Sourcemap's end-to-end supply chain visibility software provides unprecedented transparency and traceability, enabling enterprises to establish supply chains that are resilient and responsible – while also tapping into the billions of dollars at play in regulatory funding."

Sourcemap's latest funding comes on the heels of historic growth, with the addition of more than 100 brands across food, apparel, luxury, automotive, electronics, energy and life sciences to its customer base over the past year. Sourcemap now has over two million businesses registered on its platform, and over 250 brands use Sourcemap to map and monitor their supply chains.

"We are thrilled by the confidence our investors have shown by doubling down on Sourcemap and on supply chain transparency as a solution to the biggest challenges facing industry," said Leonardo Bonanni, founder and CEO of Sourcemap. "Once a nice-to-have, businesses today cannot afford to go to market without full end-to-end supply chain visibility. It's a must-have for ensuring strategic supplies of raw materials, for preventing disruptions, for ensuring compliance and for de-risking brands. Our goal is to enable businesses across industries to map their end-to-end supply chains as fast as possible to strengthen the global economy in this era of responsible sourcing."

NEUSS, GERMANY – With the advanced YR series for surface-mount assembly, Yamaha Robotics SMT Section and distributor ANS-Answer Elektronik are expecting further success in their long-standing partnership serving the high-tech community in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

Electronics manufacturing in this region comprises OEMs and EMS businesses active in rapidly advancing, high-growth market sectors. They include automotive electrification - with its current focuses on automated driving and power electronics - advanced industrial controls and connectivity leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies, and the latest communication and networking infrastructure including 5G wireless.

“Our customers need accuracy and flexibility in their surface-mount assembly lines, with high speed, and the ability to handle all the latest component technologies and package geometries. They invest frequently to keep their capabilities at the cutting edge, and they need a fantastic return each time,” explains Sebastian Glitsch, General Manager of ANS. “That’s where we make the difference, with our ability to supply and support the best assembly and test equipment in the market. Our connection with Yamaha is a big part of that value proposition.”

He goes on to highlight aspects that help present a persuasive offer for customers, including high placement performance in relation to mounter footprint that makes factories more space-efficient. “Also, there are many clever and time-saving features that automate tasks such as changing the printer stencil and loading component feeders. These minimise stoppages, whether production involves frequent changeovers or large batches. There are automated tools for generating placement and inspection programs, which help accelerate new product introductions.”

In addition, Sebastian Glitsch points out that Yamaha frequently introduces new features that are attractive and accessible to customers. These include the YSUP 3D user interface, smart-factory software with the latest IIoT protocols for seamless IT/OT connectivity, and the all-new YR series machines that have arrived within the past year. “We can always offer a solution that meets present needs optimally and is also future-proof,” he explains.

Daisuke Yoshihara, Yamaha Sales General Manager, joined by Ulf Neyka, Yamaha Sales Manager for DACH region, commented, "Our partnership with ANS-Answer Elektronik has made a significant contribution to our strong business performance in Europe. Their local knowledge and expertise have added value to the solutions we can offer, building on the high standards of performance and quality engineered into all Yamaha SMT equipment.”

Founded in 1994, ANS-Answer Elektronik has grown with Yamaha’s SMT business unit in Europe. Their connection began 26 years ago with the Yamaha iPulse generation of mounters and strengthened as Yamaha introduced the YS series of screen-printing, placement, and inspection machines and intelligent component handling systems. ANS has achieved notable successes with the 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION, which covers the entire SMT assembly sequence and includes unique and advanced software tools to maximise productivity and enable smart-factory management.

Now, with the new-generation YR series platforms ANS is looking forward to the possibilities the new machines bring with their increased capabilities and advanced features. They include the latest dual-lane machines that allow total flexibility to configure the two lanes indepdendently and ensure maximum performance unaffected by the settings of the other. “That’s a market-first for dual-lane equipment,” comments Sebastian Glitsch.

He concludes, “We are excited about the advantages the new YR series will deliver for our customers. This represents the start of a new chapter in our relationship with Yamaha that will lead to even greater success.”

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Hirose Electric Americas has named Mark Kojak as President & COO of Hirose Americas, effective June 1, 2023. Mark has been with Hirose Electric for five years, most recently as Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations. Mark replaces Shinya (Sid) Tono, who will be returning to Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Japan and will assume a new leadership role in the organization.

“Throughout his career at Hirose, Mark has established an excellent track record of leading our organization to deliver record breaking results for the Americas. His in-depth industry knowledge and experience with Hirose’s long-term business strategies are just a fraction of the executive assets he can rely on to achieve our ambitious goals,” said Sid Tono. “With the promotion of Mark, I am confident that Hirose Americas will continue to realize accelerated growth under his leadership.”

“I am blessed and honored to assume the role of President and COO at Hirose Electric Americas. The Americas team has established itself as the gold standard within the global Hirose Electric Group, and we will continue to elevate ourselves to continuing that mission,” said Mark Kojak. “I look forward to working with our employees, customers and strategic business partners to bring an even higher standard to the electronics industry, and we will continue to look for ways to drive constant improvement in all aspects of our business.”

Hirose Electric Americas was established in 1980 to better serve the Americas. Hirose Electric offers more than 50,000 products, with new products accounting for more than 30% of sales. In keeping with Hirose's commitment to quality, Hirose Electric Americas was certified as a QS9000 company in November of 2000 and continues to be certified ISO 9001:2015.

For more information about Hirose or their technology solutions, visit www.hirose.com/us