TOKYO – Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, will be exhibiting in Hall 4A, Booth #135 at SMTconnect in Nuremberg, Germany from 9th to 11th May 2023. Saki’s range of world-class inspection machines will be on show to demonstrate their premier accuracy and speed, as well as the comprehensive software and hardware interconnectivity moving the industry to efficient cost-effective Smart Factories. Visitors will be invited to view the new 3Di-LS3 15µm and 3Xi-M110 v3, debuting in Europe for the first time.

With their partner, Selecs, Saki will be demonstrating their Total Inspection Line Solution, a range of quality assurance machines with superior M2M communication for streamlined product inspection. With optimized software and hardware, Saki’s machinery is designed for low maintenance, operator efficiency and easy on-site upgrades for futureproofing.

Inspection Machines

The Saki team will be available to offer hands-on demonstrations of the machine range, including:

• 3Xi-M110 v3 – Available to experience in Europe for the first time, the 3Xi-M110 v3 features Saki’s optimized Planar CT software, developed in-house for the industry’s fastest cycle times. This 3D-AXI machine delivers impressive quality assurance with highly accurate void measurement and detection for both PCBs and components.
• 3Di-LS3 15µm – Also premiering at SMTconnect, the 3Di-LS3 enables high-speed and high-performance inspection while achieving both high resolution and expanded height measurement with an upgraded high-resolution camera system. It offers a wide variety of features that can be selected according to the customer's production environment and product requirements. These optional functions enhance scalability and contribute to greater quality assurance and improved productivity. Equipped with a 15μm high-resolution camera system, the 3Di-LS3 supports assembly inspection of SMT-mounted parts, including extremely small and tall parts, with the industry's fastest cycle time.
• 3Si-LS2 and 3Di-LS2 – Experience Saki’s 3D SPI and AOI range with the 3Si-LS2 and 3Di-LS2 designed to support large PCB sizes up to 500 mm x 510 mm. Featuring unified hardware and software, operators trained in Saki’s machines enjoy seamless transition between platforms, for an improved experience that minimizes costs and improves overall satisfaction.
• 2Di-LU1 – Saki’s 2D AOI range is represented at SMTconnect with the 2Di-LU1. Featuring bottom-side inspection for enhanced line productivity and Saki’s unique line scan technology, the 2Di-LU1 is available for hands-on demonstration at the Saki booth.

Smart Factory

Smart automation with Saki’s products improves quality assurance accuracy, lowers maintenance time, and improves operator performance. Visitors to Saki at SMTconnect will be able to experience:

• QD Analyzer v4 – The latest version of Saki’s software is key to a smart factory solution. Operators can monitor machine status, store inspection results, and statistically analyze data from every connected machine in the line. With comprehensive reporting and real-time data, QD Analyzer is a key component in the Saki inspection range.
• Upgradable Components – Flexibility is key for the future of inspection. Saki’s latest range allows for rapid on-site equipment upgrade of components, such as the camera, ensuring inspection machines have improved uptime and state-of-the-art performance with minimal maintenance for superior customer value.
• M2M Communication – With integrated M2M technology, Saki machines work smoothly with both sister products on the line and third-party machinery. Saki booth visitors will gain a detailed understanding of Saki’s dedication to smart factory M2M connectivity.

“The future of electronics manufacturing lies with smart factories providing accurate inspection with minimal maintenance,” said Jaroslav Neuhauser, General Manager Saki Europe. “Saki’s total inspection line solution has a unified software and hardware platform that delivers superior quality assurance with rapid cycle times and unparalleled accuracy. We are looking forward to bringing the latest inspection machines for demonstration to Germany at SMTconnect.”

For more information about Saki visit www.sakicorp.com/en/ 

SUN PRAIRIE, WI – Pro‐Active Engineering, the leading provider of electronic design and engineering services, has made a significant investment in cutting‐edge technology to better serve its customers. The company is proud to announce the installation of the NIKON XT V 160 X‐ray machine at its state‐of‐the‐art facility in Sun Prairie, WI. This advanced system allows for non‐destructive inspection of electronic components, providing a new level of quality assurance in the production of Printed Circuit Board Assemblies (PCBAs). The NIKON XT V 160 features a superior Xi Nanotech X‐ray microfocus source, collision‐free 5‐axis programmable stage, and easy to create automated inspection programs. With this investment, Pro‐Active Engineering continues to demonstrate its commitment to delivering the highest quality products to customers in a range of industries. Vice President at Pro‐Active Engineering Paul Schwanbeck, stated: “As part of our continuous improvement process, we purchased the NIKON XT V 160 X‐ray Machine providing our customers with another layer of robust quality assurance.”

The NIKON XT V 160 X‐ray Machine features seamless transition between 2D and 3D inspection plus produces industry‐leading high‐resolution videos and images. Lead Manufacturing Engineer Justin Helgeson, stated: “The Inspect‐X software provides us with intuitive displays, advanced imaging and a suite of analysis tools such as void analysis, wire bond inspection, thru‐hole barrel fill analysis, automated pass/fall analysis and inspection reporting.”

