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www.us-tech.com


September 2026


SASinno Americas to Showcase Soldering, Coating and Marking Systems


Continued from page 1


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Mid-Atlantic Tech Publications, Inc. Contents not be reproduced or reprinted in any form without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed on Tech Op-Ed pages and by our colum- nists are the views of the person or per- sons authoring the material.


will be either the LM510 CO2 laser marking system or the SC- 900 selective conformal coating system. The LM510 provides high-


precision PCB marking for 1D barcodes, 2D Data Matrix codes and QR codes. Featuring ±0.025 mm repeatability, industrial PC control and support for PCB sizes up to 510 x 510 mm, the system is designed to deliver ac- curate, repeatable identification for traceability applications. Alternatively, visitors can explore the SC-900 selective con-


Continued from page 1


formal coating system, a high- performance 3- or 4-axis plat- form engineered for precise, re- peatable coating applications. The system incorporates servo- driven motion, multiple valve op- tions, optional CCD vision and barcode integration. “We’re looking forward to con-


necting with manufacturers at SMTA International and demon- strating how our selective solder- ing, laser marking and conformal coating technologies can help im- prove quality, flexibility and man- ufacturing efficiency,” said Mike Young, CEO/GM of SASinno


Americas. SASinno’s technology is al-


ready helping manufacturers such as K&F Electronics, which recent- ly installed an Ultra-i1 selective soldering system to expand selec- tive soldering capacity, improve process consistency and increase manufacturing flexibility across a wider range of customer programs. Contact: SASinno Americas,


1100 Stafford Street, Washing- ton, MO 63090 % 636-888-4811 E-mail: mike@sasinnoamericas.com Web: www.sasinno.com r


See at SMTA Guadalajara, Booth 840


Automating Just to Reduce Jobs? matter most.


ny can purchase the fastest placement machine, the most so- phisticated inspection system, or the latest material-handling ro- bot and still struggle with pro- ductivity. Why? Because technology


cannot compensate indefinitely for poor processes. If production scheduling is


chaotic, engineering changes are poorly communicated, mainte- nance is neglected, or employees are inadequately trained, au- tomation often makes those weaknesses more visible. A faster machine simply delivers problems faster. The best manufacturers un-


derstand this. They automate repetitive, hazardous, or highly consistent tasks while using em- ployees where judgment, adapt- ability, and problem-solving


People Become More Important


Ironically, more automation


can make skilled employees more valuable rather than less. Modern electronics produc-


tion equipment requires pro- gramming, maintenance, process engineering, data analysis, and continuous optimization. Auto- mated inspection systems still need experienced people to inter- pret results. Robots require inte- gration and troubleshooting. Manufacturing software gener- ates information, but someone must decide what to do with it. The operator who once per-


formed a repetitive manual task may increasingly become the tech- nician supervising an automated process. That transition does not happen automatically. Companies must invest in training and create


opportunities for employees to de- velop alongside the technology. This is where management


becomes critical.


Automation Is a Management Test Poorly managed automation


often follows a predictable pat- tern. Technology is purchased primarily to reduce headcount, employees receive minimal training, and management ex- pects immediate productivity gains. When those gains fail to materialize, the technology — or the workforce — is blamed. Successful automation starts


with a different question: What problem are we trying to solve? Maybe the objective is in-


creasing throughput. Perhaps it is reducing ergonomic strain, im- proving traceability, eliminating repetitive defects, or allowing scarce skilled workers to concen-


Contents Continued on page 8


Tech-Op-Ed ........................... 4 Tech Watch ...........................10 People......................................12 Business News......................14 Business Briefs.................... 15 Management......................... 16 EMS .......................................18 Electronic Mfg. Prods.............28 Production............................ 38 Partnering............................. 40 Distribution........................... 42 New Products........................72 High-Tech Events................ 80 2026 Editorial Calendar....... 80 Advertisers Index................... 82


Special Focus: SMT & Automation................ 44


Product Preview: The Battery Show, SEMICON West, SMTA Guadalajara................. 54


See at SMTA Guadalajara, Booth 1004 and The Battery Show, Booth 1531


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