Manufacturing services

SMT (Surface Mount Technology) assembly lines are the beating heart of modern electronics manufacturing. These lines enable the assembly of electronic components directly onto the surface of the board, significantly reducing production time and improving product reliability. With a highly precise automated system, NPE can handle high volumes while maintaining consistent quality, minimizing defects, and boosting productivity.

NPE’s SMT assembly lines are equipped also with the following innovative technologies:

Laser Marking
The automated component assembly lines also have laser marking technology, offering exceptional benefits by combining precision, speed, and versatility. This technology grants the engraving fine details into small, complex components, ensuring traceability and customization without compromising the integrity of the materials. The automated process at NPE is fast, eco-friendly, and efficient. In this way NPE is able to eliminate the need for inks or solvents while providing durable, high-quality solutions that meet sustainability standards in the electronics industry.

SPI
3D solder paste inspection (SPI) is an important technology to ensure the quality of the assembly. NPE’s automated assembly lines are equipped with SPI to optimize the application and distribution of solder paste on the pads of the boards, detecting potential issues before they affect the final assembly. This automated quality control process minimizes the risk of errors in later stages.

AOI
NPE automated lines also incorporate AOI technology, which uses high-resolution cameras and advanced algorithms to perform automatic visual inspections of the printed circuit boards. This system identifies defects in mounted components, circuits, or connections, ensuring the assembly and solder quality with precision and speed.

X-RAY
X-ray inspection technology is crucial for internal checks of soldered components, detecting hidden defects such as solder bridges, voids, or other anomalies that could compromise circuit functionality. NPE’s SMT lines are equipped with this advanced inspection process, ensuring that the products meet the highest standards of quality and reliability.

In NPE there are several lines dedicated to the automatic assembly of PTH (Plated Through Hole) components and Faston. These lines are custom designed to handle through-hole components, which require a more robust soldering process compared to SMT components. The automated assembly of PTH and Faston components allows for faster production, improving efficiency and significantly reducing the operational costs associated with a manual process. NPE can offer a range of innovative automatic assembly lines that include both wave soldering and selective soldering processes.

Selective soldering is the perfect solution for applications where precision is crucial. This process applies solder only to the specific areas where it is needed, following a custom program, minimizing the risk of solder bridges and excess material. Highly controlled and personalized to meet exact specifications, selective soldering delivers precise results, making it ideal for productions that demand meticulous attention to detail. It is recommended for boards with small or complex components, as well as those requiring high-quality standards.

On the other hand, wave soldering is more suitable for high-volume production and through-hole components. This process is faster, as the board passes over a wave of molten solder that simultaneously solders all component pins, making it perfect for high-speed assembly.

Robotic Cells
NPE’s assembly lines are also equipped with robotic cells, which are able to handle irregular-shaped (“odd-shape”) electronic components that require sophisticated and precise assembly techniques. By automating the process, these robotic systems reduce human intervention, enhancing both speed and accuracy in the assembly of complex components. This innovative approach allows us to meet even the most specific customer requirements, easily managing components that are challenging to assemble.

The ICT (In-Circuit Test) and FCT (Functional Test) equipment in NPE are essential for ensuring that every electronic board performs in the right way before it hits the market. While ICT tests circuits at the component level, functional testing ensures that the entire board meets design specifications. With these rigorous tests, NPE guarantees that every electronic product functions perfectly, reducing the risk of failures and enhancing the reliability of the final product. NPE testing equipment is custom-designed to provide a tailored service specific to each project.

Testing Equipment for Touch Interfaces and Graphic Displays
With the increasing demands for touch interfaces and graphic displays in various electronic devices, NPE’s advanced testing equipment ensures that these components respond accurately and are free of visual or functional defects. Through the customized test and inspection systems, NPE provides precise control over touch interfaces and graphic displays, ensuring an optimal user experience.

Conformal coating is a protective treatment applied to electronic circuits to shield them from environmental factors, dust, moisture, and other contaminants. NPE’s automated lines are high-capacity, ensuring homogeneous protection and quality in order to extend the lifespan of electronic products. After a thorough analysis of each board, NPE’s technicians create a tailored program for each project. Thanks to the automation of the conformal coating application process, NPE grants protection for every electronic board, enhancing its durability and long-term reliability.

NPE made a strategic investment in additive manufacturing by acquiring 3D printers to support continuous product improvement and innovation. The use of 3D printing not only optimizes design and accelerates prototyping, but also reduces costs enhancing the speed, efficiency, and flexibility of NPE operations.

NPE’s 3D printers are used to create custom fixtures, jigs, spare parts, equipment components, and prototypes for product development and testing, thereby speeding up research and development.

One kind of printer used in NPE is The Ultimaker S7 Pro Bundle, featuring FFM (Fused Filament Fabrication) technology, which is perfect for printing complex designs with various materials. Another one is the Formlabs Form 4, which uses SLA (Stereolithography) technology for precise, smooth prints, compatible with both rigid and flexible materials.

This innovation enables NPE to deliver increasingly customized manufacturing and industrialization services tailored to specific project and customer needs.

NPE has implemented a ticketing system through a custom app to manage both reactive and scheduled maintenance, delivering significant productivity and efficiency benefits. Each issue is recorded in real-time, minimizing downtime and optimizing production stoppage control. The system enables quick identification of machines that require attention, improving production processes and reducing potential bottlenecks.

Communication between operators and the maintenance team has been streamlined, allowing detailed fault reporting and real-time updates on repairs. This has made resource management and material preparation for repairs more efficient.
Thanks to the data collected, NPE has gained better insight into operational challenges, facilitating quicker and more informed decision-making. NPE will integrate predictive analytics to further optimize maintenance, improving both the efficiency and quality of electronic production.