Jul 07, 2003
The seminar was based on Vitronics Soltec's highly successful, groundbreaking "5 Steps to Lead Free Production" program presented throughout Europe, Asia, and North America. This program leads the engineer through a series of experiments, case studies, illustrations, and logistics that require the proper infrastructure before a company can make the "jump" to lead-free. The afternoon presentations provided a hands-on understanding of how lead-free will impact reflow, wave, and selective soldering processes by guiding the engineer though the pitfalls and triumphs experienced by actual lead-free users.
Vitronics Soltec's Technology group developed the seminar program to provide its customer base with the necessary tools needed to successfully implement lead-free soldering. The combination of VS's R&D programs and collaborations with current lead free users allow us to provide process solutions in conjunction with state of the art equipment compatible and flexible for lead free soldering.
Denis Barbini, Manager of the Technology Group, said, "Each day-long seminar focused on up-to-the-minute trends in lead-free electronics manufacturing where the focus was on quality. Understanding the impact of materials, as well as the failure mode, on soldering, is critical to reducing DPMO and increasing yield in today's high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment."
He added, "There are two key concerns associated with going to lead-free production in the North American market. First of these is the long-term reliability of lead-free electronic assemblies, which is directly related to the materials employed as well as the soldering process. The ability to optimize the soldering process in order to accommodate the physical behavior of the base materials used will ultimately result in the highest quality product. Secondly, building the required supply chain infrastructure and developing the necessary logistics is as critical in successfully implementing lead-free production within current economic restrictions."
Another aspect of the lead-free implementation debate, Barbini says, is the perspective held by many in North America that that lead-free soldering will not take hold. "Global trends observed in Japan and legislation in Europe contradict this belief" he says. "The simple reality that many international and global companies are already producing lead free products, and many more preparing to do so, clearly illustrates that the initial penetration of lead-free soldering is upon us."
Vitronics Soltec is a leading global supplier of reflow, wave, and selective soldering equipment and technology for electronics manufacturing. For more information, visit http://www.vitronics-soltec.com, or contact the company at 2 Marin Way, Stratham, NH 03885, Tel. (603) 772-7778 ext 202, Fax (603) 772-9340.
