RM 171: Pick & Place Machine Selection and Optimization
Today we're turning our attention to a cornerstone of modern electronics manufacturing: pick-and-place technology.
Joining Mike Konrad is Tim Kang, CEO of Hanwha Semitech Americas. With nearly two decades of experience in the electronics manufacturing space — starting as a mechanical engineer and now leading one of the top pick and place equipment providers — Kang brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to build reliable assemblies.
In this episode, we’re covering best practices for selecting the most appropriate pick and place machine, how to get the most out of your equipment, and the common mistakes that can compromise productivity and long-term reliability.
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52:37
RM 169: On the Road - Soldering
On this episode of the Reliability Matters podcast, Mike Konrad left his usual studio for the IPC Apex Expo trade show.
He interviews two subject matter experts on topics related to electronics assembly.
The guests are:
Gerald Gardner, global product manager at Weller, a manufacturer of hand soldering equipment fume extraction systems, and precision tools.
Mike Young – CEO OF SASinno Americas, a manufacturer of wave and selective soldering equipment.
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29:32
RM 168: On the Road - Electronics Assembly
Mike Konrad interviews three subject matter experts on various topics related to electronics assembly.
The guests are:
Greg Beck, director of sales at Absolute EMS, a contract manufacturer.
Brian Watson, cofounder of HyRel Technologies, a global provider of quickturn semiconductor modification solutions.
Keith Sweatman, technical advisor at Nihon Superior, a manufacturer of soldering materials
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35:11
Chris Banton of EMA Design Automation on Board Optimization
Chris Banton of EMA Design Automation joins Matt Leary, Geoffrey Hazelett and Mike Buetow to talk about how the EDA vendor's helps printed circuit board designers optimize their designs.
Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.
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9:48
Robert Byrne of Allspice
Robert Bryne, director of marketing at Allspice.io, joins Geoffrey Hazelett of FreedomCAD, Matt Leary of Newgrange Design and Mike Buetow of PCEA to talk about the five-year-old company's GIT hardware platform that helps hardware and electrical engineers streamline hardware design reviews.
We discuss the ECAD formats that Allspice engages with, the templates used, why GitHub matters for software teams, and the company's target markets.
Recorded live on the show floor at PCB East 2025.
Recorded conversations and interviews on electronics design and manufacturing with the editors of PCD&F/Circuits Assembly, brought to you by the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA)