Mark Ragard, GM of Sales, Panasonic Factory Solutions Company of America

2012 was certainly a year with some ups and downs, but as the year closes out, JUKI is ending on a very  high note. Our new OEM products have been wildly successful and have surpassed our own expectations. With the addition or Screen printers, Reflow ovens, and Wave Solders to our line-up in 2012, it has given us an opportunity to provide for existing long time JUKI customers, as well as open many new doors.

Our high end printers from GKG have been especially successful and by time 2012 is complete, in a very short time we will have sold 35 printers and have changed our strategy from ordering 6 at time from the factory, to 18. Juki has always been able to sell, deliver, and install a complete line in as little as 24 hours from time of PO and this will continue with our new OEM products by always having them in stock.

This is very exciting for us and with many new features coming soon, we believe we will have one of the best printers available in the Market while maintaining the typical JUKI "Lowest Cost of Ownership".

We are also very happy with our fast start with JT Reflow and Wave soldering machines.  As with GKG, JT is also on the AVL for many large companies which is integral to our success and is why in 2012 we have also signed an agreement with KIC to complement our equipment here in the USA. Not only are we using their standard "off the shelf" items, but we are also working on a special project specifically designed for our reflow ovens.

Our selective soldering business has been very interesting. For a long time it seems people were very price driven, and size driven. It now seems that people are finally catching on to the advantages of selective soldering and the possibilities, and are looking more at flexibility.

JUKI still maintains the fact that we have the most flexible selective soldering equipment in the market and can accommodate any type of special application. At APEX 2013 in San Diego, we will be displaying a new Selective Solder model that will surely catch the attention of those of you in the market.