www.globalsmt.net

Volume 17 • Number 8 • August 2017 • ISSN 1474 –0893

The Global Assembly Journal for SMT & Advanced Packaging Professionals

International

PRESHOW GUIDE
Progressive
Cavity Pump
SystemsMachine
Optimization
Explained
Visiting ICSR
Canada 2017
and NEPCON
Thailand 2017
Motion Sensors
Partners with Juki
Cleanliness ofElectronic PCB

INTERVIEW INSIDE

Tetsuro Nishimura– President, Nihon
Superior

Contents

Volume 17 • No. 8
August 2017

Global SMT & Packaging
is published monthly
by Trafalgar Publications
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ISSN No. 1474-0893© Trafalgar Publications Ltd
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COLUMNS
2 Editorial
Some Day, Over the Rainbow…
BY TREVOR GALBRAITH

8 Running Reliably
Hot Topic
BY CHERYL TULKOFF

30 Custer and Custer‘Haves and Have Nots’ this Summer...
but Autumn ‘Busy Season’ is Imminent

16

BY WALT CUSTER AND JONATHAN CUSTERF E AT U R E S
10 Valor Releases Update		 DFM Software – Valor NPI
BY TREVOR GALBRAITH

International

12 SMTAi Preshow Guide
16 An ASEAN Jewel
BY KEITH BRYANT

18 The International Conference		 on Soldering and Reliability,		 Canada 201720

BY KEITH BRYANT

20 Cleanliness of Electronic		 PCB Assemblies Leads to		 Device Reliability
BY MO OHADY AND DAVID ESTES, DIGICOM
ELECTRONICS, OAKLAND, CA

23 Progressive Cavity Pump		 Systems: When Precision and		 Repeatability are Vital
Underused dispensing technology candeliver consistent ±1% accuracy regardless oftemperature, pressure or viscosity
BY CAN LA

Download this issue
to your mobile device

26 Motion Sensors Partners with		 Juki to become State-of-the-Art

23BY NIC MEADOWS, ENGINEER, MOTION SENSORS

28 Dare I Call It Artificial		 Intelligence? Machine		 Optimization Explained
BY BJORN DAHLE

36 Interview
Nihon Superior Interview with President
Tetsuro Nishimura
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BY TREVOR GALBRAITH

IN EVERY ISSUE
4 Industry News
38 New Products

36

39 International Diary
40 Association News

Global SMT & Packaging • August 2017

1InterviewNihon Superior Interview with President

Tetsuro Nishimura

Nihon Superior Co. Ltd. wasfounded in 1966 when it beganmarketing unique flux products
imported from the United States.
The company made its mark onsociety by gathering the most advanced
soldering and brazing technologies andproducts from around the world, andsupplying them to companies in the metal-joining industry. A turning point forthe company came when it started developing its own soldering materials andwith the success of its unique SN100C
lead-free solder alloy, Nihon Superior
has become a major player in the globalmarket. To support the growing demandfor its products, Nihon Superior has
established manufacturing and sales
centers in Japan, China and other Asian
countries as well as the United States,and formed business partnerships withcompanies in other markets. Our editor
recently spoke with Tetsuro Nishimura,President, to gauge the company’s
thoughts on current and future issues.

import brazing materials for the Japanesemarket. As the company grew we
expanded into soldering materials which
is our main focus today. Now, my son,Takatoshi, has joined the company whichmakes me very proud.

First, congratulations Mr. Nishimura – weunderstand that Nihon Superior recentlycelebrated an anniversary.

Currently, the market for our products is good and has been recoveringslowly but steadily since the recession.
However, production in Japan is notwhat it used to be as many of thecompanies have moved production toYes, the company celebrated its 50thanniversary last year. My father, Toshiro
Nishimura started Nihon Superior to

How is the current market in Japan?
Where do you see it in five years
from now?

■ LEFT TO RIGHT Takatoshi Nishimura,Toshiro Nishimura and Tetsuro Nishimura.

