MADISON, AL – STI Electronics, Inc., a full-service organization providing training services, training materials, analytical/failure analysis, prototyping and contract PCB assembly, announced that Brian Tharp has been added to the STI Team as Quality Manager.

Tharp brings with him seven years of experience as quality process auditor/trainer and logistics administrator. He was certified as lead auditor under AS9100 Rev. D & ISO 9001:2015 standards as well as certified in IPC A-610 for the electronics industry. As lead audit, Tharp reviewed meetings with engineers, technicians, operators and supervisors to address process findings and collaborate to find viable solutions to identified issues.

Tharp earned his Master’s Degree in Strategic Leadership and Business Analytics and a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Management. He will be an asset to the STI team, ensuring its customers receive the experience and knowledge needed to provide quality products and services.

FOUNTAIN INN, SC – KYOCERA AVX, a leading global manufacturer of advanced electronic components engineered to accelerate technological innovation and build a better future, is proud to announce that its MIL-PRF-32535 BME NP0 MLCCs have been approved to the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Qualified Products Database (QPD).

The new MIL-PRF-32535 BME NP0 MLCCs have higher CV capabilities than standard surface-mount PME MLCCs qualified to military and aerospace specifications and are currently available in “M” and “T” reliability levels and 0402, 0603, and 0805 case sizes and rated for 68–1,500pF and 4–100V. These small, high-CV MLCCs enable revolutionary board space, weight, and component count reductions. They also feature KYOCERA AVX’s patented FLEXITERM® termination technology, which, compared to standard terminations, significantly enhances resistance to the thermomechanical stresses experienced during assembly and operation.

MIL-PRF-32535 BME NP0 MLCCs are approved for use in high-reliability military and aerospace applications including filtering, tuning, decoupling, timing, and blocking circuits.

“We have been honing and perfecting best-in-class BME MLCC technology since the 1990s and are proud to further extend our portfolio of tested and proven high-CV solutions qualified for use in high-reliability military and aerospace applications,” said Michael Conway, Product & Marketing Manager – High-Reliability Components, KYOCERA AVX. “The new MIL-PRF-32535 BME NP0 series is the latest development in our enduring mission to meet our high-rel customers’ needs. It satisfies a growing demand for smaller, high-CV, military-qualified capacitor technology, and we will continue to expand this product range and this portfolio to meet the ever-evolving demands of the global military and aerospace industry.”

Lead time for the series is currently 22 weeks for M-level reliability parts (Group A) and 38 weeks for T-level reliability parts (Groups A and B). However, lead times could be shorter if the parts are in stock at an authorized distributor, such as Avnet, Arrow, and TTI.

For prototype and verification designs, KYOCERA AVX recommends the use of its Engineering Module (EM) Range X7R BME MLCCs for non-flight prototypes. This series covers capacitors in the ESCC 3009041, NASA S311-P838, and MIL 32535 ranges and uses the same materials as the fully qualified part numbers, just without the final DLA and European Space Components Coordination (ESCC) testing and screening processes and QPD/QPL listings, so it’s available with shorter lead times.

SILICON VALLEY – Zero Defects International [ZDI] has announced the acquisition by Altest Corporation of ten state of the art Tagarno digital microscopes for utilization in their printed circuit board assembly [PCBA] manufacturing facility located in San Jose, California. These microscopes enable many inspection scenarios and they substantially enhance operator performance as well.

Brian Seng, CEO, mentioned several selection factors including technical capabilities, equipment reliability and operator ergonomics, but also the importance of ZDI's well known reputation for technical service and support. ZDI President, Michaela Brody, expressed appreciation for Altest's selection in the context of a highly competitive environment for this type of equipment.

IWATA, JAPAN – Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it has established a new company in Singapore aimed at expanding its business in Southeast Asia and India, where demand for robots is growing.

By conducting manufacturer-driven cross-selling in the surface mounter and industrial robot fields, Yamaha Motor intends to secure new clients in Southeast Asia and India, as well as provide high-quality after-sales services in line with international standards. The Company will also strengthen its distributor support system while working to expand its distributor network.

The new company will be named Yamaha Robotics Solutions Asia Pte. Ltd. and registration was completed on January 13, 2023. Going forward, the Company will prepare the new company’s office, equipment, and more toward a scheduled start of operations in July this year. Yamaha Motor aims to acquire major global accounts as well as clients that are shifting their production bases to Southeast Asia and India by establishing this company in Singapore, where clients, distributors, and the reach of our competitors’ headquarters intersect.

The robotics business is designated as a Strategic Business Field in the Company’s Medium-Term Management Plan. Based on the business’ Yamaha One-Stop Smart Solution concept, the Company will build frameworks enabling the prompt provision of sophisticated, all-inclusive solutions as it aims for further business expansion.