NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On lead-free experience" at Nepcon show

Citation

(2003), "NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On lead-free experience" at Nepcon show", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 15 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ssmt.2003.21915cac.001

NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On lead-free experience" at Nepcon show

NPL ensure success of the "Hands-On lead-free experience" at Nepcon show

Keywords: NPL, Nepcon, SMART Group

At the SMART Group feature area at Nepcon in Brighton, the National Physical Laboratory was tasked with co-ordinating the technical back up support within the lead-free area, a separate self contained facility within the show. All delegates needed to pre-register for this 3½h event, where 19 exhibitors showed working equipment processing lead-free assemblies.

NPL's Alan Brewin co-ordinated the technical papers and invited two large EMS providers to represent the users and share their lead-free experience. Stephen Mainwaring, responsible for the implementation of lead-free manufacturing at Solectron's Dunfermline plant, plus volume roll- out to Solectron's European facilities, was present, as was Sue Knight, who works for the Global Technology Solutions Group of Sanmina-SCI.

The presentations in the area included the following.

Reflow Soldering – Sue Knight

WaveSoldering – Steve Mainwaring

Reliability (Joints) – Alan Brewin

Design for Excellence – Sue Knight

Printing – Steve Mainwaring

Reliability (Flux) – Alan Brewin

Component Issues – Sue Knight

Rework – Steve Mainwaring

Laminate Issues – Alan Brewin

All delegates were presented with a CD-ROM containing all the presentations, other useful lead- free process information including a defect guide and inspection criteria and material supplied by all the exhibitors.

For the best question asked at the event NPL are providing a free NPL Health Check. In announcing the winner as Mark Greenwood Engineering Director of Prosol Electronics, Alan Brewin stated "Mark's question on the reliability implications of re-tinning conventional tin-lead components prior to lead-free processing prompted a lot of discussion and debate". The responses made by NPL to this, and the other questions posed are part of the "Frequently Asked Lead-Free Questions" document available for free at www.npl.co.uk/ei/news/faqs.html.

For more information, contact: Alan Brewin. Tel: 020 8943 6805.