Jonathan Wol, President, Pillarhouse USA Inc.

It has been a tumultuous couple of years! The covid pandemic brought business to a sudden halt in early 2020 and although business has been gradually picking up again, Mek like many others, are still looking to recover from the revenue falls of 2020.

However, during 2022 we have seen a growing demand for new, more efficient AOI technology. Global lack of human resources and recruitment problems are driving the need for automated inspection for processes that were typically done manually, such as THT and manual assembly. Having been a novelty until recently, AOI for THT and manual assembly processes is now making its way into the mainstream.

Requirements for increased process control and automation, elevate the importance of using AOI as a main quality assurance tool. The connection of AOI's into Industry 4.0 factory wide MES systems empowers manufacturers to monitor yields in real time. For 2023 we expect this trend to continue with an increased growth of AOI applications beyond the traditional SMT applications.

Mek AOI for manual assembly, the VeriSpector system, has enjoyed an overwhelming success in 2022 thanks primarily due to its attractive price point. It has broadened the Mek range of products to include manual assembly monitoring which means we now have offerings to deliver process control over the complete production process. We forecast exceptional growth for THT AOI in 2023.