Nagano, Japan, November 28, 2025 – Hioki E.E. Corporation proudly announces the launch of the RM3542C Resistance Meter, a new-generation tester engineered for high-speed, stable pass/fail judgment in the mass production of chip resistors, ferrite beads, and other passive components.

Designed to meet the increasing demand for precision and productivity on automated lines, the RM3542C integrates Hioki’s new ΔR function for inter-process comparison and a built-in BIN (grading) judgment function, achieving both strict quality assurance and efficient operation. A newly developed Jumper Mode shortens representative takt time by approximately 76% (from 3.8 ms to 0.9 ms), dramatically enhancing throughput while maintaining consistent, reliable inspection.

Development Background

Global electronics manufacturing continues to accelerate, with production projected to grow +9% in 2024 and +8% in 2025, reaching USD 3,990.9 billion¹. As the recovery in smart devices, automotive systems, and industrial equipment drives demand, inspection capacity and standardized judgment are becoming more critical than ever².

At the same time, manufacturers are adopting ultra-miniature 0201 chip resistors and chip ferrite beads, pushing inspection lines to deliver stringent accuracy at extremely short takt times. In multi-site, multi-process operations, measurement offsets caused by equipment and environmental variation can lead to judgment drift, particularly during production ramp-up or line changeovers.

The RM3542C was developed to address these challenges—integrating measurement, judgment, and inter-process variation control within a single instrument. By performing high-speed ΔR comparison and automatic grading internally, the RM3542C reduces dependence on external PCs, minimizes latency, and ensures stable, consistent quality across all production stages.
 

• ¹:Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) “Global Electronics Production Forecast 2024”
• ²:Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) Statistics, Monthly trends for passive components

Key Features

1. High-Speed Jumper Mode for Shorter Takt Times
A new control scheme for high-accuracy ranges shortens representative measurement takt from 3.8 ms to 0.9 ms, achieving approximately 76% faster throughput. This improvement helps eliminate bottlenecks in jumper-resistor inspection and boosts overall line efficiency.

2. Built-In BIN Judgment for Instant Sorting
The RM3542C executes up to seven BIN (grading) judgments directly inside the instrument, outputting results instantly via I/O. By eliminating the need for external PC processing and communication delays, the system maintains fast, stable productivity even in tightly timed automated lines.

3. ΔR Function for Inter-Process Variation Control
The ΔR function automatically compares resistance values across different stages or lines, detecting subtle changes caused by stress processes or environmental shifts. Dual “Comparator × ΔR” checks enable more stringent quality screening—ideal for ensuring the reliability of high-precision chip resistors and ferrite components.

4. Enhanced Reliability and Usability
Features such as preset recall, stage-mismatch prevention, low-stress measurement (≤5 V applied voltage), and contact check support high uptime and minimize operator error during setup or maintenance. The RM3542C also meets EMC standards for industrial environments, ensuring robust, long-term operation on production floors.

Main applications

• High-speed pass/fail and grading on chip resistor production lines
• In-process inspection and sampling for ferrite beads and inductors
• Integrated inspection with taping machines for full-count automated sorting

• For more information, please refer to the product page.

For inquiries such as quotes, demonstrations, and trial usage, please use Hioki’s contact form for a personalized reply from your closest or most appropriate Hioki representative.

• The information provided is current as of the date of publishing.
• Please note that prices, specifications, and other information contained in this texts are subject to change without notice.
• The company names and product names used in this text are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

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