Mycronic’s purchase of electronics dispensing OEM Shenzhen Axxon Automation Co. today signals a novel, if inevitable, milestone in the SMT processing equipment history: Chinese process equipment OEMs have reached the point where they are sufficiently viable and significant for Western companies to invest in.

Certainly there are no shortage of domestic Chinese OEMs. But relatively few have reached the technology or market share level needed to draw the interest of Western buyers.

No more.