Assembleon and Cookson Electronics (Speedline) recently joined forces to provide complete and integrated SMT line solutions. This strategic alliance aims to combine the entire expertise and resources of these lead-ing companies from paste print, dispensing and advanced packaging along with placement and oven technologies on a worldwide scale. Besides the equipment, this includes all kinds of materials, services and support measures. To address application and service challenges, the alliance will leverage resident R&Dand process-related expertise. In addition, any resources required from within the vast technological capabilities of Philips and Cookson will be marshaled to allow the development of equipment and technologies, thereby enabling them to provide outstanding manufacturing solutions.
Ray Sharpe, CEO of Cookson Electronics, commenting on this arrangement, underlines, „This alliance exists to meet the challenges that lie ahead of the global SMT manufacturing community. This is clearly a techno-logy-sharing agreement.“ And CEO Cor Scholten of Assembleon stresses, „We are building the alliance on the industry-leading product and process capabilities that are the core strengths of our individual companies.“ Reportedly, the customers of this alliance can implement customized lines that will optimize their pro-cess while increasing yieldand throughput. The target is to create a positive financialimpact throughout the entire board assembly procedure. „Our combined know-how em-braces the total line, so wecan serve our customers by improving overall line efficiency and quality,“ concludes Pierre de Villemejane, president of Speedline.
On the other hand, the different regional offices of Speedline in Europe closed last year. The headquarters are now located in Frankfurt/Germany. The regional representatives of Speedline will be supported from this location. „Because of cost-efficiency, our sales force in Europe is 100% rep-based now. To install the organization properly we have relocated some managing staff from the US to Germany.“ Such structures seem to necessitate users having to speak with three sides, the companies involved and the local representatives.
Gerhard B. Wolski
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