Matric Installs Third SMT Line

Matric significantly improved Surface Mount Technology (SMT) production with the investment of a third fully-automated line. It was just a year ago that Matric had invested in the second fully-automatic SMT line. The two newer lines each feature an EKRA X5 screen printer, a MYDATA 21,000 component per hour pick and place machine and an Electrovert Omni Excel 7-stage convection oven.  The three machines are joined by a conveyor designed to transport the boards from machine to machine – eliminating the need for human handling.

The original SMT line was installed at Matric in 2000.  In recent years, the screen printer and oven have both been replaced with new and improved equipment to meet current SMT demands.  All three lines are able to produce RoHS compliant boards.

Meeting customers' needs was the driving force for the third line investment.  Matric is dedicated to growing and improving the operations to meet customer demands.  Other recent investments include a 20,000 sq. ft. addition, bringing the total plant size to 75,000 sq. ft.  The number of associates working at Matric has also seen a dramatic increase from 223 at the beginning of 2006 to 305 today. In an effort to keep pace with the rapid growth, a streamlined in-house workforce training development program was also developed and implemented in early 2006.