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The use of Nihon Superior's lead-free
Sn-Cu-Ni solder SN100C is rapidly expanding and producing
successful results.
In addition to having a joint reliability at least as good
as that of conventional tin-lead eutectic solder, SN100C
ensures that joints have a bright, smooth finish. Also, since
it does not contain precious metals, and therefore offers
cost benefits, it has a wide range of applications.
Efforts to introduce lead-free materials in the electronics
industries in Japan and abroad have been increasing at fever
pitch. In this 10th installment in our series on SN100C users,
we spoke with Chubu High Technology Service (Toyokawa City,
Aichi Prefecture), a company that uses SN100C for computer
circuit boards. |
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| A Leader in Lead-Free Computer Circuit
Boards Also Offers Evaluation Contracting |
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A notebook PC and its lead-free
soldered circuit board. |
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Chubu High Technology Service is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. Its headquarters are located at
Hitachi's Toyokawa plant, the production center for Hitachi
computers and servers. The company oversees manufacturing
activities ranging from production planning to materials procurement,
production, and quality assurance.
Hitachi was the first in the industry to partially introduce
lead-free solder on the circuit boards of its notebook computer,
FLORA220CX, in February 1999. They introduced a lead-free
reflow process for their 220FX circuit boards in April 2000,
and then introduced SN100C into their wave soldering process
in September that same year. Lead-containing solder has been
completely eliminated from the printed circuit boards used
in all of the new models produced at the Toyokawa plant since
March 2002. Also not able is the company's simultaneous elimination
of halogen-based laminate materials in its efforts to prevent
the production of dioxins during disposal and incineration
of scrapped electronic equipment.
The 220FX motherboard has 1,000 surface mount components and
10 inserted components. The surface mount components are reflowed
using an Sn-Ag-Cu solder, while SN100C is used for the inserted
components.
"SN100C was selected not only for its cost and joint
reliability, but also because it does not suffer surface finish
defects such as wrinkling," says PK Center Manufacturing
Engineer Group representative of Chubu Hi-Tech Service. This
group is currently expanding its range of applications beyond
computers into other products with wave soldered boards.
Meanwhile, Chubu High Tech is hoping to share its lead-free
know-how with other companies by offering a unique SN100C
solder evaluation contracting service. Its menu of support
services for other companies includes the trial production
of large printed circuit boards, production services on small-quantity
and larger projects, and mounting design. Chubu High Tech
is increasing its contracting experience by performing services
for manufacturers of business machines and machine tools in
the Chubu region. | Interviewed by Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
Interviewed by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd. |
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![[CASE10] CHUBU HIGH TECHNOLOGY SERVICE](images/voice10_title.gif){kind=small}
