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There is a rapid change in the field of electronics manufacturing. As portable devices get smaller, faster and smarter, SMT assembly lines need to run faster with minimal tolerance for defects. Automation has now become the new normal, and within automated material handling systems, the SMT PCB Magazine Rack has changed from simply a storage accessory to a critical component of automated material handling systems, connecting pick-and-place machines, reflow ovens, testing stations and storage facilities. Shanghai Leenol is the "Total Solution" company focused on meeting the ESD requirements of your factory or lab. Our full range of products is: Leerack Handling Storage ESD Equipment, Leepak Packing Material, Leebench Factory and Lab Furniture, LeePPE Personal Protection, Leepur Cleanroom Products and LeeStat Testing Equipment and Tools. Here are four drivers of increased demand for SMT PCB Magazine Rack systems within automated assembly lines:
How Key Features That Support High-Speed SMT Production Drive Demand
High-speed SMT PCB production lines have extremely stringent requirements for the handling equipment. Thus, the SMT PCB Magazine Rack to be used must include the following features. First, a precise fit. Tight tolerances are required for slot pitch and width so as to feed correctly into automated loaders without jamming. Second, ESD safety. Conductive or dissipative materials prevent electrostatic discharge that may damage sensitive components. Third, strong structure. The magazine racks need to survive constant, repetitive operations where the racks are loaded and unloaded repeatedly by robots without bending or breaking. Fourth, standardization. Standard magazine racks (typically 355mm 320mm or 460mm 400mm) must work between different brands of equipment. Fifth, labeling systems. An automatic identifier such as a bar code or an RFID slot to trace the material in the magazine. Leenol's Leerack handling storage equipment, LeeIntelligent SMT Storage systems include all the features for high-speed SMT production lines with demands of 50,000+ components per hour, and as speeds increase further, the requirement for a magazine rack that can meet the high demands will increase even further.
The Shift Toward Just-in-Time and Lean Manufacturing
Today's electronics manufacturers are leaning more and more on just-in-time and lean manufacturing principles. This means they strive to maintain a minimum buffer stock, have smooth material flow, and eliminate waste. SMT PCB Magazine Rack plays an important part of this paradigm shift. Instead of PCB parts being placed into bulky trays or on to shelving for storage, magazine racks are used as portable material carriers. As magazines full of PCBs go from the PCB fabrication facility to the SMT line to testing and final assembly stations, empty magazines are cycled back to the beginning for refilling. This 'closed loop' system decreases handling times, reduces the amount of space on the floor needed for materials, and enhances visibility of inventory. Leenol's LeeIntelligent SMT Storage system improves upon this concept further, adding automation of magazine retrieval, buffering and discharge which are synchronized with a production control system. As more electronics factories move to JIT and lean concepts, more and more demand will arise for specifically designed magazine racks.
Increased PCB Complexity and Handling Sensitivity
More and more PCB substrates are becoming fragile. Extremely thin substrates (some as thin as 0.4mm) are currently used, especially within LED lighting and automotive components. Handling of such sensitive parts in a high-speed production line requires great care. PCB assemblies with components on both sides demand higher production rates and more careful handling. Automated SMT PCB magazine racks include guides along both sides of the PCB that prevent the pieces from coming in contact with each other and offer adjustable widths to accommodate variations in PCB size. As components with very fine pitches (like 0201 passives and even smaller sizes are becoming common in IoT devices and wearables), boards handled manually during these operations are prone to shock and vibration which may damage sensitive components. The automated handling with magazine racks smooths this motion significantly, providing superior protection to delicate board assemblies. To enhance this further, Leenol supplies not only magazine racks but also Leepak custom packing materials and ESD tote boxes. Increasing PCB complexity is directly linked to greater demand for magazine racks designed to protect these fragile parts without impacting automated assembly.
Integration with Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories
Industry 4.0 will change the field of electronics assembly from automation and data exchange, to an integration of information. For the fully automated smart factory, all material handling should be traceable and all material handling equipment should generate data. An SMT PCB magazine rack can fulfill these needs when it is RFID enabled, or when it features an integrated bar code. As magazine racks are moved through the automated process the data they carry can be used by an MES and WMS to track the movement and processing of materials throughout the factory. It provides real time data to allow automatic re-ordering of materials, traces what part ran where, and provides automatically tallied inventory. The Leenol LeeIntelligent SMT Storage System works seamlessly with MES/ ERP systems to provide reports on magazine rack usage, cycle times, and buffering capacity. Increased adoption of smart factory principles has dramatically accelerated the demand for 'smart ready' magazine racks.
Summary
The increasing demand for SMT PCB magazine racks in automated assembly lines are driven by four major factors: First, key features for high-speed SMT production, Second, lean and JIT manufacturing principles, Third, handling the complexity and delicacy of new PCBs, and Last, Industry 4.0 and the integration of smart factories. Magazine racks are becoming active participants in the automated material flow of an electronics assembly line, from ESD protection, to tracing materials throughout the assembly process. Leenol is a "Total Solution" provider for the electronics factory and laboratory. Leenol provides Leerack storage equipment, which consists of ESD magazine racks, ESD trolleys, and ESD tote boxes, as well as LeeBench factory and lab furniture, Leepak custom packing material, LeeIntelligent SMT storage systems, and ESD workbenches, chairs, clothing, shoes, masks, cleanroom wipers, ionizing equipment, and testers. Contact Leenol today to prepare your automated assembly lines for the demands of modern electronics manufacturing.
