NUREMBERG, GERMANY-Siemens Automation and Drives (A&D, Nuremberg, Germany), has acquired Opto-Control Elektronik Prüfsysteme (Bochum, Germany). The acquisition adds high-precision automatic optical inspection (AOI) systems to Siemens's Siplace surface mount technology business. Opto-Control's inspection systems are fully automated and use 3-D sensor technology to detect any solder or placement flaws.
Process controls and automated inspection are becoming increasingly more important in electronics manufacturing to maximize manufacturing quality. AOI systems help operators, as well as process engineers, to optimize their processes and monitor output.