Saki, AOI/AXI innovator, empowered to deliver new, advanced solutions for Smart Factories.
Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, has raised investment funding of 300 million yen ($2.9 million) to develop the next generation of automated inspection solutions that will power tomorrow’s Smart Factories. The funds have been raised through third-party allotment, a private placement of new shares to investors that include Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co., Ltd (KYOTO-iCAP), Nippon Venture Capital Co., Ltd (NVCC), and others.
Manufacturers of electronic systems are facing a growing need to inspect 100% of units produced, at the point of assembly, to confirm product quality. Drivers for this trend include market demands for higher levels of safety and functionality in applications such as electric vehicles (EVs) and 5G-compatible electronic modules. As electronic assemblies containing the latest component technologies become increasingly complex, high-speed automated inspection is essential to ensure repeatability and productivity.
Saki, established in 1994, supports component manufacturers striving to meet these demands. The Company develops, manufactures, and sells automated optical inspection (AOI) and X-ray inspection (AXI) equipment for the manufacture of electronic modules and has become a leader in the field. In March 2020, Saki appointed Dr. Takashi Sato, professor at the Graduate School of Informatics, Kyoto University, as Scientific Advisor. In addition, Saki has an academic mentorship agreement with Kyoto University to work on joint research projects, including the joint development of next generation X-ray inspection equipment, which aims to create solutions that can be applied in the real world.
By securing new funds, Saki is committed to an extensive investment program into the next generation automated inspection solutions and to create new and differentiated technologies that will enhance the quality of Smart Factories and strengthen its market competitiveness.
