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The Inside Line
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
Industry, Academia Look to Lead-free
MARLBORO, Mass. — With the mandated shift to lead-free soldering technology in the European Union (EU) less than three years away, both those in industry and academics are sharing their knowledge about the switch over to lead-free and the associated challenges with the industry, evidenced by two recent seminars that took place here.
Stratham, N.H.-based Vitronics Soltec's Technology Group had Marlboro as the last stop on its "Make the Right Connection in Lead-free Soldering" tour, which the company billed as a two-way communication that would allow them to meet and learn from their colleagues in industry. Marc J. Dalderup, vice president, sales and support, Americas, and Denis Barbini, Ph.D., advanced technologies manager, led the discussion.
The focus of the daylong seminar was on Vitronics Soltec's technology group's initiative, "The 5 Steps to Successful Lead-free." One emphasis was on market trends in the electronics industry, as well as case studies illustrating success stories and pitfalls of lead-free applications.
Lead-free drivers, Barbini explained, include legislation, gains in market share, and environmental and recycling concerns, adding that 30 percent of North American companies that participated in the seminar series were experimenting, implementing or manufacturing lead-free products.
Lead-free is not a drop-in replacement for lead-based solder, Barbini added. The five steps to converting to lead-free technology include characterizing the physical behavior of the new materials and consequently, how equipment can optimize the soldering process to accommodate for these differences; defining the process parameters; developing a robust process for manufacturing; implementing lead-free manufacturing; and controlling and improving the lead-free process once in place.
A problem with tin-based solders is tin whiskers. The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) presented its Lead-free Electronics Workshop, Special Tin Whisker Focus, to address the issue.
—Christine F. Della Monaca
SMTspares Supports Electronics Equipment Use
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Founded last year, SMT Resource Group (SMTR) sells, integrates, and provides support and service for both new and refurbished electronics assembly equipment to achieve "best in class" selection for their customers.
SMTR is a North Carolina limited liability corporation established through a merger of resources from Encore Trading and Equipment Services to provide a total solution for the electronics assembly industry. Target customers are medium to large manufacturing companies looking to optimize their capital equipment investment through purchasing mixed assembly lines of equipment.
SMTR equipment provides an alternative to buying new equipment from the manufacturer. This is accomplished by providing value-added services, reducing the risks associated with buying used equipment while offering the equipment at a lower price than new. These services include equipment refurbishment, installation, training, warranty, maintenance packages, leasing and spare parts support. The customer may trade in used equipment for equipment more suited for their needs. The company provides many of these value-added services with its two other business units: SMTspares.com and SMT Resource Service.
"Customers of electronics manufacturing equipment like the low price of used equipment, but not the increased risk, so SMTR offers equipment and support that dramatically lowers the risk," said Eric Berg, president. "Our competition is often the OEM offering deeply discounted new equipment."
SMTspares.com provides both used and new parts as well as smaller equipment via the Internet. This service is available online 24/7 and features original OEM spare parts for equipment from several companies, such as Panasonic, Fuji, MPM, Universal, Siemens and more, as well as conveyors and feeders.
— Jenny Popp