Rachel Miller Short, William E. Coleman Ph.D.; Photo Stencil LLC | Joseph Perault; Parmi
There has been recent activity and interest in Laser-Cut Electroform blank foils as an alternative to normal Electroform stencils. The present study will investigate and compare the print performance in terms of % paste transfer as well the dispersion in paste transfer volume for a variety of Electroform and Laser-Cut stencils with and without post processing treatments. Side wall quality will also be investigated in detail. A Jabil solder paste qualification test board will be used as the PCB test vehicle.
productronica 2015 celebrates anniversary with plenty of innovations
productronica takes place in Munich from November 10 - 13, 2015. The world's leading trade fair for electronics development and production sets new standards with a number of innovations. Besides its new cluster concept, the premiere of a new award and a new forum concept, for the first time ever, IT2Industry, the trade fair and open conference for intelligent, digitally networked working environments, takes place at the same time as productronica. This year's focus topics are industrial electronics, automotive electronics and PCB & EMS. They will each have their own theme day including a number of lectures and roundtable discussions with representatives from the commercial and industrial sectors.
productronica has been held every two years in Munich for 40 years. A number of innovations in manufacturing had their beginnings at the world's leading trade fair and have since had a significant influence on the ongoing development of electronics. productronica has been restructured just in time for its 40th anniversary. The fair's 19 different segments have been integrated into a new cluster structure that gives visitors a unique overview of the entire value chain in electronics production. The five new clusters are as follows:
New concepts were also developed for the forums that accompany the fair: In the future, each cluster will have its own Speakers Corner in Halls A1, B2 and B3. As in the past, the PCB & EMS Marketplace in Hall B1 will be dedicated to those two sectors.
For the first time ever, the fair will present the productronica innovation award in the five cluster categories. An independent panel of industry experts will present awards for the most innovative new products and manufacturing techniques. This is the electronics-production industry's first independent award, and it will be presented on the first day of productronica, i.e. on November 10, 2015. All of productronica's exhibitors are invited to compete with one or more innovations. They may submit products that are an entirely new development or a significant further technical development.
Making product innovations in the five new clusters an experience to remember: That is the motto of this special show at productronica. The world's leading trade fair for electronics production will present the hot topic of Industry 4.0 from a new perspective: Industry 4.0 will make it possible for visitors to visually experience previously hidden procedures that machines and workpieces negotiate and that incorporate people on five select electronics manufacturing machines-with the help of augmented and virtual reality.
productronica's opening event-the CEO Roundtable on "Cyber security: Challenges for the Manufacturin Industry" is on the first day of the fair at 11:00. Leading personalities from the industrial, scientific and political sectors will discuss questions such as "How can I gain insights into our security status?" and "How relevant is cyber security to companies that don't think they have highly sensitive data?" Besides focusing on office IT (attacks by viruses and malware), specific aspects of cyber security in industry (smart factory) will also be examined.
According to a recent survey about the business climate conducted by VDMA Productronic, German manufacturers of components, machines and systems for electronics production are expecting sales to increase by 2.8 percent this year and by 6.3 percent in 2016. This positive trend is also reflected by the exhibitors that are participating in this year's productronica. There will also be national pavilions from Austria, Bulgaria, China, Estonia, France, Great Britain, Hungary Morocco, the Netherlands and the United States.
For the first time ever, IT2Industry, the trade fair and open conference for intelligent, digitally networked working environments, is being held at the same time as productronica. The industrial Internet of Things is changing the prerequisites for production and manufacturing. The products and services that are presented at IT2Industry at the same time as productronica demonstrate the link between classic manufacturing and Industry 4.0.
SMTA - Surface Mount Technology Association is a non-profit international association of companies and individuals (totalling 4,000) involved in all aspects of advanced electronics assembly, surface mount and related technologies.
IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries is a US-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its nearly 2,600 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly.