A positive outlook is reflected in the 2005-event. This year, once again more than 500 main exhibitors plus an additional 100 represented companies will be present, compared to last year a small plus on a high level. With foreign companies (as well as visitors from abroad in the same range) accounting for 30% of the total exhibitor numbers, the trade show is an important national and international platform. Lead-free production will be one highly significant topic, but for meeting the schedule of EU legislation the companies should have completed the basics of this transition now. If not, they are in serious trouble soon. In other words: time has almost run out. But the legislation is still in flux, and some exemptions are currently under debate. So it will be vital to get the latest status on the RoHS (reduction of hazardous substances) which the EU Commission apparently did not fully understand in its practical requirements or outcome in detail when it formed the law some years ago. Now, the companies have to watch out for postponements and possible exclusions or modifications – and the SMT-show will now be the best place to get in on the latest ideas.
The trade show traditionally offers a compact overview, covering virtually everything from design and development, production, soldering, placement, rework through to test technologies. One visitor attraction will be the production line of an assembly using a flexible circuit. This will be supported by several exhibitors demonstrating the performance and advantages of modern flexible circuits. Together the line and presentations will clarify this year’s conference theme labeled flexible PCBs. Another joint display circles around optoelectronics, featuring the entire spectrum including electro-optical packages, modules and assembly, optical interfaces and materials and manufacturing technologies. The so-called Service Point Lead-Free serves as an information desk for all those who are in need for practical solutions from different suppliers, presenting their products and services.
Also, industry experts will discuss the latest topics of interest in this industry at the Exhibition Forums, where companies will present their products, solutions and services as well. Since there are many unanswered questions in the lead-free case (and will be still even after the qualifying date mid-2006), two subjects will highlight these questions: what needs to be done and until when? – and taking back old equipment. The German Agency of Science and Technology has promoted two projects, one on nanotechnology and the other on the assessment of long-term material data in order to maintain reliability of electronics. For these two undertakings, the results will be presented and discussed during the event.
The conference and tutorials at this year’s SMT are again practical and user-oriented – chairman Herbert Reichl and committee member Wolfgang Scheel (both are professors at the Institute for Reliability and Micro Integration in Berlin) shaped this appreciated format. As mentioned, flex PCB is one key issue, and the other topics encompass the entire product live in microelectronics from design and assembly up to quality assurance. (gbw)
EPP EUROPE 400
