Among the many exciting projects undertaken by the Inter-Company team, the fabrication of ultra-low-noise, high-frequency, high-precision electronic assemblies for quantum computer research must be one of the most intriguing. This low-volume work not only demands meticulous care and attention to detail, but engineering teams racing to scale qubits and realize quantum advantage also rely on a rapid turnaround to quickly evaluate their latest ideas.
Among other demanding projects requiring advanced capabilities, high quality, and rapid response times, Inter-Company has manufactured weather stations for the Dutch meteorological office, complex control systems for battery charging applications, and advanced medical devices. Marine equipment manufacturers also rely on Inter-Company to ensure robustness, reliability, and safety.
Operating in these markets, Inter-Company needs to start production as quickly as possible after receiving any new order. Furthermore, successfully launching new products (NPIs) the first time, without trial and error, and instantly resolving any issues that arise during production are vital from a business perspective. When selecting their new SMT line, the team sought a supplier that could offer solutions to these challenges, in addition to the underlying component placement capabilities.
Together, Yamaha’s YSP10 screen printer, YRM20 component assemblers, and YRi-V 3D AOI system offer this solution by connecting through Yamaha’s unique YSUP software platform, which supports complex interactions between all machines on the line. YSUP’s special features include automatic program creation, component learning, and library creation, helping to streamline tasks that are typically laborious and time-consuming. Furthermore, real-time automatic analysis of inspection data during production identifies any defects as they occur and pinpoints their causes, enabling rapid corrective action. These are long-standing advantages of Yamaha’s YSUP platform, further enhanced in the latest software versions, which introduce additional AI-based capabilities that help production teams accelerate New Product Intake (NPI) and maximize end-of-line performance.
Wilfred der Kinderen, CEO of Europe-SMT, and Michel Hobbenschot, CEO of Inter-Company, with the Yamaha YRi-V inspection system.
The Keys to Success:
Yamaha Robotics' highly efficient and automated SMT line marks an exciting new chapter for Inter-Company. The story began in 2000 in a small thirteenth-floor apartment when Michel Hobbenschot and his wife, Karien Ebbers, founded their business, quite literally, at the kitchen table. They had met while working in the SMT sector and soon found a way to leverage their extensive combined experience by manually assembling their new company's first orders in their own apartment.
From the outset, their vision was to create a company that stood out for its precision, quality, and specialization. Now, with a professional team led by Chief Operating Officer Bas Ligtenberg, who joined in 2013, Inter-Company excels in projects involving small production runs with a high degree of complexity.
The company's strength lies in handling high-density, multi-layer printed circuit boards and complex assemblies that require specialized technical expertise. Furthermore, many circuit boards are assembled on both sides, demanding additional precision and experience. "Our business is primarily based on quality and reliability, not volume," says Karien Ebbers, CEO of Inter-Company. "Our ideal customers are those who need us to produce a hundred boards to the highest standard, rather than tens of thousands in mass production.".
What truly sets Inter-Company apart is not just its technology, but also the way it collaborates with its clients. “Our strength lies in specialization and communication,” adds Michel Hobbenschot. “We know each project inside and out and offer solutions that others often can’t provide. We build that trust through precision and consistency in everything we do.”
This approach has allowed Inter-Company to achieve a unique position, where large companies that need smaller series, up to about 5000 units, regularly turn to Goor's team for their specialized expertise and personalized attention.
Building on a solid foundation with Yamaha Robotics,
manufacturing now takes place in a purpose-built factory in the Goor Industrial Estate, north of the city. The arrival of Yamaha's new SMT line marks a significant step in the company's continued growth and includes a YSP-10 screen printing machine, two YRM20 assembly machines, and two YRi-V inspection systems.
Panoramic view of Yamaha's new SMT line at the factory expressly built by Inter-Company in Goor.
“Choosing Yamaha was a strategic decision,” explains Bas Ligtenberg. “The machines combine high precision with speed and flexibility. Above all, the intelligent software ensures an optimal workflow. As a result, the line can be prepared for a new product in a short time and, once programmed, operates at high speed.”.
In their search for a high-quality pillar for the line, the team identified the YSP10 screen printing machine as a strong candidate. The machine enjoys a solid reputation and is highly regarded in the industry for its reliability and quality.
