As a manufacturer of thermal system solutions, Rehm Thermal Systems offers its customers not only high-quality and energy-efficient systems for industrial production of electronic components, but also comprehensive expert advice and qualified support for all process steps in future-oriented electronics production. In the Rehm Technology Centre at the company headquarters in Blaubeuren-Seißen, for example, prototypes are created in collaboration with the application experts from the company to meet the individual requirements of customers. Other demo centres in Mexico and China ensure first-class support and advice from application specialists for their customers around the world.
The Technology Centre covers almost 500 m2 and tooled up with state-of-the-art equipment for a complete SMT production line – from the paste printer with follow-on 3D paste inspection, to placement machines, to the reflow soldering system. This equipment enables customers to work with the company’s application specialists to fabricate assemblies that can be used to determine optimal process parameters and, at the same time, can be analysed using a variety of microscopes, 2D and/or 3D X-ray (laminography or CT). Following successful prototyping, test series can be run with the exact parameters. The entire test equipment – such as temperature-resistant temperature and residual oxygen loggers, calibrated equipment benchmark boards like the vacuum PTP, high-speed camera and more – can be commissioned as a service with application specialists for one’s own system and process investigations worldwide. This means that both audit-proof process documentation and objective and reliable benchmark results can be created.
Where the soldering stops, the protective coating starts. This process with UV and IR curing systems is also available – in conjunction with automatic optical inspection with contactless thickness measurement of wet and dry coatings. The different application methods can be tested directly on the machine using different paint components, laying the best possible foundation for later series production.
The company thus supports its customers by allowing them to produce small batches of new products for product validation with quality control on the production line in the Technology Centre, and then to analyse the batches optically and with X-ray systems.
The company offers a variety of thermal processes for heat transfer – even under vacuum. In the product portfolio, customers can choose between systems with convection, condensation, infrared and contact heat. Soldering processes and coating processes (assembly protection), potting, underfill and corresponding drying systems are demonstrated live on site for various applications.
