Asteelflash upgrades the machinepark at Bedford facility
French EMS provider Asteelflash has expanded its SMT placement capacity at its Bedford, UK facility with eight modules from Fuji’s NXT III placement platform, NEXIM software, and a Smart Setup Station.
The investment has allowed the EMS provider to significantly reduce changeover times and increase flexibility in high-mix production.
Like many other companies in the electronics industry, Asteelflash is currently facing multiple changes and challenges in the sector, with high pressure from both innovation and competition. To address these challenges, the company decided to modernise its SMT production.
Asteelflash chose Fuji’s modular NXT III placement solution – ideal for assembling multifunctional and high-performance electronics. It allows for high placement density of tiny components. Paired with NEXIM software and the Smart Setup Station.
Asteelflash began a with a phased installation of the solution at its Bedford facility in January 2023 already, with the final modules integrated by September 2024. Due to the modular and scalable design of the NXT III, production could resume immediately after the first phase of installation. The new platform replaces outdated equipment, whose limited flexibility and long changeover times had significantly impacted production efficiency.
“One of the key requirements was to reduce changeover times in high-mix production to become faster. Thanks to the Fuji solution, we were able to significantly increase speed, expand our SMT placement capacity, and improve our responsiveness to constantly changing market demands. This has provided us with the flexibility that is essential for the current needs of the EMS industry,” said John Cardi, Engineering Manager at Asteelflash Group, in a press release.
