Count On Tools, a precision component manufacturer specializing in all aspects of the machining industry, has been a manufacturer of high-quality, low-cost pick-and-place nozzles and associated components for the SMT and electronics manufacturing industries for 19 years. Proven engineering expertise, coupled with its commitment to manufacturing excellence and investment in the latest production equipment, ensures that innovation and competitiveness is applied to all of its extensive product range. Curt Couch gave an in-depth look at the company.
How has your background in precision manufacturing helped you to create a better product for customers in the SMT industry?
I have always had the keep it simple philosophy. My attitude for approaching new and existing concepts and ideas is with an open mind. Because of this attitude or say culture, our entire COT team is able to apply ideas and proven concepts across the board when it comes to picking and placing anything via vacuum. In my opinion, all industries are connected and parallel with one another, meaning that one needs the other to sustain itself, so useful ideas can come from other industries and experiences. We frequently intermingle and use materials and basic vacuum geometries that are used in high-volume placement platforms for customers with low-volume, high-mix applications. The use of many different materials, coatings, tooling, fixtures, and machining components in other industries has taught us that we can apply these same principals to all of the products that we design and manufacture for our customers in the SMT market sector.
Do you primarily sell to customers in the U.S., or do you offer global distribution?
Currently, we sell our products worldwide, and have done so for many years. We have distribution partners in key global electronics markets, including Europe, Asia, South America, and the Pacific Rim. Any area not serviced by one of our partners is handled directly by our headquarters in Gainesville, Ga.
What products and services are you currently promoting? Please tell us a bit about each product.
Right now, our Mydata line of spare parts is really taking off. We have expanded this product range to include the full line of Midas and Hydra tools, as well as an array of other consumables, such as filters, replacement tool tips, and grease. Count On Tools also has the capability to produce custom nozzles, such as melfs, flat pipes, and grippers based on the original designs. Additionally, we are working on developing parts and repair services for the Agilis feeders. Currently, there is no other source for this type of service anywhere. This would include repairs on feeder springs and plows. We also are working to develop replacement board lock arms and hydra tool tubes. Another emerging market that has picked up over the first quarter of this year is selective soldering. Currently, we offer replacement nozzles for Ace and Pillarhouse equipment. We hope to start developing more nozzles for many of the other machines out there as well. Finally, we are promoting our extended range of Panasonic CM nozzles and consumables. We offer most of the standard nozzles for the multifunction 3-nozzle head, high-speed 8-nozzle head, and the high-speed 12-nozzle head. We even offer the new style reflector with a special scratch-resistant coating for improved vision and longer life. We also sell replacement filters for this line of nozzles.
We understand that you also provide custom nozzle engineering for odd-form components. What type of benefits can a customer expect from using your company over an OEM for this type of service?
The most important benefit that we can offer customers is a fast turnaround time for custom nozzles. Generally, we can have nozzles ready in just one to two days after receiving samples of the component. This is the fastest custom nozzle service in the industry! We also provide free quotes and designs, so that customers do not have to worry about getting tied up with extra fees. We guarantee the functionality of our custom nozzles because we work directly with the OEMs and component manufacturers. Our company also has a multi-platform proficiency that is crucial to the design of custom nozzles. We are not afraid to take technology from one nozzle manufacturer and use it in a completely different machine. Basically, the process is the same for every SMT machine out there. Finally, we offer affordable pricing on all of our custom nozzles, sometimes up to 50 percent less than our competitors. This all combines to create a unique service that is our own.
LEDs seem to be a hot topic in the industry at the moment. Are you making custom nozzles for them?
Absolutely. We have been lucky enough to work with leading EMS companies worldwide, as well as LED manufacturers, to create custom nozzle designs that will work in any machine. This also has allowed us to transition these components into high-speed, high-capacity assembly equipment for faster production and greater efficiency.
What other types of odd-form components do you make nozzles for?
We have made literally thousands of custom nozzles over the past 19 years. Some of the more common ones include 01005 chips, sockets, lamps, bulbs, deep socket connectors, switches, pins, heavy components, pre-assembled circuit boards, heat sinks, film, labels, solder balls, shields, speakers, oversized components, antennas, connectors, and more. We don’t just sell nozzles, we offer solutions that allow our customers to place any odd-form component without having to invest in new specialized equipment or to resort to hand assembly. Our goal is to optimize efficiency and save our customers money by maximizing the capabilities of the SMT equipment that they already use for production.
Do you offer any warranties with your products and services? If so, please explain.
Customer satisfaction is our number one priority, so we stand behind our products 100%. If customers are not satisfied with the quality, durability, or performance of our products, we will send them a free replacement that meets or exceeds their expectations or we offer a full refund of the purchase price.
Why should customers looking for high quality low cost SMT nozzles and consumables choose Count On Tools over other suppliers?
The main reason is because it is made in the USA. Not very many companies can claim this motto anymore. We have been able to maintain our competitive edge because of our investment in the latest CNC equipment and more importantly, it’s the people. It’s that American spirit that all of our staff maintains. We are proud of keeping this heritage of “build it here, buy it here” alive. We offer a broad-brush approach to pick-and-place, dispense, and selective soldering, that no other company can offer. We are compelled, not hindered to incorporate the use of many different materials, concepts, and cost saving measures to provide fast and adequate service for all customers. Each new accomplishment means that the next customer will benefit from the never ending source of information and new ideas. What works for one will work for another, regardless of OEM or platform type. Customer service is number one no matter what. I believe in treating people & customers the way I want to be treated myself. No customer or problem is too small or big to receive the attention he or she deserves. This type of service is very important in our industry; it could mean the difference between encountering enormous down time cost, or long term savings. In some cases we can design, build, and ship a custom vacuum nozzle to place an exotic/odd shaped component in as little as one day. The use of these and many services offered by our company can reduce costs associated with labor and, more importantly, our customers’ end products reliability and market success/profit.
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