Smart Automation: When It’s Time to Replace SMT Equipment
Learning With Leo: What Is the Cost of Quality Brought About by Training?
Nolan’s Notes: A Tribute to Iola—and Automation
Metcal Receives 2017 NPI Award for its Connection Validation Soldering Station
February 15, 2017 | MetcalEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Metcal has been awarded a 2017 NPI Award in the category of Soldering – Hand Tools for its CV-5200 Connection Validation Soldering Station, as selected by an independent panel of practicing industry engineers. Evaluation of the award entries is based on several criteria, including innovation, compatibility with existing technology, cost-effectiveness, design, and more. The award was presented to the company during a Tuesday, February 14, 2017 ceremony that took place at the San Diego Convention Center during the IPC APEX EXPO.
The patented CV-5200 Connection Validation Soldering Station is the next major step in the evolution of process control. CV is the world's first soldering station capable of evaluating the quality of the solder joint by calculating the intermetallic compound formation and providing real-time, closed-loop feedback to the operator via an integrated LED ring in the hand piece.
"Connection Validation sets the stage for a major advancement in machine intelligence," said Christopher Larocca, President of OK International, which acquired Metcal in 1996. "It fundamentally mitigates the risk of product failures, imperiled user safety, recalls, and unrecoverable cost – which can result in significant damage to a company and its brand. Manufacturers can now confidently develop faster, more advanced products, while boosting performance and cost efficiency."
The CV-5200 features a Chip-in-Cartridge technology that precisely calculates and displays tip temperature on the unit's color TFT graphic display. With the CV-5200's communication port, tip temperature and other data can be collected and analyzed in production reports.
Premiering in 2008, the NPI Awards program is an annual celebration of product excellence in electronics surface mount assembly. Premier products based on the finest examples of creative advancement in technology are chosen by a distinguished panel of industry experts.
About Metcal
Since 1982, Metcal has been the recognized technology innovator in the OEM and global electronics assembly marketplace for the automotive, aerospace, medical devices and military sectors. Metcal provides advanced technology products across hand soldering, convection rework, fume extraction, and fluid dispensing applications. Its products continue to set the standard for performance, reliability, flexibility, and ROI, and are available from authorized distributors in North America and around the world. For more information, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Indium Expert to Present on Advancements in Bi-free In-containing Lower-Temperature Solder at ICEE 2025
12/11/2025 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation’s Senior R&D Manager of the Alloy Group, Hongwen Zhang, Ph.D., will present on the company’s award-winning Durafuse® Technology during the IEEE International Conference on Emerging Electronics (ICEE), December 13–16, in Bengaluru, India.
Nordson Rolls Out New Feature for Auto Sector
12/09/2025 | Nolan Johnson, SMT007 MagazineAn ever-widening variety of components and denser board features are creating a gap for new equipment. Just as stencils are moving to multi-thickness panels for complex applications, soldering hardware is evolving to become more precise and integrated into the entire manufacturing line. Jeanine Norlin and Roberta Foster-Smith, representatives of Nordson Electronics Solutions, discuss the current state and implications of selective soldering, including a case study of a customer that made a change. How will selective soldering fit into your future?
Nolan’s Notes: A Tribute to Iola—and Automation
12/02/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesIn the 1960s and ’70s, when the west side of the Portland, Oregon, metro area was dominated by Tektronix, my grandmother worked as one of the “assembly ladies.” Known as “Tek,” the company was an economic juggernaut, driving the economy of the cities of Beaverton, Tigard, and Hillsboro. The only employer larger than Tektronix was the state of Oregon itself; virtually every Portlander had some connection to Tek.
Indium Expert to Tackle Reliability Challenges in AI and High-Performance Computing at EPTC 2025
11/27/2025 | Indium CorporationIndium Corporation Research Metallurgist Huaguang Wang, Ph.D., will deliver a presentation at the 27th IEEE Electronics Packaging Technology Conference (EPTC 2025). The conference will be held December 2-5, 2025, in Singapore.
Altus Supports Concurrent Technologies’ Production Expansion with Advanced Inline Vapour Phase System
11/26/2025 | Altus GroupAltus Group, a leading distributor of capital equipment for the electronics industry, has successfully supplied Concurrent Technologies Plc (Concurrent), a designer and manufacturer of mission-critical embedded computing solutions, with their second ASSCON vapour phase soldering system, the innovative VP2100-100 inline unit.