Sep 18, 2017 
Some two decades since its last major investment in SMT component placement, prestigious audio systems manufacturer, Linn Products has chosen to re-invest in Europlacer platforms with the acquisition of four of the company’s latest iineo+ pick & place machines.
Linn’s decision follows a comprehensive market assessment of contemporary placement technologies and solutions. This is part of a significant capital investment programme in its purpose-built factory based in Waterfoot, just outside Glasgow. Linn Products has been using previous generations of Europlacer machines with great success but embarked on the evaluation to ensure an impartial decision based entirely on the capabilities of the industry’s latest equipment and suppliers, to ensure they remain at the forefront of audio innovation by creating music systems and turntables of the highest quality.
“While we were perfectly happy with the systems and support from Europlacer, it was right that we undertook a completely fresh capability evaluation, given the rapid evolution of SMT placement equipment over the years,” explains Anne of Linn Products’ technical team. “We wanted to compare the new Europlacer offering with other machines on the market.”
After scrutinising the market and visiting manufacturing sites using equipment from competitors, the comparison proved fruitful for Europlacer with Linn’s technical team concluding that Europlacer remains the right partner for its business. “Having considered other equipment suppliers, we felt that Europlacer continues to offer the best performance in being able to place the range of devices that we use and by delivering the extreme flexibility we require in the production of our complex and highly-technical audio product range,” says Anne.
“Even as a strong business partner, delivering excellent support for almost 20 years, we know its right that our customers evaluate their options at times of significant new investment. We expect it and certainly take nothing for granted,” says Andy Jones, Business Development Manager at Europlacer. “However, it is all the more rewarding when we prevail as a result of a totally independent and unbiased market evaluation. Naturally, we are delighted with the outcome and look forward to continuing to provide exemplary support to Linn Products for the next two decades,” he adds.
The installation of the four new iineo+ machines is complete and – thanks to Europlacer’s acclaimed backward compatibility product development philosophy – the transition from the older equipment to the new platforms proved smooth and straightforward. Linn is already enjoying performance improvements that will enable it to remain at the forefront of audio innovation.
The Blakell Europlacer Group comprises the Speedprint Technologies, Europlacer, and Blakell Europlacer Distribution business units. All three are active and pre-eminent in the electronic circuit board assembly sector with advanced product and service solutions for electronics manufacturers in the UK and globally. Speedprint Technologies is a provider of screen printing equipment used in surface mount assembly processes. Europlacer is a provider of surface mount component placement equipment. Blakell Europlacer Distribution augments the provision of screen printing and pick & place platforms in the UK with a range of associated equipment, including AOI, reflow and PCB handling. Linn Products: https://www.linn.co.uk/
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