Jun 02, 2009 
Now registered with the US State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), DEK's ITAR registration approval was the result of several months of intense infrastructure planning and modification, as security of the system is critical. The DEK ITAR manufacturing protocol requires stencil files to be transmitted over a secured FTP server, with file access granted only to authorized customer and DEK ITAR-trained engineering personnel. Stencil file review is carried out on a stand-alone CAD workstation, the job is transferred into manufacturing through a secured system and laser cutting occurs on a DEK laser which has been segregated from the DEK network and has ITAR-only file access. Inspection also takes place on an isolated system, so at no time is stencil data outside of the DEK ITAR infrastructure.
�Adding this qualification to our long list of stencil capabilities is, indeed, a significant milestone for DEK,� says Brian Lau, DEK Americas General Manager. �Customers manufacturing for civilian applications have long known of our superior quality, stencil accuracy and quick turnaround. Now, military, government and other customers with a need for increased file security can also benefit from DEK stencil technology within our highly secured ITAR infrastructure. What's more, our ITAR status offers tremendous sales opportunity to DEK, as we are now qualified to aggressively pursue accounts in this important market segment.�
Currently, DEK laser cut stainless steel and nickel stencils in both mesh mount and VectorGuard� formats are manufactured under the ITAR agreement. The company will supply DEK's registration credentials upon request to any customer wishing to verify DDTC registration. Customers interested in reviewing DEK's procedures and processes first-hand are invited to schedule a visit to the company's US stencil manufacturing hub, located in Memphis, Tennessee.
�In addition to its obvious significance for military regulation conformity, our ITAR standing is also further proof of DEK's ongoing commitment to provide the highest quality products and most technically advanced systems and procedures,� concludes Lau. �Customers manufacturing any electronics product � military or civilian can rest assured that DEK's stencil technologies are engineered for the most rigorous requirements.�
About DEK
DEK is a global provider of advanced materials deposition technologies and support solutions including printing equipment platforms, stencils, precision screens and mass imaging processes used across a wide range of applications in electronics pre-placement subassembly, semiconductor wafer manufacture, and alternative energy component production. For more information, visit DEK at http://www.dek.com.
