Smart factory solutions on parade at productronica

Highlights include the premiere of Open Automation, which is what ASM calls its comprehensive, modular and open concept for automation in SMT production, the highly flexible SIPLACE SX placement system, and new features for the DEK TQ high-volume printer.

Also on parade is the expansion of the successful ASM ProcessLens platform, along with the comprehensive ASM Works shop floor management suite, and the MES solution from ASM subsidiary Critical Manufacturing.

In the ASM Experience Areas with their fully functional SMT lines, visitors can see in realistic environments how ASM’s solutions can make their SMT production more productive, efficient, and resilient. ASM is designing this year’s productronica presence in a hybrid format with accompanying presentations on the internet.

“Smart automation, machine communication and process improvements along the entire production line and across the Integrated Smart SMT Factory are the main topics we focus on at ASM this year. We are therefore especially pleased that we can finally present them to our customers live and in person again,” says Alexander Hagenfeldt, Head of SMT Solutions Management at ASM. “Since the dark factory with no human intervention whatsoever would be much too constrictive and lead to inflexible and overly rigid solutions, we are presenting at this year’s productronica with Open Automation a holistic concept that allows electronics manufacturers to determine their own level of modular automation and implement it with the kind of speed and scale that works best for them. And our hybrid trade fair concept ensures that people who are unable to visit the show in person have access to all the information they need on demand.” Automation must not be allowed to squeeze users into proprietary silos while being implementable at economically justifiable investment costs. This is exactly what the open and modular Open Automation concept offers which ASM will presents for the first time at productronica.

It gives manufacturers the flexibility they need in terms of processes and solutions as well as their degree of automation and its schedule. With Open Automation they can integrate existing lines and components into the overall concept and protect their investment for many years to come.

Open interfaces such as the Hermes standard or IPC-CFX enable seamless communication from machine to machine along the entire SMT line, with smart solutions such as ASM Command Centre or ASM Material Manager, and with MES or CRM systems that cover the whole enterprise.

This way, machines, components and IT systems from many manufacturers can be integrated. The system also covers autonomous transport robots (AIVs) for material supply tasks, cobots for setup tasks, and smart, automated material storage systems.

ASM will demonstrate all this on its ASM Touchless Line, where even the placement waste is automatically moved to a collection station and removed by AIVs. Visitors can also see the company’s smart hardware and software solutions live and in action in the booth’s Experience Area with its total of eleven stations featuring fully functional SMT lines that include DEK TQ and DEK NeoHorizon printers as well as SIPLACE SX and SIPLACE TX placement systems.

Said to be the world’s first inline SPI expert system, the ASM ProcessExpert, shows how third-party end-of-line AOI systems can be integrated into the overall solution.

For the first time, process improvements can now be implemented along the entire line up to autonomous printer control via the expert system. The DEK TQ already stands out with its unsurpassed speed and precision. Its core cycle time of as little as five second and its wet printing accuracy of up to 17.5 microns @ 6 σ set new standards.

With new options, ASM now offers even more flexibility and adjustability for this high-volume printer.

They include: DEK All Purpose Clamping (APC), ASM’s universal and by far most flexible clamping system; DEK Smart Pin Placement for the automatic placement of various-size pins with integrated position and height check; and the DEK TQ Dual Access Cover for the interruption-free replacement of paste dispensers. The SIPLACE SX (pictured) with its interchangeable gantries and heads that can be replaced in as little as 30 seconds becomes even more flexible at this year’s productronica.

Effective immediately, SMT components and OSCs can be processed in a single machine with maximum speed and precision. This is made possible by innovative grippers and the optional clinching tool.

In addition, the outstanding SIPLACE vision system and the smart features of the SIPLACE station software ensure the highest placement quality for all types of components.

Customers benefit from more productivity, efficiency and quality while lowering their production costs through automation and their investment costs by eliminating the need for separate special-purpose machines.