Another broadening of Mania’s technology and distribution base is the joint venture with Barco ETS, called ManiaBarco. It was concluded currently (EPPE Europe 9/10-2001), and the venture bundles all of Barco’s PCB resources with a part of Mania’s product portfolio, such as AOI, exposure sys-tems, LDI, photoplotters and software. In the beginning, says ManiaBarco director Karel Tavernier, the joint venture will focus on streamlining distribution activities especially in North America, where Barco will act as a dealer for Mania. The business enterprise will also take into account Barco’s existing access to the Asian markets. A similar form of co-operation is currently being set up in Europe, thereby estab-lishing “one service point for all products,” Tavernier explains. At this point, the venture is open end: over time, he says. The product ranges of both companies, since they are both into AOI, might be integrated as well.
For example, Nova 200, a non-invasive laser-based electrical test system, saw its debut. Not based on conventional grid technology, the machine offers test-point sizes of 85µm and a minimum pitch of 150µm, at a speed of 100 test points per second. Other good news: the first delivery of the Gemini laser-direct imaging machine took place, and the total or-der volume was reported asup to 16 systems. Meanwhile,ManiaBarco has developed with Valor an ODB++ interface for the Enterprise 3000 DFM PCB design system and ManiaBarco’s Ucam system. (ws)
