HITACHI Kicks Into 2012 with off-the-Show-Floor Sales of High-Performance Sigma G5 Modular Mounter
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Dallas, Texas, USA - The Production Systems Division (PSD) of Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. (HTA) kicked into high gear at the recent IPC/APEX 2012 show, rolling out its newest heavy hitter in the fast, flexible placement arena - the company's new flagship Sigma G5 high-performance, compact, modular mounter. The Sigma G5, an alliance of advanced hardware and powerful software tools, turned heads, and before the show had ended, two sales had been concluded with one of the machines
in the booth sold outright.
Chad Wagner, Design Engineer at Garnet Instruments, went to the show with his colleagues looking for a placement machine to add capacity because Garnet's manufacturing volume has been on the increase, and the engineers wanted to make
sure that they could grow in capacity keeping pace with demand. "It came down to speed and flexibility," Wagner says. "We have two manufacturing lines. By installing the Sigma in one of those lines, and basically "turbocharging" it, with one operator, it saves us the expense of having to add an entire third line. Not to mention the savings in manufacturing floor space and added personnel."
Garnet Instruments Ltd., with facilities in Canada and in the USA, is a manufacturer of precision gauges and specializes in liquid level measurement, particularly the SeeLeveL family of gauges. Garnet Instruments Ltd. is the leader in North America in diagnostic and test equipment used to maintain the overfill prevention systems on bulk refined product haulers.
Adam Suchko, at Indiana-based Engineering Concepts Unlimited (ECU), who bought the display Sigma G5 off the exhibit hall floor, needed reliability, speed, and flexibility in a modular mounter. "The G5 is our new family member," he says. "We have a fantastic history with Hitachi equipment all still running and on the production floor." He adds, "I told my associates that we weren't buying the machine as much as we were actually buying the service. Service is huge, and I emphasize that the number one reason why we bought the machine was the people and the company behind it. I knew that the machine would run, and would assemble our products reliably, but an investment like this far more than hardware. Your productivity and success as an OEM or contract manufacturer depend on the right combination of technology, service, and support. Think less that you're buying a machine, more that
you're buying a company."
ECU products include Engine Control Modules, Logic Modules, Generator Controls, Fault Expanders, LED Modules, Speed Switches, Voltage Detectors, and more.
About the HITACHI Sigma G5
Available in both High Speed and Flexible High Speed configurations, the G5 can accommodate board sizes of 510 x 610mm up to 460mm x 820mm for higher throughput volume of large boards and panelized assemblies. Other leading features of the G5 include a two-head placement system that offers the most flexibility in a single high speed head and a multi-function head; two quick-change feeder bases that accommodate tape and stick feeders or quick change tray unit with tape feeders; and the
industry's first "Overdrive Control System" whereby both heads can pick from each other's component supply and place on the same board simultaneously and without restriction. Powerful software tools allied to the Sigma G5 hardware include innovative Production Support Systems and software tools including the EG-100 Offline library creation system, a table-top system that offers the same teaching capability that is built into the placement machines; the NT-100 Offline programming station, through which all process data can be stored on a central server for easier access to all users as well as convenient backup; LISA traceability station; and Offline changeover station.
About Hitachi High Technologies America - Production Systems Division
Hitachi High Technologies America, Inc. ("HTA") is a privately-owned global affiliate company that operates within the Hitachi Group Companies. HTA sells and services semiconductor manufacturing equipment, analytical instrumentation, scientific instruments, bio-related products as well as industrial equipment, electronic devices, electronic and industrial materials, consumer electronic products, wireless mobile telephones, and hard disk manufacturing systems. The HTA Production Systems Division (PSD) offers optimal integrated manufacturing solutions to large and small customers by supplying a variety of cutting-edge surface mount technology manufacturing solutions. For more information, and company contact information, visit www.hitachi-hta.com.
