I. An overlooked “stubborn culprit”: How through-hole capacitors cripple an entire automated production line.
Throughout the production of power modules and industrial control products, through-hole aluminum electrolytic capacitors are widely used. These capacitors require manual insertion, lead trimming, and wave soldering, making them unsuitable for pick-and-place machines and incompatible with high-speed SMT lines.
When you invest millions to upgrade your SMT production line, through-hole capacitors become the “stubborn culprit” that cannot be automated—forcibly retaining even one insertion station disrupts the continuity of the entire production line.
A more practical question is, what extra costs does this production line incur annually?
3-5 insertion workers, annual comprehensive cost of 200,000-300,000 RMB—this is the first point. Poor consistency in manual soldering, with cold solder joints and bridging rates as high as 3%-5%, and rework costs of 50-200 RMB per machine, resulting in over 100,000 RMB in rework losses annually. With the yield rate stuck at 95%, delivery cycles were repeatedly delayed, early-failed products entered the market, and customer complaints piled up.
One production line, one year, hundreds of thousands of units were “soldered away” in this way.
II. Electrical performance meets standards, but automated production lines don’t “recognize” them.
The capacitors previously used by the customer, such as NCC brand capacitors, while having excellent electrical performance, were physically designed for through-hole wave soldering. When the customer implemented automation upgrades, these capacitors could not be picked up by the pick-and-place machine, becoming the “last mile” obstacle to production line automation.
The root of the problem is not the electrical parameters—as long as the form remains unchanged, automation efficiency and soldering consistency will always be limited by human error.
III. YMIN M/T type pick-and-place solution: Let the capacitors “walk” onto the pick-and-place machine themselves.
Figure 1 T-forming
Figure 2 T-forming
YMIN LED series capacitors utilize an M-type/T-type surface mount package design, transforming the lead pins into planar pads and featuring a specially designed high-temperature resistant base (suitable for 260℃ reflow soldering). This ensures perfect compatibility with SMT pick-and-place machines and reflow soldering processes.
Core Advantages:
- Package Form: M-type/T-type surface mount, compatible with fully automated SMT placement
- Reflow Soldering Temperature: 260℃, meeting lead-free reflow soldering requirements
- Reel and Tape Packaging: Reel design, continuous feeding per reel, extremely low pick-and-place error rate for pick-and-place machines
The internal core utilizes YMIN’s mature liquid aluminum electrolysis technology, maintaining high capacitance density and low ESR, balancing process compatibility and electrical reliability.
[Partial selection specifications for reference; see catalog for more selection details]
| series | Specification | Ripple current 105℃/mA.RMS | ESR 100KHz(Ω) |
| LED | 400V 22μF 10*20 | 340 | 8.15 |
| LED | 400V 33μF 12.5*20 | 500 | 8.15 |
| LED | 400V 47μF 14.5*25 | 690 | 4.14 |
| LED | 450V 68μF 14.5*25 | 1400 | 1.25 |
IV. What will you gain by switching to YMIN?
1. Technical Results
| Indicator | Before Transformation (Insertion Solution) | After Transformation (YMIN SMT Solution) |
| Mounting Method | Manual Insertion + Wave Soldering | Fully Automatic SMT + Reflow Soldering |
| Solder Defect Rate | 3%-5% | <0.5% |
| First Pass Yield (FPY) | Approx. 95% | ≥99.5% |
| Production Line Status | Bottlenecked by Insertion Stations | Fully Automated and Uninterrupted |
2. Commercial Benefits
① Labor Savings: Eliminating component insertion stations saves each production line 200,000-300,000 RMB annually in labor and management costs.
② Reduced Rework Rate: The rework rate drops from 3%-5% to below 0.5%, saving over 100,000 RMB annually in rework material and labor costs.
③ Increased Capacity: Eliminating production line bottlenecks increases overall capacity by 50%, allowing for more orders.
