New line to offer an early start for lead-free
A Printed Systems product story
Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Dec 7, 2004
Stevenage-based contract electronics manufacturer Printed Systems has taken delivery of an additional flow-solder machine, which will be dedicated to soldering lead-free conventional PCBs.
Stevenage-based contract electronics manufacturer Printed Systems has taken delivery of an additional flow-solder machine, which will be dedicated to soldering lead-free conventional PCBs.
With the European RoHS Directive due to come into force in July 2006, the company is confident that all the major elements of its lead-free strategy are now in place and that it is well ahead of many of its competitors in this regard.
"We knew several months ago that we would soon need a separate flow-solder machine for lead-free work", commented PSL's Managing Director Stuart Gorman.
"As the compliance date approaches we expect to see a drastic reduction in the availability of flow-solder equipment, so in mid 2004 we placed an order with Blundell Production Equipment for a CMS 400, which included the necessary modifications to support the lead-free process".
"This forward planning has enabled PSL to have the equipment in situ and ready for production well in advance of the competition".
PSL has been working closely with its customers on issues relating to the transfer to lead-free production, and one major customer in the telecomms sector is aiming to achieve lead-free status a year before the RoHS deadline.
"The transfer to lead-free in its entirety will not be immediate, and we will need to run both leaded and lead-free products in parallel on the shop floor", said Gorman.
As the cost of crosscontamination can be prohibitive in terms of time and materials, it is essential that the controls on segregation are as strict as possible.
One of the results of this requirement will be the purchase of lead-free solder in cubes and leaded solder in bars.
On the surface-mount side of the business, PSL's existing ovens can handle the higher temperatures required for the lead-free process, and the company is currently looking at new "squeegee" blades to cope with the lower viscosity of lead-free solder paste.
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