All plastic components absorb moisture from the atmosphere in varying amounts. New high brightness TFT LCD panels from Solent Quest produce up to 1600 candela displays, boasting a seven fold improvement over alternative display solutions. With the advent of new technologies, training is more important today than it has ever been. What is claimed to be the world's first surface mount microphone based on MEMS technology has been launched. With the introduction of this product, manufacturers now have a microphone compatible with the heat and stress of standard surface mount soldering and automated pick 'n' place equipment. Jeff Niew reports. The first European and US Lead-Free Solder Interface meeting took place at the American Embassy in London, with almost 100 delegates from industry and research organisations present. In today's electronics industry of lead free soldering and sterile environments, The use of nitrogen plays an important role. Conformal coating is a well-established means of protecting electronic circuits and modules which have extended performance requirements, such as those for under-the-hood automotive applications. However, the need for protection is no longer limited to usage on printed circuit boards in harsh environments. Sharon Goudie and Mike Larkin report. Precise and easy connection and disconnection of large multi-pin rack and panel connectors is made possible by a new connector mechanism developed by IntelliTest (Europe) Ltd. Pekka Rytkonen looks at a modular high-speed PCB test cell solution with two-level conveyor which is said to allow optimal response to varying and unpredictable line capacity demands while minimising floor space and expenditure concerns. Switching to lead-free hand soldering need not demand new soldering equipment or processes thanks to an established soldering iron technology. Here we report on the physics behind this technology and why it can meet the needs of electronics manufacturers and meet the latest European Union legislation. Making a profit from manufacturing printed circuits is not an easy thing. Over the past 10 years competition has increased dramatically on a world wide scale, forcing prices down, while technology has continued to move forward necessitating the board manufacturers to invest in better and more capable equipment. Senju Europe is introducing to the European market lead-free soldering technology developed by Senju in Japan. With time-to-market and price pressures at an all time high - not to mention the increasing competition found within electronics manufacturing - successful OEMs and CEMs have not only survived, but many have prospered. Here, Peter Chan looks at how end-of-line automation has been used in this success. Soldering in electronics applications is undergoing dramatic change. It is inevitable that tin-lead solders will be banned under legislative directives, and industry is already announcing the emergence of lead- free electronics products. The PA4200 hot tweezer and PA12000 micro tweezer have been released by JBC SA. The designs incorporate the advanced cartridge soldering system which gives pinpoint control and rapid recovery to the pre-selected operating temperature prev    next