Indium Corporation celebrates its 90th anniversary with a look at its past and future innovations.

A sense of curiosity and discovery drove the founding of Indium Corp. in the early 1930s, and that continued drive to innovate has carried the company to success over the past 90 years of its existence – leading it to become a premier manufacturer and supplier for the PCB, semiconductor and thermal management industries.

After reaching the 90^th anniversary milestone this year, the company is celebrating with the theme of “A Legacy of Innovation Fueled by Curiosity,” meant to reflect the technological breakthroughs and the people who have fueled them.

Solder paste dispensing can solve the challenges posed by differing component sizes.

While stencil printing has long been the cornerstone of applying solder paste, it faces limitations with extremely small or large components. This challenge underscores the need for adaptable and innovative solder paste application methods. Here we delve into the realm of advanced dispensing technologies, exploring solutions that can help overcome common production challenges.

Stencil printing, despite its efficiency, struggles with the dual extremes of component sizes – area array and bottom termination components continue to shrink, while connectors and other components may increase in size. This variance stretches the capabilities of stencil printing. Dispensing offers the advantage of infinite flexibility, capable of producing both minuscule and substantial deposits while seamlessly integrating into the existing SMT process.

Perhaps you have heard it’s election season around the world. SMTA is undergoing an election of its own this fall, with ballots due July 31. PCD&F/CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY asked the two candidates for president of the electronics assembly organization to provide their priorities, should they be elected. Their responses are lightly edited for grammar and style. 

One year out from its merger with American Standard Circuits, the West Coast fabricator is evolving to meet a changing customer base.

From its inception as part of Electronic Controls Design in 1972, to its joining with American Standard Circuits last July, Sunstone Circuits has been committed to innovating in the industry – for instance, it is said to be the first to offer online quoting and ordering in the 1990s – as well as providing exceptional customer service.

To better understand what makes Sunstone go, PCD&F visited the company's 32,000 sq. ft. facility in Mulino, OR, in late April, and took an inside look at its operations.