“Process optimization” and “Industry 4.0” are the keywords in this approach. In panel discussions at the press conference, Prof. Dr. Karl-Heinz Büttner (Head of Siemens’sElectronics Works Amberg plant), Günter Lauber (CEO ASMPT SMT Solutions), Günter Schindler (Head of the Placement Solutions Division) and Michael Brianda (Head of the Printing Solutions Division) talked about the objectives and requirements for highly flexible and efficient Industry 4.0 concepts in electronics production as well as potential solutions.
With its acquisition of the printer specialist, publicly traded ASM Pacific Technology (ASMPT) is already completing its second deal that is making headlines in the SMT industry. The company with more than 14.500 employees used to be predominantly active almost exclusively in the Asian backend segment. With its successful integration of the placement machine business, it had previously raised its profile and expanded its development, production and sales activities significantly in Europe and America.
At the press conference in Siemens’s Electronics Works Amberg plant, ASMPT outlined its plans for the future. The Printing Solutions Division and the Placement Solutions Division will form the new SMT Solutions segment. Günter Lauber, the former head of the Siplace team and now the CEO of SMT Solutions, will continue to drive the company’s growth strategy in markets outside of the classic backend business. The goal is no less than to become the undisputed Number One in the SMT equipment field by 2016.
At the press conference, Günter Lauber pointed out that Siplace and DEK will keep offering their best-in-class solutions to the industry. That way, customers will still be able to combine both solutions with printing and placement solutions from other suppliers.
On the other hand, Lauber is also working hard to realize his vision of how electronics manufacturing processes can be improved: “I have always believed that the perfect SMT solution for our customers would comprise more than just placement machines and the right software. Equipment makers and electronics producers know that the improved integration of printers, inspection system and placement machines, i.e. the early stage of the SMT process chain, harbors huge improvement potential. Acquiring DEK enables us to grow and develop innovative solutions for our customers by sharing our extensive knowledge and experience. Our goal is to further improve and optimize our customers’ production processes.”Accordingly, the company plans to set up joint projects for developing integrated solutions, which Lauber believes will produce new growth impulses and competitive benefits over other equipment manufacturers. “It is for good reason that we are at Siemens EWA in Amberg. This is one of the most advanced manufacturing plants in the world. Electronics producers like Siemens and equipment manufacturers like ASMPT SMT Solutions believe that further integration harbors huge potentials. We want to deliver these improvements in efficiency and process reliability by offering a new generation of SMT solutions that effectively integrate the printing, inspection and placement processes.”
Lauber continued: “ASMPT’s acquisitions also demonstrate that the company pursues innovation and growth. We will keep the successful DEK brand so that the team can continue to go full speed ahead with its current people, processes and organization. This is one of ASMPT’s great strengths: the company decides on acquisitions with a much more long-term-oriented perspective and makes any changes regarding people and customers in a very careful and consensus-oriented manner.”
