Bender GmbH & Co. KG in Grünberg has implemented a second fully automated SMT line featuring NXTR placement solutions from FUJI EUROPE CORPORATION, boosting assembly capacity by 30 percent while maintaining high flexibility for small batch sizes. Integrated mobile AMRs, sFAB-D machines, and X-ray inspection cells digitally connect all manufacturing stages, reducing production costs and ecological footprint. This seamless, standardized workflow ensures efficient, compliant fabrication and elevates process reliability.
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Bender installs second NXTR line boosting capacity by 30%
To address increasing customer requirements for diverse configurations and smaller production batches, Bender GmbH & Co. KG has implemented a second fully automated SMT assembly line at its Grünberg facility. Utilizing FUJI EUROPE CORPORATIONs NXTR technology, this new installation boosts board assembly throughput by around thirty percent. The advanced line integrates intelligent feeders, high-speed placement modules, and dynamic scheduling to accommodate low-volume runs with minimal setup times and maintain high process reliability and quality.
Eight NXTR Tray Units Ensure Precise Feeding And Quality
At the core of the assembly line, eight NXTR A Tray Unit RM modules ensure precise component feeding, complemented by one NXTR RM, two NXTR S, and two sFAB-D pick-and-place machines. The latter automate and standardize manual tasks, increasing process reliability. By reducing human error and optimizing resource consumption, they achieve higher product quality. This combination of feeders and high-speed placers delivers flexible production for board designs while minimizing costs.
Intelligent AMR Integration Enables Seamless Material Flow Across Production
Intelligent networking integrates every station through wireless communication, allowing autonomous mobile robots to convey circuit boards among placement machines, solder paste printers, X-ray inspection units, depanelers, and in-circuit test cells. Automated magazine buffers dynamically manage interim storage, smoothing throughput and seamlessly eliminating bottlenecks. This unified digital framework collects real-time metrics, supports adaptive scheduling, and enforces quality compliance, delivering a transparent, efficient manufacturing ecosystem optimized for traceability and continuous process improvement.
Eleven-Month Automation Upgrade Completed Without Disrupting Ongoing Production Processes
The complete undertaking, spanning infrastructure upgrades, cutting-edge automation deployment, and end assembly integration, was accomplished within eleven months. During the overhaul of fifteen-year-old structural components and relocation of key production areas, manufacturing operations persisted without a single delivery delay. This initiative delivered significant efficient capacity increases and integrated redundancy, strengthening supply chain resilience and truly guaranteeing improved delivery performance for customers adapting to evolving production complexities and heightened market expectations.
Benders automated SMT line boosts capacity, flexibility, quality, sustainability
The automated SMT line at Benders Grünberg facility merges capacity gains, operational flexibility and consistent quality. Integrating NXTR and sFAB-D technologies with digitalization via AMR, X-ray inspection and ICT stations delivers cost efficiency and high process reliability. An eleven-month installation avoided downtime and maintained deliveries. This solution lowers environmental impact and positions Bender for growing volumes, greater variety and future regulations, ensuring a resilient production environment with minimal resource consumption.
