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www.us-tech.com Pillarhouse Improves Action Labs’ Throughput with Offline Selective Soldering By George Kennedy, Marketing Assistant, Pillarhouse International, Ltd. T


o stand out in the competi- tive EMS marketplace, Action Labs, a well-known


U.S. electronics contract manu- facturer of low-volume, high-mix assemblies, has long adhered to three core values: continually upgrading technologies, stream- lining processes and improving overall quality. To meet these three needs,


Action Labs collaborated with U.K.-based selective soldering equipment manufacturer Pillar - house International. Action Labs’ investment in Pillarhouse’s ad - vanced Jade Pro Duplex design is now helping it to expand current production capacities. According to Action Labs,


the high level of process control, combined with flexibility and high throughput of the platform were the key differentiating fac- tors in the choice of the Jade Pro.


Evolving Technology The Pillarhouse Jade Pro and


its enhanced features allow Action Labs to provide customers with the latest state-of-the-art prod- ucts, while handling different sol- der alloys on the same platform, due to its dual-bath feature.


Pillarhouse Jade Pro offline selective solder system.


reputation for building complex and highly functioning PCBs quickly and economically. Prior to this new acquisition, Action Labs used a Pillarhouse Jade Mk II selective solder system for its through-hole lead-free require- ments, and a traditional wave soldering machine to handle all lead-based solder.


CableEye® With Action Labs’ specialty


being highly complex assemblies, its focus for the next selective sol- dering machine was to enhance ease and speed of programming, along with advanced process aids. “We had an all-lead based


production system and we need- ed to find an alternative method, enabling us to do more lead-free


Action Labs made this strategic decision to invest, based on posi- tive experience with their existing Pillarhouse equipment and a desire to increase their production capabilities. Since the company’s incep- tion in 1963 it has maintained a


As all companies look to


navigate the pandemic and the subsequent challenges facing the manufacturing sector and its supply chain, now more than ever efficient solutions such as Pillarhouse’s Jade Pro have been so crucial.


production,” says Tom Thomp - son, VP of operations, Action Labs. “That’s why we opted for Pillarhouse’s Jade Pro. The top- side and bottom-side heating capabilities were an important factor for us.” After establishing a long and


fruitful relationship with Pillar - house, Action Labs was keen to choose them to provide a selective soldering solution. “We have a great relation-


ship with Pillarhouse, particular- ly with their Minnesota represen- tative, Omni-Tronics,” explains Thomp son. “We are very satisfied with the equipment and support, since installing their systems and have only had very good overall results. The Pillarhouse selective soldering system is the fastest and easiest product for program- ming and changeover, due to its compact footprint and flexibility.”


Further Growth The challenge for Action


Labs, as it is with many compa- nies in the crowded EMS market, is the need to move to more-effi- cient, lead-free processes. With the company processing PCBs


Continued on page 57


All-in-One Test and Cable Management Maximum Flexibility for the Widest Range of Test Needs


Tester and Test Management  JavaScript  LabView Operator Work Instructions    


R&D  Prototyping  Production Batch Testing  High Mix Low Volume (HMLV)  Low Mix High Volume (LMHV) Testing


Production Mode 





 


 


  Data LoggingBatch Recording





March, 2021


Demo


Tester Management  Troubleshooting  Testing  PASS/FAIL Checks Continuity  Resistance  4 Wire  


Systems Available! CableEye and the CableEye Logo are Registered Trademarks of CAMI Research Inc. LabView is a Trademark of National Instruments Corp. JavaScript is a Registered Trademark of Oracle America, Inc.


®


CAMI Research Inc. CableEye® +1 978-266-2655 | sales@camiresearch.com


Automation-Ready, PC-Based System compatible with Win 7 or later & touch screen computers. Superb Customer Service !


     


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