SMYRNA, GA – CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY opened its 2018 New Product Introduction Awards (NPI) for printed circuit board assembly.

The NPI Awards recognize the leading new products for PCB assembly introduced in the 2017 calendar year. Awards are selected by an independent panel of judges from the industry and presented by CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY. No preferential treatment is given to customers of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY or UP Media Group.

Awards will be presented in the following categories: Equipment: automation tools (conveyors, feeders, etc.); bonders; cleaning equipment; component placement - high-speed; component placement - multifunction; component storage; device programming; dispensing equipment; labeling equipment; process control tools; rework and repair tools; screen/stencil printing; screen/stencil printing peripherals/consumables; soldering - reflow (convection); soldering – wave; soldering – selective; soldering – other (vapor phase, hot bar, laser, etc.); soldering – hand tools; test and inspection – AOI; test and inspection – AXI; test and inspection – ICT; test and inspection – SPI; test and inspection – functional test; first article inspection; Materials: adhesives; cleaning materials; coatings/encapsulants; underfills/thermal interface materials; flux; soldering materials (paste, bar, wire, core, etc.); cored wire; training materials; Software: software - process control; software – production; software – management (ERP, MRP, etc.).

The deadline for entries is Jan. 9, 2018. To be eligible, entries must have been introduced to market (any region) no earlier than Feb. 1, 2017.
 
Entries are judged on creativity and innovation; compatibility with existing technology; cost-effectiveness; design; expected reliability; flexibility; expected maintainability/reparability; performance; user-friendliness, and speed/throughput.
 
Awards will be presented during a ceremony on Feb. 27, 2018, during IPC Apex Expo in San Diego.
 
For more information, visit http://www.circuitsassembly.com/ca/index.php/editorial/npi-award, or contact senior editor Chelsey Drysdale at cdrysdale@upmediagroup.com.

To register, visit https://www.regonline.com/registration/Checkin.aspx?EventID=2026671.

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