CLINTON, NY – Indium Corporation’s Principal Engineer and Manager for Thermal Interface Materials Applications Dr. Andy Mackie, Ph.D., will deliver a webinar presentation as part of the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative’s (iNEMI) Packaging Tech Topic Series on Tuesday, March 28.

Dr. Mackie’s presentation will address the evolution of power electronics packaging, focusing in particular on advancements in assembly and thermal interface materials. The webinar will cover the challenges and solutions associated with power electronics packaging, and the impact of emerging technologies such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) and the new challenges they pose. Dr. Mackie will also provide an in-depth analysis of the different types of materials used in power electronics packaging, their advantages, and limitations, as well as share insight into the future direction of power electronics packaging and the potential for further advancements in assembly and thermal interface materials to enable more efficient and reliable power electronic systems.

“As power electronics become increasingly important in modern electronic systems, it is essential for the industry to understand the packaging challenges we face, as well as the critical role that assembly and thermal interface materials have to play in addressing those challenges,” said Mackie. “I want to thank iNEMI for giving me the platform to share my experiences and help our industry move forward.”

The webinar is open to all industry professionals (iNEMI membership is not necessary); advance registration is required. Click here to register.

Dr. Mackie is an electronics industry expert with a technical background in physical chemistry, surface chemistry, rheology, and semiconductor fabrication and assembly materials and processes. His professional experience covers all aspects of electronics manufacturing from wafer fabrication to semiconductor packaging and SMT/electronics assembly. In his current role, he is focused on identifying thermal material needs and trends for various high-performance applications, as well as the development and testing of innovative solutions to meet the emerging thermal interface material requirements. Dr. Mackie has been an invited international keynote speaker and has lectured internationally on subjects ranging from sub-ppb metals analysis in supercritical carbon dioxide to solder paste rheology. He holds patents in novel polymers, heterogeneous catalysis, and solder paste formulation. Dr. Mackie holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from the University of Nottingham, UK, and a Master’s of Science (MSc) in colloid and interface science from the University of Bristol, UK.

DOWNERS GROVE, IL – Hirose Electric USA is proud to be Certified™ by Great Place to Work®. The prestigious award is based on what current employees say about their experience working at Hirose USA. This year, 89% of employees said it’s a great place to work, 57 points higher than the average U.S. company.

Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention, and increased innovation.

“Great Place to Work Certification™ isn’t something that comes easily – it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience,” said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, vice president of global recognition at Great Place to Work. “It’s the only official recognition determined by employees’ real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that Hirose Electric US is one of the best companies to work for in the country.”

“We are very excited to be a Great Place to Work-Certified company. Hirose operates with employee happiness and prospects as a main priority,” said President and COO, Shinya (Sid) Tono. “We owe our continuous growth, financial stability, success, and a brighter future to our entire team of dedicated employees at Hirose Electric group. We celebrate and thank them all for their efforts, and this recognition.”

This year, the company kicked off a campaign to understand an employee’s experience on an individual level. The Hirose USA HR department, with the support of the executive management team, conducted one on one interviews with every employee within the organization. The feedback was very positive and will become part of the culture moving forward.

Hirose also opened a new 18,000 sq foot Americas corporate headquarters on the 19th floor, in Downers Grove, IL with a tech savvy aesthetic that has motivated many employees to travel to the office with our recent hybrid schedule. This hybrid schedule coupled with the new high-tech office has most employees feeling a newfound sense of pride. Within the new office, Hirose has a room designated for a golf simulator as well as an area for employee relaxation that features gaming technology and Virtual Reality Glasses from some current customers. These additions have helped to foster a workplace that does not only boost morale, and relieve stress, but also encourage creativity among team members and increase productivity and teamwork.

According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company’s profits, and have a fair chance at promotion.

AUSTIN, TX – Cetec ERP, a leading cloud ERP software provider, will exhibit at the SMTA Dallas Expo & Tech Forum on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at the Plano Event Center in Plano, TX. The Cetec ERP team will discuss a new generation of cloud ERP software for manufacturers and distributors during the event.

Cetec ERP delivers a web-based ERP system in a practical, logical and low-cost manner that dramatically helps small and mid-sized companies. The all-in-one platform includes everything from sales and quoting to inventory management, document management, shop floor control, quality management and financial accounting.

The Cetec ERP team is committed to working closely with manufacturing companies around the world who want to take advantage of a completely full-suite platform. Its leading-edge system helps customers handle stringent regulatory requirements and track dynamic production environments, all from a single, friendly web interface. All modules, support, maintenance and upgrades are included in the monthly subscription.

To learn more, meet with the Cetec ERP team during the SMTA Dallas Expo or visit http://cetecerp.com/ 

NEWMAN LAKE, WA – Hentec Industries/RPS Automation, a leading manufacturer of selective soldering, lead tinning and solderability test equipment, is pleased to announce that InSource Technologies Inc. has finalized the purchase of their second Hentec/RPS Vector 460 selective soldering system.

The Vector 460 is a lead-free compatible selective soldering system that features an integrated computer with unlimited program storage, integrated system software, witness camera and auto fiducial correction. Available in either standalone or SMEMA in-line configurations, the Vector 460 is offered with topside preheat, spray or drop-jet fluxer, dual flux nozzles, and custom or wave solder nozzles. The Vector 460 is UL and CE compliant and carries both a two-year system warranty and a four-year solder pot warranty.