Yes, of course print must be washed
HIN A/S has recently entered into a distribution agreement with Kyzen for the distribution of detergents for washing prints, stencils, filters, and solder pallets.
Washing prints is a big challenge and not always easy, but Kyzen, together with HIN, makes both use and logistics simple and straightforward.
By Jørn Tønder, Product Manager, and Gerda Bigum Dam, Head of Internal Sales, HIN A/S
There is a constant debate about prints, particularly whether one should wash prints or not. But overall, the answer must be: Yes, of course, prints should be washed. The resin in the flux can be quite devilish to get rid of, and if one is not meticulous, there will be flux residues under the lacquer when the assembled print has received its final finish, and these flux residues can in some cases potentially be harmful to the print's function and shorten its practical lifespan. So washing and cleanliness also apply to electronics manufacturing.
No electronics manufacturers are probably in doubt about the wisdom of cleaning stencils, filters, and solder pallets – regardless of whether they are used in wave soldering or reflow processes. Again, cleanliness is a virtue, and clean surroundings and items ensure the high quality that ultimately is crucial for the profitability of production and thus the bottom line. Kyzen themselves claim, "that a successful electronics assembly starts with a clean stencil." Have we made that clear enough? Wash everything.
Now, chemistry in washing is not exactly a matter of water and soap. It's about chemistry, and the washing of assembled prints, in particular, must be gentle enough so that neither the print nor the components are damaged in the process, but conversely, there must be enough "bite" in the chemical processes to ensure that resin from the flux has actually been effectively washed off. This may require visual inspection, but it is equally about the trust one has in their supplier of detergents for washing both prints and equipment for paste printing and soldering.
First cleaning and refill are free
Kyzen is a name you can easily trust. Globally, the company is the second largest in the market, and you don't achieve that position unless the products are in order. And the service, of course. Kyzen is a Western manufacturer that produces its detergents for the European market in Belgium. You can hardly get closer to the EU and the regulatory requirements that accompany the chemistry for washing prints and equipment, so Kyzen can fully vouch for the certifications – also when it comes to non-fluoride chemistry.
However, certifications and chemistry are not the whole story about Kyzen. The company is known for providing excellent service and has a number of very skilled technicians in Germany who are ready to visit customers if any unexpected circumstances arise. For Nordic electronics manufacturers, it is also reassuring to know that help is nearby – also linguistically – if there should be any doubt about the use of Kyzen's products.
And then Kyzen has a little ace up its sleeve – or actually quite a big ace. There is always a certain skepticism when changing suppliers, but Kyzen looks at its customer relationships from a slightly longer perspective. The company offers new customers to clean their washing machines and provide the first refill with Kyzen's detergent completely free of charge. This certainly sounds like a loss-making business, but precisely here, long-term relationships make good sense. Kyzen's assessment is that once you have tried washing your prints with Kyzen's products, you are highly unlikely to change suppliers again.
Distribution agreement with HIN in Scandinavia and Iceland
HIN A/S has recently taken over responsibility for sales and support in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland for Kyzen's products, which will now be an important part of the already quite impressive product portfolio that has met the needs of the electronics industry for more than 125 years. HIN will act as an active partner to strengthen Kyzen's presence in Northern Europe, and through the agreement, HIN's customers gain access to Kyzen's internationally recognized process and analysis facilities in Germany – and the aforementioned service.
CEO and owner of HIN A/S, Lars Fensbo, sees Kyzen as one of the strongest players in the market for cleaning prints and electronics – if not the strongest – whereby the partnership will be a great advantage for HIN's customers. A very important factor in the collaboration is Kyzen's clear focus on customers' practical needs and the smooth communication that has quickly arisen between HIN A/S and Kyzen. This bodes well for future cooperation, and Lars Fensbo is confident that HIN A/S will be able to offer its customers a competitive product with outstanding service from Kyzen's organization and experts.
All successful assembly processes start with a clean stencil. Kyzen is the world's second-largest supplier of products for washing prints, frames, stencils, and filters. This is not without reason, and HIN A/S is pleased to be able to distribute Kyzen's products in Scandinavia and Iceland.
For washing assembled series, a batch washer can be a good idea. Kyzen offers cleaning and refilling – free the 1st time – in existing customer equipment.
