Expansion targets SMT in Asia

Assembleon is substantially expanding its own sales and service organisation in Asia to provide the highest level of quality in all aspects of its business.

Assembleon is substantially expanding its own sales and service organisation in Asia to provide the highest level of quality in all aspects of its business.

To give total focus on the SMT marketplace, Assembleon has terminated its exclusive distributorship agreement with Autron Corporation in an amicable settlement.

Alongside its own expanding organisation, Assembleon will continue its business model to co-operate with an agent network in selected areas.

The size and complexity of the SMT market in Asia Pacific prompted Assembleon to make a strategic decision in 2003 to rapidly ramp up its support network in the region in order to secure the highest level of customer satisfaction.

An aggressive recruitment campaign has achieved a four-fold increase in service personnel, with a further 50% increase planned by the end of 2004.

Assembleon's sales force has grown three-fold since the start of 2004, with a five-fold increase planned by the end of the year.

Accounting for 40% of Assembleon's global sales in 2003, Asia, and in particular China, is identified as a key element in the company's long-term business strategy, and these developments are the latest moves in an ongoing strategy to position Assembleon as the leader in service quality.

Two decades' commitment to Asian electronics manufacturers established Assembleon in Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Shenzhen, Tokyo, and the Philippines by the end of 2002.

Dramatic growth in 2003 saw Assembleon expanding into Hong Kong (now the regional headquarters), Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Dongguan, Shanghai, Suzhou, Tianjin, Taipei and Xian in Greater China, nine additional locations in South East Asia, and India.

This year, Assembleon will open a new Competence Centre in Shanghai, and a parts store and equipment assembly facility in Shanghai.

"Backed by the in-depth expertise and knowledge of our parent company Philips, we offer unique parallel placement technology which assures our customers of the technological and cost advantages they need to compete", comments Assembleon's CEO Cor Scholten.

"In addition, our decision to build our Asian business on an extensive autonomous network ensures that our customers in the region have local access to highly trained, vastly experienced sales and support personnel".

"This combination of equipment and service excellence delivers an unbeatable total solution for manufacturing efficiency".

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