Intelligent reel management solution on display at SMTAI

According to Mark Ragard, GM, Electronics Assembly Sales, Panasonic, “We’ve grown from providing product-based solutions to system-based solutions using a holistic approach. The success of our Certified Technology Program proves that we can provide the ideal production solution to customers by combining our equipment, software, and expertise with complementary third-party technologies to satisfy customer requirements and exceed their expectations.”

The InoAuto Two Bay stores 1,120 7" SMT reels and the InoAuto Single Bay stores 560 7" SMT reels. Both systems are equipped with sensors and LED indicator lights, along with the InoAuto Locator software, and respond as if the reels have RFID on them. The operator will simply barcode scan the part number and quantity on a reel and place it into an empty Single Package Single Location slot. The InoAuto will report the position of the part to its database automatically.

The user can quickly enter a part number or a pick list into the InoAuto computer and a LED will light up indicating each part location within the cart. The user can either have all of the locations required light up at one time, or just one location at a time to prioritise the pick list pull for a very quick reel pull to direct feeder location. As the user picks the parts, the InoAuto will identify the part number for the part that was removed on the screen. As a result, kitting function is reduced from hours to seconds. Additionally, the InoAuto SMART Cart eliminates the need to scan locations.

The cart is mobile, ESD compliant, 5 ½ feet tall, and has a small 5 ½ foot square print, which is a fraction of the size of robotic towers with five times the throughput. The InoAuto SMART Cart can pay for itself within three to six months.

Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America, a North American source for electronic assembly equipment, software, and technical support, provides total business systems solutions for electronic semiconductor and packaging companies in the global marketplace through one provider. The company is a unit of Panasonic of North America, which is the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic.