All the latest news from the EMS industry foreshadowed the fact, that selling standard high performance machines will be a tough job in these days, not to mention selling complete lines. Flexibility and integration were the most used words in all booth discussions: At many of the equipment providers’ booths, the question of how to gain productivity enhancements was a main focus.
The new Siplace CPP head or Panasonic´s new assembly line are as well answers to this question as Yamaha´s new squeegee, shown on Assembléon printers, which allows cleaning without dismounting the blade. Added value by combining functionalities, more effective cooperation of machines were the answers given by Asys, Promation or Red-E-Set (shown on a Juki printer).
To the machine builders regret the customers actually make no big investments but look for readjusting machines and processes with little effort to great effect. This could be realized at a remarkably good ratio for example with Ovation´s fully controlled add on coating/dispensing system: Mounted on a DEK printer´s camera gantry, it makes the much higher investment in a full stand alone dispensing machine obsolete – not to mention the saving production space. So, the trend is clear; Do more with less. IPC’s Apex motto; „Meet the people that move the industry“ worked both ways this year. It’s the customer who determines what is needed, but, what if the consumer just isn’t there?
All the latest news from the EMS industry foreshadowed the fact, that Apex 2009 will fall behind the previous years show. The first day of the convention showed many happy faces within the booths and on the convention floor. Many profitable discussions were had, and the general spirit of a family reunion was felt throughout the crowd. However, on the final day, raised eyebrows and disheartened looks were seen frequently amongst the empty aisles. IPC’s MarCom Director Anna Garrido stated that the technical conference had seen a 30% drop in attendance to roughly 2500 attendees..
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