KSR International chooses Genesis GC-120Q for high-volume assembly

Citation

(2008), "KSR International chooses Genesis GC-120Q for high-volume assembly", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 20 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2008.21920cab.011

KSR International chooses Genesis GC-120Q for high-volume assembly

Article Type: Industry news From: Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Volume 20, Issue 3

KSR International, a prominent industry leader in the design and manufacture of electronics modules, controls and closures for the transportation industry, has selected the Genesis GC-120Q placement platform from Universal Instruments to meet its new objective for in-house assembly speed and flexibility.

As a key part of a strategic manufacturing initiative to bring its high-volume production in-house, KSR International of Ridgetown, Ontario, surveyed several of the industry’s largest pick and place suppliers. But the KSR team was not simply looking for the fastest machine, the lowest possible price, or the best local service. They knew that assembly efficiency, process consistency and overall productivity demanded a combination of these attributes from a single supplier. They found the solution in the Universal Instruments GC-120Q platform.

“We evaluated many potential Surface Mount suppliers and found that most companies merely sell boxes, while Universal Instruments clearly delivers solutions,” comments Joe Grasso, KSR Manufacturing Engineer. “The GC-120Q provides the throughput capacity for our volume requirements without compromising flexibility. In addition, Universal’s process expertise and knowledge are exceptional. We have come to realize that a partnership with Universal means their knowledge is also our knowledge, and this is vital in getting productive quickly and maintaining the high yields we need to be competitive.”

The evaluation and selection process for advanced placement equipment is not as straightforward as it might seem: “Some companies claim to have the fastest machines based on the IPC-9850 specification in placing 0603 caps, but who only places 0603s?,” asks Brad Bennett, Area Operations Director for Universal. “Our Genesis GC-120Q delivers the highest volumes available across a much broader component range – up to 30 mm square in fact. And this flexibility is a huge asset in building real-world products,” he explains, adding: “We are proud to be associated with KSR, and are delighted that the GC-120Q proved to be their tool of choice.”

The Genesis GC-120Q delivers the highest true product throughput by applying the industry’s fastest head technology across the broadest component range, allowing manufacturers to achieve outstanding throughput and utilization without sacrificing performance in higher-mix environments. Regardless of product mix or production volumes, this flexibility is paramount in attaining superior cost-per-placement, as it means new product introductions and rapid product changeovers can be achieved without head or module swapping.