Heraeus opens North America SMT app lab

Heraeus Electronics, provider of materials solutions for the semiconductor and electronics communications industries, has opened its new SMT Applications Lab at the company’s facility in West Conshohocken, PA. 

The multi-million dollar investment includes a complete in-line automated SMT assembly line that customers can utilize to optimize processes, collaborate on product development and conduct trouble-shooting on industry issues.

The SMT Customer Applications Lab provides a comprehensive range of testing capabilities, including:

• Product/ process defect analysis, root-cause & corrective action (RCCA)
• SEM/EDX Spectroscopy – (Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-Ray)
• FTIR – Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
• TGA – Thermo gravimetric Analysis
• DSC – Differential Scanning Calorimetry
• Die-penetration testing, Cross-sectioning, CT-X-Ray
• Pull & Sheer testing, wire-bond testing
• Cross Sectioning & analysis
• Stress & Strain analysis

One of the many highlights of the new lab is its climate-controlled clean room. With the unique ability to match customer environmental conditions regardless of region, Heraeus is able to systematically optimize associated, processes and successfully develop products to better match customer requirements. In addition to the clean room, the lab includes a comprehensive array of state-of-the-art equipment to provide the highest level of support, including:

• ASM Assembly Systems’ DEK Horizon Printer
• Parmi SIGMAx Blue, Solder Paste Inspection
• E by ASM Assebly Systems’ E by SIPlace placement platform
• Dage Sheer Tester
• Rehm 10zone reflow oven

The facility will enable Heraeus to work collaboratively with customers to resolve specific performance challenges, manage joint development projects and support customers in the design and simulation of processes.

“This investment is based on our two most important guiding principles: innovation and partnership,” says Frank Stietz, president of Heraeus Electronics. He added, “North America is a key market for us. Having a local lab will allow customers to easily tap into our technologies and technical experts to solve their most complex systems and materials challenges, as well as help them capitalize on innovation opportunities.”