Siemens Automation and Drives Group announced this week that it has acquired Opto-Control Elektronik Prüfsysteme GmbH of Bochum, Germany, effective July 5. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The purchase adds high-precision automatic optical inspection (AOI) systems to its Siplace surface-mount technology business, Siemens said. Opto-Control’s inspection systems are fully automated and use three-dimensional sensor technology to detect any solder or placement flaws. Process controls and automated inspection are becoming increasingly more important in electronics manufacturing, Siemens said, and AOI systems help operators as well as process engineers to optimize their processes and monitor the production output.

Opto-Control will be integrated into the Optical Solutions (OI) unit of A&D’s Electronics Assembly Systems Div., the company said, adding that it wants to significantly expand its ability to provide fully automated 3-D inspection systems in the future.

For more information, visit: www.siemens.com/automation