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APEX 2001 pre-show coverage
December 31, 1969 |Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
If you're in electronics manufacturing, you gotta see this show!" is the mantra heard worldwide regarding the upcoming APEX tradeshow. Conferences and meetings will take place from January 14 to 18, 2001, and the exhibition will convene from January 16 through 18, 2001, at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, Calif.
With nearly 400 exhibitors displaying new products and innovations in 80 product categories, APEX is the only venue in North America where every major pick-and-place equipment manufacturer and every part of the electronics assembly industry supply chain is represented on the exhibition floor.
Because APEX focuses on electronics assembly, attendees can meet with the important exhibitors bringing the equipment, products and services necessary to complete their jobs quickly and more efficiently in the year to come. By eliminating products and services peripheral to the process, attendees will find what they need all in one place faster.
APEX programs are designed to bring value. The professional development courses, conference programs, standards development meetings and more offer ways to keep up with the technologies of tomorrow.
For a quick scan of the types of programs APEX will offer, refer to the following daily list of APEX "highlights."
APEX says, "We're ready to make a believer out of you." Come to the show next month and take advantage of what it has to offer.
KeynotesAll Keynote sessions are free and open to the public. Take advantage of these educational programs taking place each day.
The first keynote speech, Secrets of an Undersea Explorer, will be delivered by Dr. Robert Ballard on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m.
Explorer, scientist, naval officer, television producer and educator, Dr. Ballard has spent more time underwater than any other scientist in the world. During the course of his long sea-going career, he has made numerous significant discoveries including the sunken luxury liner RMS Titanic. The world was amazed by the advanced technology Dr. Ballard used to not only find Titanic, but also explore its interior by his remotely operated vehicle JASON Jr.
Dr. Ballard is a commander in the U.S. Naval Reserves. His military career began as an Army intelligence officer before becoming a line officer in the U.S. Navy. The Navy frequently called upon Dr. Ballard's unique skills to conduct a number of classified programs during the Cold War. Recently, some of that work has been declassified, including his detailed investigation of the sunken remains of lost U.S. nuclear submarines Thresher and Scorpion.
Learn how to turn dreams into reality by taking risks and converting failures into successes. Through the use of beautiful photographs and videos, Dr. Ballard draws parallels to everyday life from his journeys of exploration and discovery.
The next keynote speech, Ready, Set, Go: The 2000 NEMI Roadmap, will be delivered by Jim McElroy on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
Will you be ready to compete in the electronics manufacturing industry of 2010? You need to stay strong yet flexible, and keep those lightning-speed reaction times to get a jump on the competition. The 2000 NEMI Roadmap will help you prepare and keep you in peak performance. Jim McElroy, executive director and CEO of the National Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (NEMI), unveils the key technology and infrastructure requirements that will ensure the competitiveness of North American electronics manufacturing companies over the next decade.
What are the latest trends and newest developments? Where are the biggest gaps to be faced and what are the largest opportunities to take advantage of? Be sure to attend this session. You'll find answers to these and other significant questions.
The final keynote speech, B-to-B or Not B-to-B? That Is the E-question!, will be delivered on Thursday, January 18, 2001, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
What is the tradeoff between offering customers solutions that truly meet their unique needs vs. doing it amazingly fast and at an incredibly low price? Hear from a panel of business-to-business experts, moderated by Ralph Kenton, a leading consultant in outsourcing, as they address the issue of e-trade in the electronics assembly industry. Consortiums have been formed in the PC and datacom/telecom worlds to help OEMs and electronics manufacturing services (EMS) companies identify and locate components by part number, as well as provide pricing, delivery and any applicable discounts.
How will the efforts of these consortia and other e-commerce sites affect electronics manufacturing? Will it improve competitiveness or possibly create more problems than it solves? Find out at this session for the future.
Vision AwardsSMT Magazine will present their ninth annual SMT Vision Awards on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Each year SMT Magazine sponsors the Vision Awards, recognizing companies that have uniquely advanced surface mount technology or demonstrated "visionary" development of new products to meet challenges of the board assembly industry.
Vision Awards are presented in 14 product categories:
- Adhesives/Coatings/Encapsulants
- Assembly Tools
- Cleaning
- Components
- Contract Services
- Dispensing Equipment
- Inspection
- Pick-and-Place
- Printing
- Rework & Repair
- Software
- Soldering Equipment
- Soldering Materials
- Testing.
A distinguished panel of industry experts evaluates each submission to the Vision Awards program for its pursuit of excellence and innovation, and the panelists' combined scores determine the winners.
APEX Gala ExtravaganzaThe Welcome Gala will be held on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Convention Center. Three floors and the outdoor terrace of the Hyatt Hotel await APEX attendees.
Join colleagues, suppliers, customers and co-conspirators for an incredible evening of entertainment featuring KC and the Sunshine Band. The intrigue for the evening continues. Do you feel lucky? Hopefully, you will because there will be a floor at the Hyatt devoted to casino gambling with craps, black jack, roulette tables and other games of chance.