With this in mind, they contacted Europe-SMT, Yamaha Robotics' distributor for the region, to learn more about Yamaha's solutions. "Inter-Company demonstrates that success isn't measured solely by numbers, but above all by quality, experience, and dedication to each project," commented Wilfred der Kinderen, Managing Director of Europe-SMT. "These are values that align with our approach of supporting customers and providing the best solution for their needs. We were able to offer a customized package based on Yamaha Robotics' 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION.".
From there, the Inter-Company team acted quickly and broadened their interest to include the YRM20 assembly line and the YRi-V AOI system. The YRM20, with features such as flexible printhead options that can handle a wide range of component sizes, a vision system with flexible imaging modes, a side view function, and coplanarity and alignment checking, is a perfect fit for Inter-Company's operations. Similarly, the YRi-V boasts robust optical specifications with high-resolution cameras and multi-angle/multi-wavelength illumination, and can handle tall components on either side of the board.
Inter-Company has two Yamaha YRi-V AOI systems for pre- and post-backflow inspection.
Furthermore, the integrated software environment and its advanced features proved to be a key factor in the team's decision to place the order. Thanks to Yamaha's YSUP platform, all machines on the line can be programmed and controlled centrally. This results in a significant increase in efficiency and a reduced risk of production errors. The inspection machines communicate directly with the assembly machines. When deviations are detected during automated optical inspection, this information is immediately transmitted to the production line. This allows the system to be continuously adjusted and further optimize the quality of subsequent batches.
Traceability tools also play a key role in the YSUP suite, ensuring that every component and every step of the process is fully traceable. Thanks to this level of automation, Inter-Company can produce quickly while maintaining reliable delivery times—a crucial advantage in a market where speed is often essential. “When you’re offered a solution that truly stands out, you have to be decisive,” says Michel Hobbenschot.
Features such as automatic component data creation help simplify optimizing assembly plant settings for the YRM20, while high-speed intelligent recognition reduces setup time for custom or uncommon components. Inspection programs are automatically generated by importing assembly plant data and leveraging pre-installed IPC-compliant component libraries. Furthermore, AI now assists in component data creation by automatically identifying parts from camera images.
Yamaha is continuously adding new AI-powered features and capabilities that promote speed and efficiency. Recent enhancements include Print Param Assist, which uses historical data to help operators select print parameters, and 3D Component Update, which allows for precise adjustment of the YRi-V's inspection criteria without stopping the machine.
From an apartment to an international partner
: “Our comprehensive 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION offers an exceptional combination of high speed, flexibility, advanced automation, and consistent precision, further enhanced by powerful YSUP tools that significantly boost operator productivity,” says Johannes Vorwerk, Regional Sales Manager at Yamaha Robotics. “Working closely with our colleagues at Europe-SMT, we were able to configure an ideal solution, install the equipment, and train Inter-Company’s operators very quickly and efficiently.”
Yamaha's YSUP software enables operators to quickly reach a high level of competence.
Michel Hobbenschot concludes: "With the support of Europe-SMT and Yamaha Robotics, the excellent capabilities of the team and, especially, the YSUP software, which makes everything so efficient and flexible, we can be confident that our surface mount capabilities are state-of-the-art and future-proof."
About the SMT section of Yamaha Robotics
Yamaha's Surface Mount Technology (SMT) division, a subdivision of Yamaha Motor Corporation's Robotics Business Unit, produces a comprehensive selection of equipment for high-speed online electronic assembly. This 1-STOP SMART SOLUTION includes solder paste printers, component mounters, 3D solder paste inspection machines, 3D PCB inspection machines, dispensers, and management software.
These systems, which incorporate Yamaha technology into electronic product manufacturing, prioritize intuitive operator interaction, efficient coordination across all online processes, and modularity, enabling users to meet the latest manufacturing demands. The group's expertise in servo motor control and image recognition for vision systems (cameras) ensures exceptional precision at high speed.
The current product line includes the latest generation of YR equipment, with advanced automated functions for programming, configuration and changes, and the new YSUP management software with state-of-the-art graphics and integrated data analysis.
Combining design and engineering expertise with manufacturing, sales, and service capabilities, Yamaha SMT Section ensures operational efficiency and easy access to support for customers and partners. With regional offices in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, the company has a truly global presence.
https://smt.yamaha-motor-robotics.eu/
