Altus Enhances Through-Hole Inspection at Kentec Electronics

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Altus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry, has partnered with Kentec Electronics Ltd., a UK-based OEM of life safety control panels, to deliver a new standard in through-hole inspection using Magic-ray Technology's advanced AOI solutions.

From its Dartford facility, Kentec designs and manufactures fire detection and extinguishant systems supplied to over 90 countries. While many electronics manufacturers focus on SMT automation, Kentec continues to invest in through-hole technology (THT), a critical element in its product designs. As part of its long-term production strategy, the company looked to enhance inspection capabilities and expand automated processes.

Dave Humphrey, Production Engineering Manager at Kentec said: "Through-hole components are still a significant part of our designs and by investing the way we have across these processes, we make our production much more resilient for the future.”

Following previous investments in conventional assembly, Kentec approached Altus for guidance on high-performance THT inspection. After extensive evaluation at Altus' Redditch demonstration facility which included programming, debugging, and real-time production testing, the Magic-ray V5300 was selected for its ability to provide accurate dual-sided inspection in a single pass.

The V5300 combines high-resolution cameras with Magic-ray's proprietary algorithms to identify defects such as bridging, blow holes, pin bending, and missing pins. With support for FOVs up to 40×40mm and resolutions down to 10μm, it delivers precise inspection even on odd-form components.

Altus also supported trials of other Magic-ray systems, including the V320 and V5200, to explore inspection before and after wave soldering. However, it was the post-reflow performance of the V5300 that offered the greatest operational advantage.

"We are delighted with the Magic-ray unit and it's great to see it now onsite and inspecting effectively," said Dave. "This was our first project with Altus and involved a brand-new process we hadn't used before, so we wanted to ensure we did thorough homework and pre-sales preparation. Altus was very accommodating in helping to build confidence that our first investment with them would be beneficial for both parties."

Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group, said: "Kentec is a great example of a UK-based OEM with end-to-end control of its production. We're proud to support them and pleased to see another Magic-ray system in the field. Our aim is always to build long-term relationships, so detailed validation and open communication are essential from the outset."

This is the first Magic-ray system at Kentec and the start of what both companies expect to be a long-term working relationship.