ORMOND BEACH, FL -- Werner Engelmaier, perhaps the industry's preeminent expert on solder joint reliability, died Friday. He was 72.

According to his family, Engelmaier died while on a scuba diving trip in Aqaba, Jordan.

Widely known as "Mr. Reliability," Engelmaier made his name during his 24-year tenure at AT&T Bell Labs, where his research investigated electronics packaging and interconnection technology. He was awarded the AT&T Distinguished Technical Staff Award.

While with AT&T, he formed the IPC Product Reliability Main Committee, which wrote such documents as IPC-SM-785, "Guidelines for Accelerated Reliability Testing of Surface Mount Solder Attachments," IPC-D-279, "Design Guidelines for Reliable Surface Mount Technology Printed Board Assemblies", and IPC-9701, "Performance Test Methods and Qualification Requirements for Surface Mount Solder Attachments." He served as a member of IEC Technical Advisory Group, was a director of the International Electronics Packaging Society (IEPS), and chaired various ASTM committees.

Since founding Engelmaier Associates, in 1990, Engelmaier consulted on applications ranging from medical implants to computers, aircraft, automobiles, satellites and down-hole drilling.

He authored more than 200 technical publications and held two patents. During his career, he received the IPC Presidents Award, the Electronic Packaging Achievement Award, and the from Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1986. He was inducted into the IPC Hall of Fame in 2003, and was bestowed the TGM-Exner Medal by the Technologisches Gewerbe Museum and the Government of the Republic of Austria in 2009.

During his 50-year career, Engelmaier developed the first creep-fatigue models for the most common lead-free solders. He was an outspoken critic of the movement to lead-free solders, arguing that such a transition should follow, not precede, extensive reliability testing.

He was an avid outdoor sportsman, enjoying skiing in his native Austria and in Utah.

In a brief note, Peter Engelmaier, Werner's son, said the "Mr. Reliability," nickname aptly described his personal life. "A better husband, father and Opa [grandfather] could not exist. He was a Renaissance man and he didn't let us down in his final hours. He lived life to the fullest and was a great example to all."

He is survived by his wife, Osie; his sister, Heide; and two children.

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