Altus Group, a leading supplier of capital equipment for the electronics manufacturing industry in the UK and Ireland, has expanded its inspection offering to support through-hole technology (THT) assembly using Koh Young’s 3D measurement technology
Koh Young is a world leader in 3D measurement and inspection technology for electronics manufacturing. Its systems are used for solder paste inspection (SPI) and automated optical inspection (AOI) by electronics manufacturers worldwide.
The development comes as manufacturers increase the level of automation within THT production. Processes range from manual assembly and soldering to automated insertion and robotic, selective and wave soldering, creating different requirements for inspection and quality control.
Skilled labour can be difficult to find, while manufacturers are also under pressure to improve throughput and maintain consistent quality. As more THT processes are automated, inspection must keep pace if it is not to become the next production bottleneck.
Altus has already evaluated the technology against competing systems in the UK during 2026. Following the trials, a leading EMS provider that already uses Koh Young systems across three SMT lines is now applying the technology within its THT assembly operations.
Joe Booth, CEO of Altus Group, said: “We are delighted to have increased our capacity to support THT inspection with Koh Young. We have offered a very capable 2D solution for some time, but more of our customers are looking for the accuracy, repeatability and, most importantly, the process improvement data they have become accustomed to through 3D measurement.
“Securing business following customer evaluations earlier this year is a real feather in our cap and demonstrates the strength of Koh Young’s technology. It gives our customers a further option for applying measurement-based inspection to their THT production processes.”
The THT capability builds on the 3D light metrology used in Koh Young’s SMT inspection systems. It produces quantitative highly accurate measurement data from the assembly, allowing manufacturers to apply very tight defined inspection thresholds. The data can also be aggregated and analysed over time to identify production trends and support process improvement decisions.
THT components can vary considerably in their dimensions, positioning and height, making them more difficult to assess consistently using 3D inspection. Koh Young’s technology accounts for these variations to provide reliable measurement across the assembly.
The capability can be provided on the Koh Young Zenith 2 four-way projection system and other suitably configured systems within the range. Its four digital light projectors capture measurement data from multiple directions, while systems with additional projectors offer greater capacity to accommodate component variation and more complex assemblies.
Altus has Koh Young equipment available at its facility in Redditch, where manufacturers can arrange trials using their own PCB assemblies to assess the technology against their production and inspection requirements.
For further information, visit www.altusgroup.co.uk
