Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1543584
16 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MARCH 2026 equipment belongs to SMT Renting. At the end of the contract, customers can re-rent it, return it, or purchase it at market value. Second is financial leasing, similar to bank financ- ing, where the customer owns the equipment at the end. The difference is that banks don't allow returns or upgrades, but even with financial leasing, we still offer "stop and swap." This year, we're launching a new concept: pay- per-placement. Customers pay a low base fee to have the machine available, then pay based on usage. If a line normally costs €10,000 per month, pay-per-placement might be €3,000 per month plus a fee per component placement. The more you use it, the more you pay. That must require a sophisticated algorithm. Yes, we've been working on it for quite some time. It's finalized now and will launch this year. It's a unique offering for the market. What does the future look like for SMT Renting beyond pay-per-placement? Are you expanding geographically? Absolutely. We operate in more than 15 global markets and recently received our first U.S. order. This is a capital-intensive model that requires strong partnerships. We work closely with local suppliers and distributors for installation and service. It took years to build this infrastructure, but we're in a very good place now and seeing strong interest from the U.S. Do you cover the full spectrum of SMT equipment? Yes, everything from screen printers and SPI to pick- and-place, AOI, X-ray, THT equipment like selective and wave soldering, and odd-form mounting. Do you work exclusively with specific brands? We focus on top suppliers in each category. For example, in Europe, we work closely with Pana- sonic for pick-and-place. Many machines do similar jobs, so we streamline our offerings to ensure qual- ity and consistency. What do you enjoy most about your job? A lot of things. It's a very international business, and every country is different. We also have a truly unique concept for this industry, which is exciting. We're getting attention from major customers and recently won a nearly €4 million project with one of the world's largest EMS companies. Seeing custom- ers like that choose us is really rewarding. Congratulations. SMT Renting's model feels timely and well-suited to today's global market. Thank you, Marcy. SMT007