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Big Ass Fans Adds 3rd Hentec/RPS Selective Soldering Machine
May 26, 2020 | Hentec Industries Inc.Estimated reading time: 1 minute
A great business connection developed at the end of 2018 when Big Ass Fans (BAF) signed-off to purchase two Vector 300 selective soldering machines from Hentec Industries / RPS Automation. BAF decided to start processing their own PCBs in 2018, and by bringing the PCB assembly in house, it has allowed for better goal achievement, enhanced quality and inventory control, all while reducing overall costs.
“We realized that starting up a PCB assembly operation had to be carefully planned, after all, we couldn’t chance to tarnish our brand by missing deliveries or compromising our product quality,” says Frank Grimard, Director of Manufacturing Engineering at Big Ass Fans. “It was understood early in the planning process that we needed three main ingredients to make this work; experienced talent, world-class manufacturing processes, and quality equipment.”
One of the most critical pieces of equipment that was needed to make it all work was a selective soldering machine. BAF’s PCB designs are quite complex, as they have both surface mount technology (SMT) and through-hole technology; so, a selective soldering system would be required to minimize labor and provide the highest quality process for soldering. After a lot of research and testing, the team selected the Vector 300 by Hentec/RPS. With a wide range of process capabilities, a durable design, and the highest precision and accuracy, the Hentec/RPS Vector 300 was the right choice to handle the complex assembly requirements. Currently, three Hentec/RPS selective soldering machines reside at the Big Ass Fans global headquarters campus.
Big Ass Fans is based out of Lexington, KY, and has been transforming airflow for manufacturing and residential locations, since the 90s. They are the largest high-volume, lowspeed (HVLS) airflow manufacturer worldwide, with over 225 company awards. BAF also produces the industries toughest, brightest, and longest-lasting LED fixtures to accompany their award-winning HVLS fans.
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Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
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10/28/2025 | Shane Whiteside -- Column: American Made AdvocacyMegatrends in the economy always capture the interest of the media, politicians, investors, and industry titans. The latest megatrend is artificial intelligence (AI), which has created a mad rush to increase American capabilities and has manifested itself in the proliferation of massive data centers.
Nvidia’s Blackwell Chips Made in Arizona Still Head to Taiwan for Final Assembly
10/27/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamNvidia has begun production of its next-generation Blackwell GPUs in the United States, but the company still depends heavily on Taiwan to complete the process, The Register reported.