Oct 25, 2011 
Aqueous Technologies Corp., North America’s largest provider of batch defluxing systems and cleanliness testing equipment, announces that CEO Michael Konrad was voted Best Paper by delegates at the recent SMART Group Conference at the Oxfordshire Golf Club in Thame, UK.
Konrad presented “Practical Cleaning Issues for No-Clean Flux, and How to Have a Successful Cleaning Process.” Ironically, the most common flux removed at present is no-clean, and 55 percent of assemblers surveyed said that they cleaned no-clean assemblies.
“It was a privilege to speak to such an experienced group of engineers and technicians. The audience was engaged and inquisitive,” said Konrad. “The other presenters did an outstanding job. Their papers were filled with knowledge, leading-edge technology and topical incites. To be voted Best Paper is an honor. To be recognized as Best Paper among this group of respected presenters is truly humbling.”
Keith Bryant, SMART Group Chairman, said, “It was great to present Mike Konrad with the prize for best speaker. The standard was very high with Dave Hillman and Doug Pauls a close second and third. Indeed, all our overseas speakers scored very highly. All the presentations were strong in technical content and relevant information. They were excellently presented to a very interactive audience. In short, it was a successful event, which we will work hard to better next year.”
Michael Konrad is an SMT Advisory Board member and President of Aqueous Technologies. Konrad was a member of IPC’s Stencil Cleaning Task Group, contributing to the IPC-7526 Stencil and Misprinted Board Cleaning Handbook, and is a current member of IPC’s 5-31 Committee for the upcoming IPC Cleaning Handbook.
Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, Aqueous Technologies Corporation is North America's leading manufacturer of aqueous cleaning systems. Aqueous Technologies manufactures batch-format aqueous cleaning/defluxing systems. Aqueous Technologies also manufactures ultrasonic stencil cleaning systems, PCB and stencil cleaning chemistries and the Zero-Ion ionic contamination (cleanliness) tester. Aqueous Technologies’ products have won more than 40 industry awards.
