Placement machine comparison

> We are evaluating new placement equipment from > both Assembleon/Philips and Zevatech/Juki. I > would like to get comments, both pros and cons, > on anyone's experience with these > machines. > > Thanks in advance! Jon

Juki is the best.

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The machines you choose depends on the boards you build and how many of them you build. Assembleon is designed for faster production speeds where Juki is more flexible. Why are you just looking at these two? Aren't they in different leagues? Why not look at the others? ( Universal, Fuji, Siemens, etc.. ) In this market you would be suprised what you can get some of the " big boys toys " for.

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I always look into the Support Structure (Service, Applications, Training, Project/product management) of the organization. With that said I have to give Assembleon the edge. I also like the relationship between Cookson and Assembleon. Cookson Performance Solutions are doing great things in analytical and Failure analysis. I also look at Assembleon and Juki as being in two seperate classes. Obviously with the way industry is all tier machines are cheap.....Thats why I look at the support structure. With the bad times for Capital Equipment the companies that strategically placed them selves in a position to endure these times means a whole bunch. I am one of Siemens biggest fans but feel they have poorly positioned themselves for the current times.Example: Siemens added a direct sales force 1 year ago and went away from there rep network and now they sales people hire as direct by Siemens are now on the unemployment line. They added over head in a terrible time...bad move.This is just one case and my opinion.

cal

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I would look at Universal for sure. They have a ton of late model Chip placer's and GSM's that they will discount heavy. There are so many used GSM's and HSP's on the market you could probably get what you need for a fraction of the cost. You could probably buy a line that has the capacity to place 30,000 components per hour for about 75K including feeders.

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I agree with some of the earier postings about checking other mfgs. Assembleon and Juki are really two different price point companies. Assembleon is more in line with the Panasonics and Siemens of the world, Juki and Samsung might be a better focus depending on your needs. That's the whole point. What do you want from a P&P supplier? Spare parts and support? All the mfgs are getting good @ that, it's just expected. Placement rates, you get what you pay for.

I have Juki machines, 6 years now, and I like the equipment. But that doesn't mean that if a new requirement came down that another mfg met better, that I would keep buying Juki just because.

You might want to check out the used market, with things like they are a lot of good buys are out there.

To Todd's earlier comment about tech support, all companies have good and bad employees. It sounds like he just ran into a couple of the latter.

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Take a peek at a Samsung CP45v before you make a decision. I'm running two before a CP40v. Runs very well. Clever software. Cheap. I'm also running two Tenryu/i-Pulse FV-7100 in line vintage 1999. Great machines but it may be some time before the support catches up. Confusing, isn't it?

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