Additionally, APEX has built a virtual reality area for gala attendees. There will be motorcycles or Indy cars to race, jets to fly, air hockey or golf (the electronic versions) to be played or a virtual reality simulation to be experienced. Finally, for those who wish to continue discussing exhibit floor matters or network with friends and colleagues, quiet zones have been established in numerous areas.
Bars will be open throughout the evening and will be hosted from 6 to 8 p.m. Various food stations will feature American, Mexican and Italian favorites and dessert and coffee will be served.
The Gala will be held in the Hyatt Hotel. Taking advantage of the typically wonderful weather in San Diego, the Gala will be both an indoor and outdoor attraction. Area maps, provided in advance, will allow meeting places to be arranged with friends, colleagues and customers. The free-flowing, eclectic setting provides gathering areas for quieter, more personal meetings.
ForumsAPEX will offer numerous forums free of charge and open to the public. One of sure interest will be the SMT panel, Manufacturing Challenges for the New Millenium, moderated by Marcos Karnezos, Ph.D. of Chip Pac.
Developed by SMT Magazine, this panel will take place on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will feature well-known, industry expert members of SMT Magazine's Advisory Board as they discuss the future of SMT in an interactive forum. After briefly presenting a future view on the technologies and trends confronting both suppliers and users, there will be a "town meeting" discussion about issues the industry faces in the new millennium. Come prepared to listen to these thoughtful opinions, then discuss, debate and lay bare the technical and business considerations that will shape the future of this dynamic industry.
Panelists include:
- William Kenyon, Ph.D., Global Centre for Process Change
- Ralph Kenton, Ralph Kenton & Associates
- Ray Prasad, Ray Prasad Consultancy Group
- Dr. Jennie Hwang, Ph.D., H-Technologies Group Inc.
- Vern Solberg, Tessera.
Other forums of interest include:
- Technology Roadmap presented by Greg Munie, Ph.D. of Lucent Technologies, from 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2001
- NEMI Factory Floor Communication Standards presented by Allan Fraser of GenRad Inc., from 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2001
- Supply Chain Management Architectures & Tools presented by Randall Sherman of New Venture Research Corp., from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2001
- Industry Standards presented by Dennis Fritz of MacDermid, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, January 18, 2001.
Committee MeetingsAPEX will offer a multitude of committee meetings that are open to the public. These meetings consist mainly of task groups. Sit in on these and watch history being made. They promise to be informative and interactive.
Stencil Design Task Group is responsible for the development of IPC-7525, Stencil Design Guidelines, which will assist users in selecting stencil apertures for solder paste printing. Bill Coleman of Photo Stencil will moderate this meeting on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 10:15 a.m. to 12 p.m. in HH-Gibbons B.
Ball Grid Array (BGA) Task Group is responsible for IPC input to the joint EIA/IPC document IPC-7095, Design and Assembly Process Implementation for BGAs. Ray Prasad of Ray Prasad Consultancy Group will moderate this meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the HH-Chair Boardroom.
Flip Chip Mounting Strategy Task Group published J-STD-012, Implementation of flip chip and chip scale technology, and is working on additional high-density component standards. James Rausch of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems will moderate this meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in the HH-Chair Boardroom.
Semi-aqueous Cleaning Task Group is working on Revision A of IPC-SA-61, Post-solder Semiaqueous Cleaning Handbook. New technologies and issues in semiaqueous cleaning will be discussed. William Kenyon, Ph.D. of Global Centre for Process Change will moderate this meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in HH-Gibbons B.
Stencil Cleaning Task Group is a new task group. The objective is to develop a guideline document for the cleaning of solder paste and surface mount adhesive from stencils and misprinted boards. Mike Bixenman of Kyzen Corp. and Kantesh Doss, Ph.D. of Nokia Mobile Phones will moderate this meeting on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 1:30 to 5 p.m. in HH-Gibbons B.
Halogen-free Materials Task Group will meet to discuss its status on the development of the IPC White Paper, "Halogen-free Materials Used for Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) and Assemblies." This paper focuses on the legislative, marketing and environmental pressures to remove halogenated flame retardants from PCB and electronics assemblies. This task group currently is seeking input from component suppliers working with their customers to supply parts manufactured with halogen-free compounds. Ceferino Gonzalez of E.I. DuPont will moderate this meeting on Tuesday, January 16, 2001, from 8 to 9:45 a.m. in HH-Manchester A.
Conformal Coating Task Group is responsible for maintaining IPC-CC-830A, Qualification and Performance of Electrical Insulating Compound for Printed Board Assemblies. Future efforts related to conformal coating standards and test methods will be discussed. John Waryold of Humiseal will moderate this meeting on Wednesday, January 17, 2001, from 8 to 9 a.m. in HH-Windsor AB.
There are many other task group meetings scheduled, including: Component Mounting; Component & Process Compatibility; Thermal Profiling; Alternate Final Finishes; Flux Specifications; Solder Paste, Solder Alloy; Underfill Adhesives for Flip Chip Applications; Surface Insulation Resistance; Bare Board Cleanliness; Conformal Coating Handbook; and more.
