How is SMarTsol keeping pace with the changing needs of electronics manufacturers?

At SMTA Guadalajara, Keith Bryant speaks with Julio Romo, newly appointed to SMarTsol’s senior management team, about the company’s expansion into Texas and Asia—and its investment in demo rooms, warehouses and service engineers closer to customers.

With 15 years in the industry, SMarTsol is extending its capabilities beyond PCBA to rack-level support, wire-harness inspection and emerging semiconductor projects in Mexico and the US.

Julio explains how fast, multilingual, one-stop support helps build customer confidence as manufacturing requirements evolve.

Keith Bryant spoke with Luis Garcia of Rehm about the Condenso XC, an entry-level vapour phase soldering machine designed for labs and small, high-mix production batches.

PCBs combining large thermal masses with small, sensitive components can be difficult to reflow evenly. The Condenso XC uses Galden vapour to transfer heat efficiently, with temperature limited by the fluid’s boiling point.

Two injections control preheat and peak temperature inside a closed chamber, while vacuum helps reduce solder voids. Galden is filtered for reuse, and the machine can also reprocess boards that missed the vacuum stage.

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Keith Bryant spoke with Luis Fernando Gazcon of KYZEN about new tools designed to improve cleaning efficiency and traceability.

Its cost-modelling tool analyses inline and batch cleaning processes to identify ways to reduce water and chemical consumption, shorten cleaning cycles and extend bath life.

KYZEN’s PCS closed-loop system measures concentration and automatically adds water or chemistry as needed. Standalone sensors provide live monitoring, reducing the need for manual readings.

The new Analyst RI2 uses refractive index to measure concentration, complementing KYZEN’s established sonic velocity technology. Software supports traceability as manufacturers demand better visibility into their cleaning processes.

KYZEN is also hiring across Mexico and expanding its Nashville laboratories.

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At SMTA Guadalajara, Global SMT & Packaging spoke with Heriberto from Koh Young about the new Zenith DS dual-side AOI system. Two inspection heads check the top and bottom of a board simultaneously, combining SMT and through-hole inspection in a single pass to reduce inspection time and costs. The system is currently being showcased in beta, with software scheduled for Q1 2027.

Koh Young is also expanding its presence in Mexico with a new office offering twice the demo space and training facilities for up to ten people per session.

While automotive demand remains flat, AI applications are driving demand for larger, more customised boards—and new inspection requirements.

Keith Bryant speaks with Juan Arango of PARMI about laser-based AOI and the growing role of AI in inspection. Arango explains how laser scanning avoids the shadows associated with white-light systems, helping improve inspection quality.

According to PARMI, AI auto-programming cuts program creation from six to eight hours to under 10 minutes, followed by 10–15 minutes of debugging. For high-mix, low-volume manufacturers, that means faster changeovers and more consistent programs across different programmers.

The next step is AI verification, which will automatically classify inspection results and leave uncertain cases for an operator. Those decisions will feed back into recipe improvements, supporting PARMI’s goal of zero escapes and zero false calls.

Keith Bryant speaks with Thomas Yang of Shenzhen Synergie about closed-loop cleaning systems that combine cleaning, inspection and automatic re-cleaning in one machine.

CCD cameras detect blocked stencil apertures and trigger additional cleaning where needed. Pick-and-place nozzles receive the same automated treatment, reducing reliance on manual microscope inspections.

Each stencil and nozzle is individually coded, with inspection images and cleaning records feeding into the factory MES. This provides traceability and helps production teams identify recurring nozzle problems earlier.

At SMTA Guadalajara, Keith Bryant speaks with Reuben from SMarTsol Technologies about why local service is essential to Mexico’s electronics industry.

From manufacturer-certified engineers and spare parts to practical training, SMarTsol helps customers keep production running. As factories adopt more robotics, AI and semiconductor equipment, Reuben explains why technical expertise and long-term support matter beyond the initial purchase price.

At SMTA Guadalajara, Keith Bryant brings together industry experts to explore the advantages and limitations of these reflow technologies, whether combining vacuum and nitrogen offers the best of both worlds, and what the future holds for reflow soldering.

Joining the discussion:

• Luis Antonio Garcia G. — Rehm Thermal Systems SA de CV
• Paul Lancaster — HELLER INDUSTRIES, INC.
• Bob Bouchard — Director of Sales, Americas, BTU

Watch the full panel discussion for expert perspectives on the choices shaping electronics assembly.