P. Kay Metal's MS: A Beneficial System for Reducing Solder Dross

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

We recently spoke with Octavio Raygoza, sales manager for P Kay Metal in Mexico, to discuss how P.Kay’s MS2® system for reducing solder dross is both financially and environmentally responsible. By reducing solder dross up to 85%, you nearly double the output while consuming the same amount of solder.

Nolan Johnson: Welcome, Octavio. It’s great to talk with you. What does MS2 do in the manufacturing process?

Octavio Raygoza: MS2 is a chemistry solution that helps reduce solder dross by up to 85%. It works on tin-lead and lead free alloys in your wave solder machinery. MS2 Molten Solder Surfactant does not change or affect the solder alloy in your pot; MS2 has no odor and is not toxic; and it is environmentally friendly (LF version is 100% RoHS-compliant).

Barry Matties: One of the financial advantages to MS2 is lowering hazardous waste costs, but it also reduces new solder usage, which is a cost reduction. Considering you’re reducing solder usage up to 85%, that seems profitable and sustainable. What about sustainability?

Raygoza: When companies decide to use MS2, they obtain big savings, making it easy to pay for the offline solder dross recovery equipment. They can make the investment, and the ROI is quick—approximately three to five months.

Matties: From the green and sustainability aspects, you're saving all the shipping, storage, and handling for both solder and solder dross. But does sustainability also include reducing or eliminating solder defects and rework?

Raygoza: When the solder in the bath gets contaminated, that contamination causes voids. A small part of oxide in the solder affects the quality. When we remove the oxide, the quality is better.

Johnson: This is very compelling with regard to running your wave solder machines since 85% means that you nearly double the output while consuming the same amount of solder. The MS2 process is economically and environmentally sustainable, and you have effects like reduced transportation costs for the waste from before.

Raygoza: This is a good point. Recycling income is in the sustainability plan.

Matties: As technology requires finer lines and tighter features, having a solder bath as clean as an MS2 bath is a huge advantage in capability and quality, as well as reduced solder consumption.

When you can eliminate 85% of the waste from your solder usage, that's amazing. That should translate into sales right from the beginning. What is the return on investment?

Raygoza: It depends on the volume of the company, but you see ROI from the very first liter. Customers save approximately $2,000 per liter when working with the most expensive lead-free alloys.

Matties: When somebody decides to implement this, Octavio, how rapidly will they see this operating in their facility? Is it a long startup process?

Raygoza: The process starts as soon as the customer places their first MS2 order.

Johnson: Octavio, thank you for explaining the benefits of P.Kay’s MS2 Molten Solder Surfactant  for both tin-lead and lead-free alloys. It sounds like you can’t go wrong.

Raygoza: Of course, Nolan. I agree.