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – SEMI, the industry association serving the global electronics design and manufacturing supply chain, today announced that SEMI Europe, as the lead of a new 18-partner consortium, has won up to €4 million in funding to develop the European Chips Skills Academy, an initiative to help tackle the skills and talent shortages in Europe’s electronics industry and propel its long-term growth. The initiative is backed by more than 30 partner research organizations, vocational and education training providers, certification agencies and industry stakeholders.

The European Chips Skills Academy will expand on the Microelectronics Pact for Skills and the EU Chips Act to support the microelectronics ecosystem in Europe to attract new talent. The academy will deliver targeted European-wide training in key microelectronics fields such as automotive and additive manufacturing. The grant, provided by the European Commission’s Erasmus+ Programme, will fund the academy for four years. The European Chips Skills Academy is the second phase of the Microelectronics Training, Industry and Skills (METIS) consortium. Both initiatives are designed to foster microelectronics industry collaboration with key education, training and certification providers to address the skills shortage and European competitiveness.

“The pan-European alliance guiding the European Chips Skills Academy will leverage the diverse and considerable strengths of its many partners from across the microelectronics’ ecosystem and industrial value chain,” said Ajit Manocha, president and CEO of SEMI. “The project aims to bring greater strategic foresight to the evolution of professions and skills in the industry by applying evidence-based, data-driven success metrics to workforce development.”

“Rapid semiconductor industry growth in Europe and around the globe in the years ahead necessitates that we quickly scale up the region’s training efforts and drive greater cohesion of skills strategies across Europe to meet demand for the qualified workers required to sustain innovation and growth,” said Laith Altimime, president of SEMI Europe. “The European Chips Skills Academy will be the first decentralized microelectronics skills provider in Europe to help overcome this critical workforce development challenge.”

Expected to begin work in autumn 2023, the European Chips Skills Academy consortium consists of the following organizations:

• Asociación Nacional de Centros con Certificados de Profesionalidad (ANCCP) - Spain
• Association for European NanoElectronics Activities (AENEAS) - France
• Budapest University of Technology & Economics (BME) - Hungary
• DECISION Etudes & Conseil - France
• Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) - Germany
• Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) - Austria
• Infineon Technologies - Austria
• Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence (CIMEA) - Italy
• Innovazione Apprendimento Lavoro Friuli Venezia Giulia (IAL-FVG) - Italy
• Interuniversity Microelectronics Centre (imec) – Belgium
• Knolyx - Romania
• Melexis - Belgium
• Okmetic - Finland
• Platform Talent voor Technologie (PTVT) / European STEM coalition - Netherlands
• SEMI Europe - Germany
• Silicon Saxony - Germany
• Technical University of Ostrava (VSB) - Czechia
• Tyndall National Institute - Ireland

AUSTIN, TX – Fox Robotics is in the business of making autonomous forklifts to make it possible for people to do more with less. With their recent implementation of the manufacturing and accounting web-based business suite Cetec ERP, they are now also able to grow their business more for less cost than most traditional ERPs out there. Just a few short months ago, Fox Robotics was struggling to keep up with their daily business operations, essentially using spreadsheets for most of their processes. Unable to move forward with certain steps of production without the ability to track and build sub-assemblies ahead of time, Fox Robotics quickly realized they needed an ERP system to keep growing.

A group of engineers started Fox Robotics in 2017 with the goal of making robots that work. They wanted to create a company that could keep up with the fast-paced world of automation and build safe and intelligent robotic forklifts at scale. Fox Robotics believes that by employing robots to work alongside humans, you can expect more consistent operations, greater productivity, and lower labor costs. Their goal is for employees to experience safer working conditions and fewer repetitive tasks, improving overall workplace satisfaction.

Cetec ERP specializes in solutions for the work order tracking and scheduling problems that growing companies like Fox Robotics run into. Cetec ERP is a cost- efficient, more modern web-based alternative compared to price-heavy and outdated providers like NetSuite/Oracle and SAP. With the help of Cetec ERP, Fox Robotics can now track subassemblies and has effective processes in place to continue growing and expanding. Carissa Washam, Purchasing and Inventory Control Manager at Fox Robotics, says she’s worked with a lot of ERPs in the past, and Cetec ERP stands out.

“Cetec is definitely a lot more user friendly than other ERPs that I’ve worked with. I really like that it’s web-based,” Carissa Washam, Purchasing & Inventory Control Manager at Fox Robotics.

Cetec ERP Senior Sales Consultant Tanner Rogers was instrumental in the implementation of Cetec ERP at Fox Robotics. Washam says they chose to do a gradual ERP implementation, with the adoption of purchasing and receiving first, then production, and then finally quality and operations. She says that doing the implementation in stages helped everyone at Fox Robotics get comfortable with the new processes.

“A lot of our engineers mentioned how great the Cetec implementation was with the complete training. We’re local, so we got to do most of our training in-person, on-site which was really awesome to be able to connect and get our questions answered in real-time,” added Carissa Washam. “We were able to get some play time in before we went live. The implementation went really smoothly.”