Count On Tools Inc. (COT), a leading provider of precision components and SMT spare parts, announces that it has been awarded a 2014 NPI Award in the category of Automation Tools for its StripFeeder Modular (.mod) System version 2. The award was presented to the company during a Tuesday, March 25, 2014 ceremony that took place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center during the IPC APEX EXPO. The StripFeeder System is the ideal solution for loading tape-and-reel components onto compact modules for prototyping and high-mix low-volume applications. This marks the companys third award for the StripFeeder Series in the last year.The latest version of the StripFeeder Modular (.mod) System features a mechanical lock-spring to hold the tape in place by the sprocket hole for part registration and repeatable pick-and-place applications. This means the user only has to teach the pick-up location one time and consistently reload the unit with the same parts over and over for longer runs. Additionally, the StripFeeder .mod System version 2 features removable rails that can be mounted to accommodate a wide array of tape sizes in the same feeder. Unlike the fixed width version, the StripFeeder .mod can be adjusted by removing the rails and re-positioning them on the base plate at the desired width (4mm pitched hole pattern). The rails align with precision pin locaters and lock down tightly with magnets to guarantee a stable, repeatable application. Customers who have already purchased StripFeeder System can contact COT about upgrading their systems to the latest version.Premiering in 2008, the NPI Awards program is an annual celebration of product excellence in electronics surface mount assembly. Premier products based on the finest examples of creative advancement in technology are chosen by a distinguished panel of industry experts.
