Schmid Group delivers 1000th wet processing system made in China

Citation

(2011), "Schmid Group delivers 1000th wet processing system made in China", Circuit World, Vol. 37 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2011.21737caa.015

Schmid Group delivers 1000th wet processing system made in China

Article Type: Industry news From: Circuit World, Volume 37, Issue 3

Schmid – technological world market leader and supplier of system and process solutions for PCBs and the photovoltaic sector – delivers the 1000th wet processing system from their production plant in China. Innovation has a long tradition at Schmid – who have adopted a process and future-oriented way of thinking for over 140 years already. With solutions individually adapted to their customers’ requirements, new standards have been set involving technological innovations and highest quality. With their revolutionary innovations, Schmid have gained an international position over the past 140 years as the expertise leader in the PCB, FPD and photovoltaic industry. The first step towards wet processing technology were taken as early as the 1960s at the parent company in Freudenstadt. In the following years, the technologies and processes underwent continual further development.

The foundation of their subsidiary Schmid Shenzhen Ltd in August 2003 marked the start of their production of wet processing systems in Shenzhen near Hong Kong in China. The first machine was delivered at the end of 2003 already. In the following year, wet processing systems found a high rate of acceptance, which was reflected in their sales of approx. 50 machine deliveries per year. Owing to the excellent order situation, the production facilities were expanded soon afterwards, in 2008, to the town of Zhuhai, 160 km away. In April 2008, the first system to be equipped according to the very latest technological aspects and featuring optimal working conditions left the factory which with only minimal fluctuation has been confirmed every year since.

The main concern for outsourcing to China was that the high quality standards could be transferred from Germany. Parallel to this the capacities at the Germany locations have also been continually expanded. The foundation for this was and still is the further and new developments which are continually conducted at the parent company in Freudenstadt.

Recently, Schmid produces innovative complete solutions for the entire wet processing sector. To date, up to 40 machines for the PCB and photovoltaic industry leave the Chinese plant every month – not only for China and Asia but also for customers in Germany and America. With around 450 employees in Zhuhai, Schmid is today one of the largest employers in the free trade zone of Zhuhai, less than 90 min away from Hong Kong. Owing to the further expected growth in the coming years, the Chinese workforce will be increased to over 600 employees. Also planned is an expansion of the factory facilities to accommodate double the present capacity in the not too distant future.