Tutorials/WorkshopsChanging needs, environmental concerns and a myriad of other challenges require new perspectives for successful electronics manufacturing. APEX sessions and educational programs include a strong focus on the critical issues involved in achieving and maintaining solutions that can be implemented into daily processes. Plus, advice on soldering strategies, process control, rework and repair, lead-free assembly, and more will help keep your operation running efficiently.
Following are just a few examples of the many and varied tutorials and workshops APEX will offer. Tutorials take place Sunday, January 14, 2001, and workshops convene on Monday, January 15, 2001.
Tutorials Surface Mount Technology: Principles and Practice will address the technical issues in SMT, BGA, and fine-pitch technology design and manufacturing that must be resolved to allow effective implementation of SMT. Participants will explore SMT design and manufacturing processes, materials and equipment, and the interdependency of design and manufacturing for higher yield, lower cost and faster time to market. Ray Prasad of Ray Prasad Consultancy Group will present this course on Sunday, January 14, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in CC-11A.
Basic Soldering Technology Perspectives will explore how to produce robust soldered assemblies in a reproducible fashion within the ever-changing electronics manufacturing environment. The course will review the principles of soldering, solderability and process control while addressing new surface finishes, solder alloys and the impact of new packaging techniques on the soldering process. Les Hymes of The Complete Connection will present this course on Sunday, January 14, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in CC-11B.
CSP, BGA and Fine-pitch Interconnections will provide participants with an overview of CSPs, BGAs and fine-pitch quad flat packs (QFP). Dr. Jennie Hwang, Ph.D. of H-Technologies Group Inc. will present this course on Sunday, January 14, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in CC-15A.
SMT Assembly Process Equipment: Evaluation and Selection Criteria will teach participants how to evaluate and select automatic assembly equipment for SMT production. Critical characteristics of SMT assembly equipment will be identified. Key process and operating parameters of stencil printing and reflow soldering and the criteria for equipment selection will be investigated. Knowledge of the SMT assembly process is essential. Phil Zarrow of ITM Inc. will present this course on Sunday, January 14, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in CC-12.
WorkshopsThrough-hole Reflow or Selective Soldering Options will be presented by Armin Rahn, Ph.D. of Rahn-Tec Consultants Inc. on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CC-1B.
Conductive Adhesives: Production, Assembly and Real Applications will be presented by Ken Gilleo, Ph.D. of Cookson Electronics Group on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CC-19.
Successful Solvent Cleaning Fundamentals for Modern Electronics will be presented by William Kenyon, Ph.D. of Global Centre for Process Change on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CC-16B.
Design Principles of BGA Technology, BGA and CSP Standards, Applications, and PCB Layout Guidelines will be presented by Vern Solberg of Tessera on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CC-11B.
Keys to Success for Optimizing the EMS Partnership Part 1 will be presented by Ralph Kenton of Ralph Kenton & Associates on Monday, January 15, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. in CC-10. (Part 2 will be presented from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at the same location.)
ConferencesFor a complete listing of the conferences scheduled to take place during APEX, refer to the grid on pages 70-71.
AttractionsWhile in San Diego for the APEX show, why not take advantage of the attractions the city has to offer? Following are four areas of interest.
Downtown/Gaslamp District. Today, the 16-block historic Gaslamp Quarter district is the "pulse" of San Diego, featuring beautifully restored Victorian buildings, an exciting restaurant row, nightclubs, theatres, shops, coffee houses and various galleries. Guests can discover the sounds of jazz or be entertained at numerous musical venues and popular theater companies.
Cultural Arts/Balboa Park. San Diego's rich interest in the arts is showcased in some 90 museums, historic sites and monuments, with Balboa Park, the largest cultural city park in the United States, featuring 15 museums, numerous art galleries and five theaters, including the Tony Award-winning Old Globe Theatre. San Diego also features a kaleidoscope of theater, opera, dance, music, street festivals, visual arts and an exciting calendar of special events throughout the year.
San Diego Zoo. The world-famous San Diego Zoo, located within Balboa Park, is one of the most famous visitor attractions. This 100-acre tropical garden zoo has 3,900 animals of 800 species and is noted for its many rare and exotic species exhibited such as the giant pandas and their cub currently on loan from China as well as its lush botanical collection. Additionally, the zoo offers spectacular bioclimatic exhibits like the Ituri Forest, Rain Forest Aviary, Polar Bear Plunge, Hippo Beach, Gorilla Tropics, Sun Bear Forest and Tiger River.
Seaworld San Diego. Located in Mission Bay, this 150-acre park features five major shows and dozens of fascinating exhibits containing marine life from around the globe, including the popular Wild Arctic, Penguin Encounter, Shark Encounter and Manatee Rescue. Visit Seaworld's newest attractions like "Shipwreck Rapids," "Pirates 4-D" or "Fool with Tools" the sea lion and otter show.
Plan to attend the APEX conference and tradeshow in January and take advantage of the many opportunities for professional growth. Bob Balog, IPC SMEMA Council chairman, said, "What makes APEX such a powerful event? The industry. APEX has been developed by the industry, for the industry. The IPC SMEMA Council had a vision of a fair, focused and cost-effective event for both exhibitors and attendees. With large and small exhibitors displaying their newest innovations, it is the industry's tradeshow."