Interview
worldwide. Seika’s vision and strategy Therefore, Seika is very selective from the
Global recovery looking more & more
has been to focus and expand business beginning in choosing representatives and
likely, continued from page 26
opportunities in overseas markets outside distributors to work with. Seika values
Neways received a cable loom systems
of Japan. its experience in this industry and the
order from VDL Groep.
Its first U.S. operation was started reputation among customers in their
Oxford Advanced Surfaces Group
in 1986. Eight years later, in 1994, we territories.
developed a 1nm thick, environmentally
incorporated in the state of California as
friendly Onto coating to protect silver
Seika Machinery, Inc. This year, 2009, we Q7. What does your company see as
against tarnishing.
are celebrating our 15th anniversary. the future of the Central and South
Photo Stencil celebrated its 30th
American market?
anniversary.
Q3. Which products does Seika currently
Despite the recent downturn in the world Rehm Thermal Systems:
offer?
economy, the Mexican market has room
• hired and appointed Robert Mihalyi
For the SMT industry, we currently to continue growing from the perspective
sales manager for Central Eastern
provide reflow ovens, conveyors, PCB of assembling larger consumer items,
Europe (CEE).
routers, solder paste inspection, flying including automotive parts, thus providing
• signed a soldering product distribution
probe testers, low humidity storage more cost effective logistical and product-
agreement with Altus Group in UK
cabinets, digital microscopes, stencil supplying locations to the USA. It is an
and Ireland.
cleaners and solder material. Since Seika absolutely positive factor that Mexico
Rogers acquired MTI Global’s silicones
has a strong connection with overseas has been keen to improve infrastructure
business assets.
equipment and material suppliers, we to accommodate more manufacturing
Savcor Group acquired a majority
are always researching product lines that facilities. We recognize the trend that
shareholding in Cencorp.
potentially satisfy customer’s current and certain types of manufacturing have been
Siemens Electronics Assembly Systems
future requirements. coming back from Asia to Mexico to attain
introduced a placement machine with rail-
controlled quality and utilize logistical
mounted gantries that can be moved into
Q4. What needs do the North American advantage. Among other countries besides
use in only minutes.
market have that Seika’s line of products Mexico, Brazil has also been retaining
Teradyne and OptimalTest agreed to
can fill better than its competitors? high potential for growth in electronics
jointly market-test operations optimization
assembly and other types of manufacturing
solutions.
The most important part of any cleanSeika
that the Seika global group can provide
ThreeBond began marketing its 3373E
has a strict product selection process. As
solutions for. We continue searching for
screen-printed anisotropic conductive
mentioned earlier, we distribute superior
new business opportunities including
adhesive with low halogen content for film
equipment and materials sourced from
establishment of partnerships with local
substrate bonding.
Japanese top suppliers that are already
representatives.
Valor appointed Hitech Eletronica its
proven in the global marketplace. Our
exclusive representative in Brazil.
products are unique, high quality,
Q8. What does Seika hope to accomplish
Ventec Electronics (Suzhou):
cost-competitive and reliable so that
in the North American Market 2009?
• and TMT formed a strategic
contribution to improving the productivity
partnership agreement for Germany,
of a customer’s manufacturing process In this difficult economic climate, we
Austria and Switzerland markets.
is made effective. Some of our quality- still aim to attain more awareness for our • appointed Pietro Cucciati its
improvement-related equipment has been products and the company itself. We will representative for the Italian market.
in high demand during recent years. continue to use advertising in industry Vi TECHNOLOGY appointed iNETest
publications as well as participate in major Technologies its distributor in India.
Q5. What is Seika’s main challenge? trade shows. As the industry changes, we
will look towards finding new solutions for Walt Custer is an independent consultant
Although our products are well known
the technologies developed. Fortunately, who monitors and offers a daily news service
in Asia and are advanced in many
when lead-free and RoHS compliance
and market reports on the PCB and assembly
technical areas, they are lacking brand
became requirements here in our market,
automation and semiconductor industries. He
name awareness in North America. It
the Japanese suppliers had already been
can be contacted at walt@custerconsulting.com
has been challenging for Seika to create
working on optimizing their products for
or visit www.
name recognition of our equipment and
this process. We were able to capitalize
custerconsulting.com.
to introducing product capabilities to
on this experience and expertise by our
potential customers.
Principals. We are committed to providing
Jon Custer-Topai is vice president of Custer
superior equipment and fine materials
Consulting Group and responsible for the
Q6. What type of distributor relationship
with up-to-date technical information
corporation’s market research and news analysis
does Seika offer its partners?
that is valuable for our customers as well
activities. Jon is a member of the IPC and active
Seika is eager to develop a solid sales as supporting the electronics assembly
in the Technology Marketing Research Council.
He can be contacted at
distribution network in North America. industry overall for the long term.
jon@custerconsulting.com.
We are interested in the long-term
relationship with distributors and Thank you for your time, Isao.
representatives in order to maintain
consistent, familiar contact with local Trevor Galbraith.
customers and establish trustworthiness
among parties involved in business.
www.globalsmt.net Global SMT & Packaging – June 2009 – 29
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