In summary, the annual comprehensive benefit per production line reaches 300,000-400,000 RMB. This benefit far exceeds the slight price difference that might occur in capacitor selection. The purchase price of a single YMIN surface-mount capacitor is about 0.1-0.2 RMB higher than that of a conventional through-hole capacitor—based on a single production line producing 500,000 power supplies annually, the annual increase in capacitor costs is approximately 50,000-100,000 RMB.
However, at the same time, it saves this production line 200,000-300,000 RMB in labor costs + over 100,000 RMB in rework losses. This combination of cost savings and increased cost results in a net annual saving of 300,000-400,000 RMB. The total cost of ownership (TCO) is significantly lower than that of through-hole solutions, typically recovering the initial investment within six months.
In short: paying just a few cents more per capacitor buys out the long-term hidden costs of manual component insertion and high rework rates for the entire production line, resulting in a net saving enough for a new piece of equipment per year.
YMIN is one of the very few domestic suppliers capable of providing “surface-mount packaging for through-hole aluminum electrolytic capacitors.” Compared to the long lead times and high prices of Japanese surface-mount capacitors, YMIN’s M/T type solution not only meets performance standards and has faster delivery times but also offers more flexible local technical support. It is the industry’s first to offer full-voltage, small-size SMD surface-mount electrolytic capacitors, with fully automated winding, impregnation, and sealing processes, and 100% online inspection of key processes.
V. Conclusion
When upgrading production lines to full automation, through-hole aluminum electrolytic capacitors are the last hurdle that cannot be bypassed. YMIN’s M/T type surface-mount capacitors eliminate this hurdle—production line connectivity, labor reduction, and a significant increase in yield. Paying just a few cents more per unit buys out the long-term hidden costs of the entire production line. This isn’t a procurement expense; it’s a production line upgrade investment with a six-month payback period.
We welcome applications for free sample testing. Verify your first-pass yield and soldering success rate on your own production line—data speaks louder than any advertising.
VI. Q&A
Q1: Our production line is undergoing automation upgrades, and the machine for through-hole capacitors cannot be replaced. Is there any solution?
A: YMIN LED series M/T type surface mount aluminum electrolytic capacitors use SMD surface mount packaging with flat pads on the bottom, allowing direct placement by SMT pick-and-place machines. They are compatible with reflow soldering processes (temperature resistance 260℃). No changes to the PCB design are needed (pad layout is compatible with conventional surface mount components), enabling an upgrade from “manual through-hole placement + wave soldering” to “fully automated SMT + reflow soldering,” completely eliminating the through-hole placement station.
Q2: YMIN uses M/T type surface mount packages for reflow soldering. Will the high temperature cause capacitance decay or leakage?
A: YMIN LED series uses a specially designed high-temperature resistant base and mature liquid aluminum electrolysis technology. Key processes are 100% monitored online to ensure the product can withstand the peak reflow soldering temperature of 260℃, resulting in stable electrical performance such as capacitance and leakage current after soldering. This solution has been mass-produced and validated in multiple fields such as power supplies and industrial control.
Q3: When comparing prices, I found that YMIN’s M-type aluminum electrolytic capacitors are more expensive than ordinary through-hole capacitors. Why should I still choose YMIN?
A: The price is only 0.1-0.2 yuan more per capacitor, but the M-type surface mount package enables production line automation. Each production line saves 200,000-300,000 yuan in labor costs and over 100,000 yuan in rework costs annually, resulting in a comprehensive annual profit of 300,000-400,000 yuan, with a payback period of six months. This isn’t about spending more money; it’s about leveraging a 0.1 yuan increase in cost to generate 300,000 yuan in annual revenue. TCO is the real profit.
[Abstract]
Applicable Scenarios: Power modules, industrial controllers, SMT (Surface Mount Technology) processes
Core Advantages: M/T type surface mount packages compatible with fully automated SMT, withstands 260℃ reflow soldering, reduces soldering defect rate, increases first-pass yield, and improves production capacity
Recommended Series: LED series (M/T type molding)
Action Guide: Request datasheets, request samples, seek selection consultation, technical support, or contact the official website (www.ymin.com)
Post time: Jul-18-2026