CLINTON, NY – Two Indium Corporation experts are set to deliver technical presentations at the Productronica Forum on November 15 in Munich, Germany. The focus of the Forum is on trends and game changers for the SMT industry—from Industry 4.0 to artificial intelligence.

At 10 a.m. local time, Regional Technical Manager and Technologist – Advanced Applications Andreas Karch will deliver a presentation titled Innovative Solder Materials Specifically Engineered to Reduce Energy Consumption and CO2, which explores the relationship between the material properties of electronic components and reflow properties of solder materials used for PCB assembly. Additionally, it demonstrates the energy saving potential of using new low melting solder materials.

At 2:30 p.m. local time, Technical Manager for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East Karthik Vijay’s presentation, e-Mobility & Harsher Mission Profiles: Engineered Solder Alloys for Increased Reliability, will analyze harsher mission profiles with higher operating temperatures (125-150°C) and increased thermal cycles (3,000+) in e-mobility applications, such as electrification, ADAS, V2X. An innovative high-reliability automotive grade solder system with mixed alloy technology was designed to specifically address (a) low voiding <20% and eliminate the additional costs associated with vacuum technology; (b) maximize solder joint reliability for harsher mission profiles (higher operating temperatures of 125-150°C, and increased thermal cycles that exceed 3,000 cycles.

Andreas serves as Technologist – Advanced Applications and Technical Manager for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for Indium Corporation. He has more than 20 years of experience in automotive electronics and power electronics, including the development of advanced customized solutions. In 2014, the Austrian Patent Office awarded him the “Inventum” award for his patent for innovate LED automotive lighting as one of the top ten applicants. He is an ECQA-certified development engineer and has earned the Six Sigma Yellow Belt.

Karthik heads the applications engineering team for customers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His expertise is in automotive, industrial, and RF applications involving PCBA and power electronics with a focus on the use of different material sets, including solder preforms, solder paste, thermal interface materials, and semiconductor-grade electronics materials. He has more than 20 years of experience in electronics assembly and a master’s degree in industrial engineering with a specialization in electronics packaging and manufacturing from the State University of New York, Binghamton. He is a Certified SMT Process Engineer and earned his Six Sigma Green Belt certification from Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. Karthik is active in several industry organizations, including IMAPS and SMTA, and has presented at several industry forums and conferences nationally and internationally.

WASHINGTON – The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced Mary Thornton has joined the association as vice president of global policy. In this role, Thornton will lead SIA’s global policy team and direct the association’s global trade and economic security policy initiatives, among other issue areas. SIA represents 99% of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.

“Semiconductors are at the heart of the global policy landscape, and it’s never been more critical for leaders in Washington and capitals around the world to enact policies that allow the chip industry to continue to grow and innovate,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “With extensive knowledge and experience at the intersection of global trade and technology policy, Mary Thornton will be an outstanding advocate for initiatives that will strengthen our industry. We’re excited to welcome her to the SIA team.”

Thornton most recently served as head of trade and export controls policy at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and previously led global trade and export controls policy at Texas Instruments Incorporated, a leading designer and manufacturer of advanced semiconductor products. Thornton served as a senior trade negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) from 2008-2018, representing the United States at the U.S. Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Switzerland. She successfully negotiated the expansion of the Information Technology Agreement at the WTO, which eliminated customs duties on hundreds of technology products across 80+ countries, and worked extensively to expand access and create export opportunities for U.S. companies in foreign markets through both various bilateral and multilateral fora. Thornton also served at the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Treasury.

Thornton earned a master’s degree in public policy from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in political science and mathematics from Colgate University.

PENANG, MALAYSIA – PEMTRON Corporation, an inspection equipment developer and supplier, is proud to announce the opening of its new office, PEMTRON SE Asia Sdn. Bhd., strategically located in Penang, Malaysia. This expansion is a significant milestone for PEMTRON as it strengthens the company's presence in the Southeast Asian region. The new office is situated at No. 44-G Persiaran Bayan Bay, 11900 Bayan Lepas Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. This strategic location allows PEMTRON to better serve its growing customer base and enhance its support capabilities in the region.

To lead this expansion and foster strong relationships with customers in Southeast Asia, PEMTRON is pleased to introduce Zack Tan as Sales Director – S.E.A. Mr. Tan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, having been in the electronic field since 1994. With over 23 years of experience in the Surface Mount Technology (SMT) industry, he has been specializing in 3D Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) and 3D Automated Optical Inspection (AOI) technologies since 2007.

Throughout his career, Tan has been associated with several renowned brands, including Sindenshi, Nagoya, JUKI, Parmi, MIrtec and now PEMTRON. His extensive knowledge of the industry and these cutting-edge technologies make him a valuable addition to the PEMTRON team.

With the opening of its new office in Penang and the appointment of Mr. Tan as the Regional Manager, PEMTRON is poised to provide even more comprehensive support and solutions to its valued customers in Southeast Asia. The company remains committed to delivering top-notch electronic inspection solutions and strengthening its global presence.

For more information about PEMTRON, visit https://pemtron.com/.

MINNEAPOLIS – Nortech Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq: NSYS), a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing solutions for complex electromedical and electromechanical products announced today two new members were elected to Nortech’s board of directors. Amy Fredregill and Jose Peris bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Board, and will be instrumental in helping Nortech drive shareholder value.

Amy Fredregill has over 25 years of impact across industries, particularly advising the C-suite of energy, food and agricultural companies as well as governmental entities. She has a track record of working with leaders to drive shareholder value, and is skilled in business model transformation, scaling and succession planning. Amy has deep expertise in sustainability and environmental planning for organizations. Amy has a bachelor's degree in Economics from the College of Saint Benedict and a master's degree in Public Policy from George Washington University.

Jose Peris has extensive experience in finance and wealth management, including financial planning, investment consulting, private banking, trust and estate services. He is well-versed in corporate governance, risk management, education, and stewardship. Jose holds the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Spain and carries both a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Minnesota.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jose and Amy to the Nortech Board of Directors,” said Nortech Chairman, David Kunin. “Their expertise and experience will be invaluable as we navigate Nortech’s future as a leader in ESG, greentech, medtech as well as digital data connectivity and transformation.”