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Hanover Displays Doubled Throughput with Automated Circuit Board Testing

Case Study

7/20/2021

Automated circuit board testing setup on production line

Industry

Digital

Application

Inspection

Robot Solution

OMRON TM Series Cobots

Consistent, operator-free PCB testing with collaborative robots

Hanover Displays, a leader in electronic passenger information systems, faced production bottlenecks and inconsistent quality due to manual PCB testing. To solve these challenges, they partnered with Absolute Robotics, who designed and implemented a fully automated testing solution powered by OMRON collaborative robots and advanced control systems.

The automation specialists integrated OMRON’s TM Series cobots and NX controller to automate every stage of PCB testing—loading boards, connecting test points, running electrical checks, and sorting pass/fail units. The system operates safely alongside staff, can run 24/7 without supervision, and captures real-time data for complete traceability and rapid quality feedback.

By combining Absolute Robotics’ automation expertise with OMRON’s proven technology, Hanover Displays doubled their testing throughput, eliminated manual errors, and redeployed staff to higher-value roles. The company achieved a full return on investment within two years

Watch Hanover’s story:

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We realised the benefits of the cobots quite quickly after implementing the first system. The return on investment for the whole system was just two years. The tests involve very repetitive processes, and I think the biggest thing for me is being able to redeploy and upskill our staff.” — Reece Mills, Production Control Manager, Hanover Displays

Results at a glance:

2x increase in PCB testing throughput
Unmanned, round-the-clock operation
Consistent quality and reduced errors
Complete traceability with automated data capture
Staff upskilled and redeployed to value-added roles

Practical automation for PCB testing

As PCB production needs evolve, manual testing processes can become harder to scale while maintaining speed and consistency. OMRON helps manufacturers introduce automated testing solutions designed around real production requirements.

If your team is considering automation for PCB testing, we can help explore practical options that support your quality, throughput, and flexibility goals.