36 Global SMT & Packaging • August 2017www.globalsmt.net

Interview

China and Southeast Asia much likethose in the US. It is important to havestrategic alliances with the headquarters within Japan for new products andqualifications. Our facilities in China
and Malaysia then supply the products
which is good for Nihon Superior as awhole. I believe this trend will continue
as companies consistently search forlow cost.
How important is a global customer baseto Nihon Superior? What advantages
does this bring customers?

We are trying to develop
the semiconductor andvehicle markets. We are
well known in consumer
product markets, especiallythe home appliance market,
and have been expanding
the results to other markets
little by little.

They are absolutely important for
us. Globally there are different ways ofthinking and different rules, but those
new ideas and agendas are great fordeveloping new products. To get new
information from our customers andto deliver the latest information to ourcustomers, we now have ten subsidiaries
with the latest being a new sales company
in Malaysia, Nihon Superior Asia SDN.
BHD. (NSA). NSA covers sales from thePhilippines to India, including Singapore,Malaysia, and Indonesia. Also, we seek
NSA to be the hub base for all sales andtechnical supports throughout Southeast
Asian countries with the connection with
our subsidiary in Thailand and office inVietnam.

www.globalsmt.net

Our customers were asking for costsavings with thermal cycling performance that matches or exceeds that ofSAC305. Our solution is SN100CV, a silver-free with Bi solid solution strengthened alloy. SN100CV gains its strengthfrom solute atoms in the tin matrix ofthe joint while silver containing alloys
derive their strength from a dispersionof fine particles of eutectic Ag3Sn.
The advantage that the strengthening
mechanism in SN100CV has over that in
SAC solders is that while the strengthening effect of the Ag3Sn deteriorates
as the particles coarsen when the joint
is subjected to elevated temperatureand strain, the effect of solid solution
strengthening remains stable over timeeven when exposed to elevated temperature service.
We are also taking a different approachto promoting our products throughManga which I believe is a solder
industry first. This type of cartoon storyis very popular in Japan and it appears
the rest of the world enjoys it also. The
first Manga is explaining our new product
SN100CV and its characteristics. We arealways looking for new initiatives.

What new markets will the company
focus on entering? Why these?

We are trying to develop the semiconductor and vehicle markets. We are wellknown in consumer product markets,
especially the home appliance market,
and have been expanding the results toother markets little by little. We havedeveloped Alconano nano-silver paste asa lead-free option for the semiconductor
market as the customers are looking for
new technologies. Cases are coming up
constantly and we are always trying tofind the best answer for the customer.
The results have been good and wehave recently expanded our production facility for Alconano. We are also
looking into developments to address
high reliability requests. I’m very proudof our R&D capability which we haveassembled not only in Japan but also ourfacility in Malaysia.
We are also interested in supporting innovation which we hope turns
into new markets. There is an area in

Speaking of new products, are youexperiencing success with SN100CV
products? What prompted the company
to create and introduce this platform?

■ Tetsuro Nishimura

Tokyo, Akihabara, which is known as
the world leader for the development ofelectrical products and electronics. It ismuch like Ginza being known for fashion. A facility in Akihabara, “DMM.
make” provides entrepreneurs tools todevelop and promote their new ideas
and products. I’m pleased to say Nihon
Superior has partnered with DMM.
make to supply soldering products forthese new developments.
In order to enter these new markets,
will you expand your network of global
licensees? How do you decide which
companies to bestow with this honor?

We currently have great partners with
our network of licensees. Any expansion
will be very carefully considered in apositive way, whether it will expand thenew market.

By the end of 2017, what goals do you
hope to accomplish for the company?
We would like to strengthen thelinkage with our R&D center in Japanand Malaysia to respond to expectations by our customers. Our aim, toexpand SN100C and other NS products
worldwide, has never changed andwill remain unchanged. We are always
watching carefully for customer’s
requests and are thinking hard for whatsolutions we can give.
Any additional comments?

I would like to congratulate Dr. Iver
Anderson of Iowa State University for
his induction into the U.S. Patent Hall of
Fame in recognition of the developmentof the SAC alloy. I also want to thankhim for the honor of selecting Nihon
Superior’s SN96CI products based upon
his patent for permanent display in theU.S. Patent Museum.
– TREVOR GALBRAITH

Global SMT & Packaging • August 201737