Global SMT Podcast

Keith Bryant catches up with Mark Kampurwala to discuss Aven’s acquisition by GSI Holding Group, opening opportunities in the laboratory market and expanding its global presence.

Mark introduces the ClearView, featuring a larger display, wider magnification range and new gantry, alongside the Micro Vue 2.0, with an upgraded camera, monitor and interchangeable UV/LED lighting. Both address growing demand for detailed inspection as components get smaller.

#AvenTools #Microscopy #Inspection #ElectronicsManufacturing #GlobalSMT

At SMTA Mexico, Keith Bryant speaks with Frank Hart about Essemtec’s FOX all-in-one system. The platform combines jet printing, dispensing and pick and place in a single machine, bringing three key electronics assembly processes together.

#Essemtec #SMT #JetPrinting #Dispensing #PickAndPlace #ElectronicsManufacturing

Keith Bryant speaks with Laurino Lopez and Emmanuel Sanchez of Heller Industries about growing demand for vacuum and nitrogen reflow as electronics manufacturers work to reduce solder voiding.

The team highlights vacuum reflow technology, the shift towards longer ovens with more heating zones, and the importance of controlled cooling.

They also discuss Heller’s fluxless formic acid reflow process, which uses an enclosed system with safety sensors and interlocking dual gates to contain the vapour.

#HellerIndustries #ReflowSoldering #VacuumReflow #FormicAcid #ElectronicsManufacturing #SMT #GlobalSMT

Keith Bryant spoke with Carlos of Anda Technologies about fast delivery, precision coating and local support.

Anda can deliver a complete production line within a week and plans to stock 28 machines in Mexico by year-end.

Its coating systems combine jetting, piezoelectric and spray valves to reduce masking and manual rework, while an 800 m² Mexican facility provides service engineers and spare parts.

#AndaTechnologies #ConformalCoating #Dispensing #ElectronicsManufacturing #Mexico #GlobalSMT

How is SMarTsol keeping pace with the changing needs of electronics manufacturers?

At SMTA Guadalajara, Keith Bryant speaks with Julio Romo, newly appointed to SMarTsol’s senior management team, about the company’s expansion into Texas and Asia—and its investment in demo rooms, warehouses and service engineers closer to customers.

With 15 years in the industry, SMarTsol is extending its capabilities beyond PCBA to rack-level support, wire-harness inspection and emerging semiconductor projects in Mexico and the US.

Julio explains how fast, multilingual, one-stop support helps build customer confidence as manufacturing requirements evolve.

Keith Bryant spoke with Luis Garcia of Rehm about the Condenso XC, an entry-level vapour phase soldering machine designed for labs and small, high-mix production batches.

PCBs combining large thermal masses with small, sensitive components can be difficult to reflow evenly. The Condenso XC uses Galden vapour to transfer heat efficiently, with temperature limited by the fluid’s boiling point.

Two injections control preheat and peak temperature inside a closed chamber, while vacuum helps reduce solder voids. Galden is filtered for reuse, and the machine can also reprocess boards that missed the vacuum stage.

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Keith Bryant spoke with Luis Fernando Gazcon of KYZEN about new tools designed to improve cleaning efficiency and traceability.

Its cost-modelling tool analyses inline and batch cleaning processes to identify ways to reduce water and chemical consumption, shorten cleaning cycles and extend bath life.

KYZEN’s PCS closed-loop system measures concentration and automatically adds water or chemistry as needed. Standalone sensors provide live monitoring, reducing the need for manual readings.

The new Analyst RI2 uses refractive index to measure concentration, complementing KYZEN’s established sonic velocity technology. Software supports traceability as manufacturers demand better visibility into their cleaning processes.

KYZEN is also hiring across Mexico and expanding its Nashville laboratories.

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At SMTA Guadalajara, Global SMT & Packaging spoke with Heriberto from Koh Young about the new Zenith DS dual-side AOI system. Two inspection heads check the top and bottom of a board simultaneously, combining SMT and through-hole inspection in a single pass to reduce inspection time and costs. The system is currently being showcased in beta, with software scheduled for Q1 2027.

Koh Young is also expanding its presence in Mexico with a new office offering twice the demo space and training facilities for up to ten people per session.

While automotive demand remains flat, AI applications are driving demand for larger, more customised boards—and new inspection requirements.

Keith Bryant speaks with Juan Arango of PARMI about laser-based AOI and the growing role of AI in inspection. Arango explains how laser scanning avoids the shadows associated with white-light systems, helping improve inspection quality.

According to PARMI, AI auto-programming cuts program creation from six to eight hours to under 10 minutes, followed by 10–15 minutes of debugging. For high-mix, low-volume manufacturers, that means faster changeovers and more consistent programs across different programmers.

The next step is AI verification, which will automatically classify inspection results and leave uncertain cases for an operator. Those decisions will feed back into recipe improvements, supporting PARMI’s goal of zero escapes and zero false calls.

Keith Bryant speaks with Thomas Yang of Shenzhen Synergie about closed-loop cleaning systems that combine cleaning, inspection and automatic re-cleaning in one machine.

CCD cameras detect blocked stencil apertures and trigger additional cleaning where needed. Pick-and-place nozzles receive the same automated treatment, reducing reliance on manual microscope inspections.

Each stencil and nozzle is individually coded, with inspection images and cleaning records feeding into the factory MES. This provides traceability and helps production teams identify recurring nozzle problems earlier.