Next Month’s Focus:


Production and


Packaging Send News Releases for:


SEMICON West


(Virtual) VOLUME 36 - NUMBER 6 EM Products June, 2020


Mullica Hill, NJ — Absolute EMS, a leading provider of turnkey and consignment manufacturing services, has purchased the first Vision MARK-1 handheld material di-


ITW EAE’s new Momentum II HiE is a single-rail stencil printer with servo motors dri - ving the vision system’s x, y and z axes. Electronics manu - fac turing products begin on…


EM Services Page 24


Absolute EMS Purchases First Vision MARK-1 from Insituware


agnostic system from Insituware, LLC. The Vision MARK-1 is an intelligent in situ measurement solution with integrated machine learning technology. Absolute EMS plans to use the tool to take control of


the materials in its facility, by leveraging its machine learning technology. The Vision product family is built to last, with expandable modules, called “Insights,” for a fu- ture-proof design. The first Insight module allows full monitoring and control of solder paste. This innovative tool is designed to enable rapid, real-time inspection, di- agnostics, and process control capabilities. “We are very excited to be the first customer of Insi-


tuware to purchase the Vision MARK-1,” says Doug Dow, COO, Absolute EMS. With this tool, the company will be able to offer its clients the ability to ensure and document that their boards have been manufactured with complete control of the materials. “This will be a first in this indus- try and Absolute EMS is proud to be the first to use this advanced technology, which guarantees our customers the highest reliability available today,” says Dow. The sale was facilitated by Techsystems’ Christo-


PRIDE Industries is an EMS provider, nonprofit and a lead- ing employer of people with disabilities. The company of- fers meaningful work to these individuals. EMS begins on…


Page 18 This Month’s Focus:


Components and Distribution


Techsystems’ Chris Putney (left) and Absolute EMS’ Doug Dow (right).


pher Putney, who is Insituware’s manufacturer’s repre- sentative for northern California and western Nevada, in- cluding Reno, Carson City and Minden. Absolute EMS specializes in medical board layout


and design and can turn its customers’ design descrip- tions into workable prototypes. The company provides manufacturing services to OEMs and medical engineer- ing firms that require the highest levels of product quali- ty and traceability in component certification. Insituware is an integrated technology compa-


Continued on page 8


Functional Wearable Tech with “Breathable” Electronics


Acculogic’s flying bridge sys- tem offers up to 64 channels for board test; ASM’s “Service 4.0” model enables predictive serv- ice and maintenance; EA cre- ates GUI for Magnetrol’s level and flow controllers. Special features begin on…


Page 48


Raleigh, NC — Engineering re- searchers have created ultra-thin, stretchable electronic material that is gas permeable, allowing the mate- rial to “breathe.” The material was designed specifically for use in bio- medical or wearable technologies. The gas permeability allows sweat and volatile organic compounds to evaporate away from the skin, mak- ing it more comfortable for users — especially for long-term wear. “The gas permeability is the big


advance over earlier stretchable elec- tronics,” says Yong Zhu, co-corre- sponding author of a paper on the


work and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at North Carolina State University. “But, the method we used for creating the ma- terial is also important, because it’s a simple process that would be easy to scale up.” Specifically, the researchers


used a technique called the breath figure method to create a stretchable polymer film with an even distribu- tion of holes. The film is coated by dipping it in a solution that contains silver nanowires. The researchers then heat-press the material to seal the nanowires in place. “The resulting film shows an


excellent combination of electric con- ductivity, optical transmittance and water-vapor permeability,” Zhu says. “And, because the silver nanowires are embedded just below the surface of the polymer, the material also ex- hibits excellent stability in the pres- ence of sweat and after long-term wear.” “The end result is extremely


Continued on page 6


How Many Jobs do Robots Really Replace?


Cambridge, MA — In many parts of the U.S., robots have been replacing workers over the last few decades. But, to what extent, really? Some technologists have forecast that au- tomation will lead to a future with- out work, while other observers have been more skeptical about such sce- narios. Now a study co-authored by an


MIT professor puts firm numbers on the trend, finding a very real impact — although one that falls well short of a robot takeover. The study also finds that in the U.S., the impact of robots varies widely by industry and region, and may play a notable role in exacerbating income inequality.


Continued on page 8


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