At IPC APEX EXPO 2025, Cybord – a provider of AI-powered electronic component analytics – announced the commercial launch of its Real-Time Interception (RTI) solution. The software integrates into SMT pick-and-place lines and evaluates each component visually within milliseconds, rejecting defective or non-conforming parts before placement onto the printed circuit board assembly (PCBA).
The RTI system performs bottom-view image analysis of every component passing through the placement machine. According to Cybord, the solution can detect all defect categories – including physical damage, counterfeit indicators, and unauthorised substitutions – and trigger immediate rejection without interrupting production throughput. The company states that the software is already integrated into Fuji's NXT III placing machines and is being expanded to additional manufacturing lines globally.
From a process engineering perspective, intercepting faulty components at the pre-placement stage addresses a critical gap in conventional quality control workflows. Standard in-line inspection methods such as SPI (solder paste inspection) and post-reflow AOI operate after assembly steps have been completed. Defective components that pass feeder-level checks but are not caught until AOI or X-ray inspection result in rework or scrap costs that accumulate at the board level rather than the component level. Cybord positions RTI as a complementary upstream layer that reduces downstream rework costs and material waste.
The RTI software is described as a drop-in integration, designed to work within existing line architectures without requiring hardware modifications beyond those already present in compatible placement machines. Cybord states the platform provides component-level analytics, monitoring dashboards, and compliance data aligned with IPC standards, giving EMS operators traceability records for each inspected component.
The announced partnership with Fuji America is central to the initial market rollout. By embedding RTI directly into the NXT III machine control environment, Fuji can offer its EMS customers an enhanced quality control capability without additional standalone inspection equipment. This model – where machine OEMs integrate third-party AI analytics as a value-added software layer – reflects a broader trend in SMT equipment development, where vision and data systems are increasingly embedded at the placement stage rather than relegated to separate inspection cells.
For European EMS providers operating under stringent quality regimes – particularly those serving automotive, aerospace, or medical electronics segments – pre-placement component verification addresses both quality and supply chain integrity requirements. Counterfeit and substandard components entering production lines remain a documented risk, particularly given ongoing component supply volatility. RTI's ability to cross-reference component appearance against approved part libraries adds a compliance dimension beyond conventional defect detection.
Cybord has not disclosed pricing or a detailed timeline for broader machine platform compatibility beyond the Fuji NXT III. The company indicated at IPC APEX EXPO 2025 that global line integration is ongoing, suggesting additional placement machine partnerships may follow.
Quelle: Cybord – https://cybord.ai/news_events/press-releases/cybord-unveils-ai-powered-real-time-interception-rti-solution-to-prevent-defective-electronic-products/
