NIVELCO Boosts SMT Throughput with Placement Machines from FUJI

Machine Park Upgraded: Older Systems Relieved, Capacities Expanded

Kelsterbach, May 22nd, 2025 – As machines age, their performance in terms of processing speed, precision, and compatibility with modern manufacturing requirements noticeably declines. This was also the case at NIVELCO PROCESS CONTROL CO., a manufacturer of measurement and automation technology, as the aging placement systems increasingly reached their capacity limits. To relieve these machines and expand production capacity, NIVELCO implemented two AIMEX IIIc placement machines from FUJI EUROPE CORPORATION.

NIVELCO PROCESS CONTROL CO., based in Budapest, specializes in the development and manufacturing of measurement and automation technology for industrial applications. The company serves industries such as electronics, chemicals, and food processing. In order to meet growing market demands and strengthen its competitiveness, NIVELCO invested in modernizing its production.

Switch to FUJI AIMEX IIIc Overcomes Bottlenecks of Legacy Systems

Up until now, NIVELCO relied on two placement machines from a competitor of FUJI, installed in 1999 and 2005. However, with an increasing diversity of components and rising throughput requirements, these machines were gradually pushed to their limits.

“It was important for us to be able to handle more component variants with a single machine, minimize setup times, and increase throughput. That’s why we decided to invest in an AIMEX IIIc from FUJI. With the introduction of the new placement machine, we were able to reduce the load on our existing equipment and significantly increase our production efficiency,” explains Tibor Sári, Production Director at NIVELCO.

The FUJI AIMEX IIIc features up to 130 feeder slots, enabling the processing of a wide variety of components without frequent changeovers. The automatic format change function reduces setup times to just a few minutes, while setup and maintenance requirements are significantly reduced. An integrated Gerber pre-check identifies potential errors, such as polarity or dimensional deviations, during the setup phase.

Thanks to its modular design, the FUJI AIMEX IIIc can be flexibly adapted to different production requirements. Automatic calibration of the placement heads ensures consistently high process reliability, while micrometer-precise placement allows for the accurate processing of even the smallest components.

Second FUJI Placement Machine Quickly Follows the First

Following the successful installation of the first AIMEX IIIc, NIVELCO quickly decided to purchase a second machine of the same type, which was seamlessly integrated into the existing SMT line.

As a result, one of the older machines was taken out of production. “The integration not only increased our production capacity at NIVELCO, but also marks the beginning of a future-ready placement strategy that allows for seamless adaptation to new requirements. In the future, we also plan to replace the other older machine entirely and to purchase a new SMT stencil printer and a reflow oven. Our goal is to further optimize solder paste application and the reflow process,” says Tibor Sári.

Through its collaboration with FUJI, NIVELCO benefits not only from technological advancement but also from a strong local partner network in Eastern Europe. FUJI EUROPE CORPORATION operates a branch in Hungary. The geographical proximity enables fast response times for on-site service and repairs. In addition, a demo center, training facilities, and a spare parts warehouse are available. This allows decision-makers to receive hands-on training, test new technologies, and ensure smooth production processes thanks to quick access to essential spare parts.