There is a lot of uncertainty about 2013, due primarily to the condition of the industry and the global economy. What we're hearing from many different sources, particularly our reps, is that the marketplace is expected to become more conservative going forward into the new year.
As a result, we have modified our expectations, because many are anticipating a tough year ahead, but at the same time, our outlook is optimistic. We maintain that selective soldering is perhaps the only process that can be put right on the manufacturing floor that pays for itself directly in labor savings.
We plan to introduce new machines in 2013, lower-cost selective soldering machines that are capable as well as more affordable. But we are not only working on lower initial cost machines, but also the other end of the spectrum; we are introducing two new high-speed in-line machines for very high volume manufacturing.
We are, perhaps, approaching 2013 from two extremes, with the lower cost units designed to appeal to the smaller cost-conscious manufacturer, while the higher speed, higher capacity units should appeal to the needs of OEMs. Practical decisions based on feedback from customers and reps will drive our approach to 2013.
