Recent SMT line expansion has allowed Packet Digital to scale its PCBA production
FARGO, N.D. (March 31, 2026) — Packet Digital recently completed an order of 10,000 printed circuit boards for 701x — a Fargo based agriculture technology company that develops GPS-enabled smart ear tags for cattle herd management. The PCBs were assembled using Packet Digital’s expanded surface mount technology line.
“Packet Digital has been an incredible local partner for 701x. Their state-of-the-art SMT and inspection capabilities consistently deliver some of the highest-quality PCB assemblies we’ve worked with,” Braydon Love, VP of Research and Development at 701x, said. “Having a trusted manufacturing partner in the same city provides a significant strategic advantage — from faster turnaround times to seamless communication and logistics.
In 2025, Packet Digital added additional equipment to their SMT line to better support customers, such as 701x. This expansion included an additional pick-and-place machine, as well as a second automated optical inspection (AOI) machine. With the addition of a second pick-and-place machine, the speed of component placement has doubled to as high as 50,000 components per hour. The additional AOI machine supports the increased line capacity, as well as enabling every PCB that runs through the SMT line to go through an added step of inspection.
During production, Packet Digital successfully placed 870,000 components across 10,000 PCBAs, for a defects per million opportunities rate of 3.2 — a near perfect quality. A major part of this high-quality rate is due to the added AOI processes — pre-AOI inspection to ensure correct component placement and orientation prior to reflow and post-AOI to inspect solder joints after reflow has been completed. This capability expansion not only increases Packet Digital’s production capacity, it provides customers with the peace of mind knowing sophisticated designs will be delivered with industry-leading quality.
“701x is a perfect example of companies our team loves to work with — cool technology, great team, and making a massive impact on Americans’ lives all over the country,” said Packet Digital CEO Terri Zimmerman. “As more organizations trust Packet Digital to handle their complex PCBA needs, we are continuously evolving to stay ahead of that demand. With our new SMT line expansion, we’re able to scale our production even higher, without sacrificing the world-class quality our customers expect from us.”
“What makes this partnership especially meaningful is that it’s built on the great people and strong businesses in the Fargo-Moorhead area,” Love added. “There’s a unique level of trust, work ethic, and collaboration here that directly translates into better outcomes for our customers. We value the partnership and look forward to continuing to grow together.”