Product category: Electronics Manufacturing Machinery and Materials
News Release from: Contax | Subject: Essemtec CSM7100
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 15 August 2006

SMT line improves production flexibility

Clofield has just installed machinery from production automation system specialist Contax to equip its new lead-free SMT assembly line

Clofield, manufacturer of the leading Silent Alert paging system for deaf people, has just installed machinery from production automation system specialist Contax to equip its new lead-free SMT assembly line. The equipment chosen includes the Essemtec CSM7100 pick and place machine, together with an SP002 stencil printer and reflow oven.

The results have proven so successful that a repeat order for a pick and place machine and solder stencil was placed within 6 months of the delivery of the original line.

Richard Gough, Managing Director at Clofield explained: 'This is the first time we have manufactured SMT product in-house, previously we relied on specialist subcontractors'.

'In order to remain competitive in the face of competitors producing in lower cost regions, it became necessary for us to review and improve our manufacturing efficiency'.

'As our subcontract assembly costs represented a large proportion of our overall build cost, we decided to consider in-house SMT manufacturing'.

'The new line has dramatically improved production flexibility ', added Chris Pownall, Technican at Clofield.

'We are a very innovative company with a steady stream of in-house product development projects as well as a large number of existing products'.

'The new SMT line enables us to produce small batches of preproduction prototypes rapidly, which helps improve our product to market times'.

'The CSM7100 lends itself to quick set-up and changeover which helps us to slot in pr-production work within a main production schedule'.

The next stage in production development will be the introduction of the second CSM7100.

Continued Pownall: 'The investment in a second line has been driven by a significant increase in sales turnover'.

'The extra capacity will help us keep up with increased production demand and still allow us to produce preproduction prototypes as and when required'.

Clofield looked at a number of suppliers for the pick and place systems.

Its main criteria were cost and performance, together with good production speeds and a high level of accuracy.

However, the deciding factors included the laser component positioning feature, intelligent feeders plus the training and after-sales package offered by Contax.

Designed for small to medium manufacturers with multiple changeovers, the CSM7100 is a compact machine with a high feeder count.

It is user friendly with flexible, intelligent feeders to produce accurate and repeatable results.

'We are very happy with our choice of machine and supplier', concluded Pownall.

'The fact that we have now ordered a second line indicates that we have made the right decision'.

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