Critical Manufacturing, a leading provider of next-generation Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and a subsidiary of ASMPT, today announced a major appointment. Paul Straeten, a digital transformational visionary, is now appointed as Vice President of Life Sciences.

The company’s Manufacturing Operations Platform unites MES, connectivity, automation, analytics and AI to help manufacturers master complexity, accelerate decisions, and gain the trust and speed they need to compete.

The acquisition marks a significant step in expanding the capabilities of the Critical Manufacturing Data Platform, enabling customers to harness the power of visual AI to drive greater precision, automation, and insight.

Critical Manufacturing was named a Representative Vendor in Gartner’s May 2025 MES Market Guide, highlighting its role in advancing digital manufacturing with AI and IoT.

Critical Manufacturing will show visitors to IPC APEX EXPO 2025 that the company’s MES - complete with extensive features specific to the electronics industry - can serve as a true Industry 4.0 platform.

Critical Manufacturing will once again be present at Hannover Messe to show how its products can Make Industry 4.0 a Reality for all manufacturers of discrete products.

The ‘IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Manufacturing Execution Systems 2024–2025 Vendor Assessment’ evaluates 18 MES providers serving the manufacturing industry.