Manassas, VA – March 10, 2010 Earlier this year, ZESTRON's 2010 goals were announced by its worldwide President, Harald Wack, Ph.D, during an exciting company sponsored event. After winning a record number of new and competitive accounts in 2009, ZESTRON, the leading solutions supplier of high precision cleaning products, services, and vapor recovery devices, embraces this coming year with anticipation and optimism despite the current economic challenges. A healthy pipeline, and sales growth year to date as compared to last year, validates our outlook for 2010. The entire announcement may be viewed here: http://www.zestron.com/us/corporate/message-from-the-president.html

ZESTRON consistently delivers the most innovative and eco-friendly precision cleaning solutions available, with packaged offerings that provide unparalleled process cost reductions. As part of ZESTRON's 2009 plan, a fourth Technical Center was opened in Malaysia to further strengthen its leadership position. With four locations strategically positioned across the globe, these technical centers feature the most robust selection of inline, batch, ultrasonic and spray-under-immersion demo equipment in the industry. Additional achievements of significance include:

• ZESTRON's revolutionary vapor recovery devices to minimize vapor losses, hence rewarding customers with tremendous cost savings and a greener process. • A “borderless engineering” campaign and ever-evolving global knowledgebase, providing customers with the most comprehensive list of cleaning and compatibility data available. • The first ever pH-neutral defluxing agent, VIGON® N 501, to address specific environmental challenges, and which is already proven in the marketplace.

Furthermore, since its inception in 1975, ZESTRON has consistently pioneered new technologies and the “greenest” cleaning chemistries possible. For 2010, we are on target to further differentiate ourselves with exciting new and innovative introductions. Our R&D staff continues to work on environmentally responsible solutions that will further address current and impending process limitations in the coming year. A timeline of ZESTRON's innovative history may be viewed here: http://www.zestron.com/us/corporate/company-history.html.

Overall, it is ZESTRON's mission to set a positive example and fulfill its responsibility to society through sound environmental product development, education and participation. For more information about ZESTRON's products, services, and capabilities, please email infoUSA@zestron.com or visit www.zestron.com.

SMYRNA, GA, March 4, 2010 - Following record-breaking attendee registration, Virtual PCB, the industry's only virtual trade show and conference, which took place this week, is now offered on-demand for the next two months.

More than 2,600 PCB designers, fabricators and assemblers registered for Virtual PCB (virtual-pcb.com), which took place March 2-4.

The live event drew more than 1,350 attendees from all over the world. The show is now available on-demand until May 4.

Exhibitors include several leading suppliers of assembly process equipment, design software, and bare boards. The technical conference includes webinars on design, signal integrity, lead-free soldering, tin whiskers, and other issues from well-known industry experts.

"This year's Virtual PCB was the best event yet," said Mike Buetow, Editor in Chief of CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY, which co-sponsored Virtual PCB. "The technical conference is clearly a huge draw, and the lively chats on tin whiskers and board reliability showed again that engineers don't need to be face-to-face in order to engage in productive discussion and debate."

A fully interactive, Web-based event, Virtual PCB incorporates all the critical features of a live event while allowing PCB design, fabrication and assembly equipment and materials buyers and sellers to interact online.
 
For more information about Virtual PCB, visit virtual-pcb.com or contact Alyson Skarbek, Show Manager, at 404-665-7749 or askarbek@upmediagroup.com.

Virtual PCB is produced by UP Media Group, the industry's leading publisher of technical magazines.

DoD recently announced the award of a SBIR grant to Indiana Microelectronics to investigate the use of SunRay Scientific’s ZTACH™ anisotropic conductive adhesive (ACA) as replacement for lead-based solders in military, and aerospace electronic assemblies .

Manassas, VA - March 1, 2010   ZESTRON, the worldwide leading supplier of high precision cleaning agents and services, will exhibit at the NEPCON Shanghai 2010. We will welcome visitors at one of the largest booths of the West Hall with:

•    an extensive display of cleaning equipment from world leading manufacturers featuring spray-in-air inline and batch as well as dip tank processes with ultrasonic or spray-under-immersion agitation. ZESTRON’s experienced technical support team stands ready to provide an overview of the different cleaning machines as well as in depth information with regard to single systems.

•    unique high precision cleaning agents such as the revolutionary pH-neutral VIGON® N 501. This water-based MPC® cleaner was specifically developed for spray-in-air processes. Due to its neutral pH-value, this cleaning agent demonstrates the highest level of compatibility with sensitive SMT production materials, such as aluminum, copper, brass, nickel, plastics and labels. Despite short contact times and concentrations as low as 10-15%, VIGON® N 501 shows excellent cleaning results, even under low standoff components.

For more information, please visit ZESTRON at our Nepcon Shanghai Booth-No. #2B03, West Hall, Level 2 or at www.zestron.com.

Faculty members at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) recently announced the award of a grant from the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute to investigate the use of SunRay Scientific’s ZTACH™ anisotropic conductive adhesive for lead-free electronics assembly. The project will be led by engineers at RIT’s Center for Electronics Manufacturing and Assembly (CEMA).

Manassas, VA – February 23, 2010 ZESTRON America, the globally integrated leading supplier of high precision cleaning products and services, has been invited to participate in the SMTA webinar series during the annual Virtual PCB trade show and conference held from March 2-4, 2010.

On March 3, 2010, 12-1:30 pm Eastern (9-10:30 am Pacific), Dr. Harald Wack, President of ZESTRON worldwide, will be presenting "Go Greener in Your Cleaner! – Cleaning Process Benchmarking."

Over the past decade, the cleanliness requirements for manufacturers have increased significantly. This is primarily due to higher performance expectations, higher component densities and newer materials being used. The North American electronics assembly market consists mainly of military, aerospace, medical, and automotive manufacturing industries, all of which require a guaranteed product life time and reliability. With higher cleaning performance requirements and increased environmental regulations, the cleaning process has become a focal point for many companies. RoHs and REACH, and also stricter, local waste water regulations and VOC limits, have forced numerous, recent process re-qualifications.

This study was prepared to focus on cleaning process benchmarking. How can one compare established cleaning processes with newer process technologies? The authors will present recent cleaning challenges including the removal of flux residues under challenging low standoff components such as 0603 chip capacitors, while using pH-neutral de-fluxing agents as well as alkaline chemistries with reduced VOC levels. The objective was to assess their effectiveness and demonstrate any limitations while adhering to higher environmental standards. To further explore the challenge of increasing VOC limitations, the study also highlights research findings on vapor recovery methods presently used in the industry. This will allow users to benefit from experimental comparison data to further enhance their respective cleaning process while conforming to the latest environmental regulations. If you have any questions, contact Ryan Flaherty, Director of Communications at the SMTA. Ryan@smta.org or 952-920-7682. To register for this webinar, please contact http://www.smta.org/education/registration/event_registration.cfm?EVENT_ID=547.

Manassas, VA - February 15, 2010  ZESTRON America, the globally integrated leader in high precision cleaning products and services, is pleased to announce that, after careful consideration, JT Technologies has elected to represent ZESTRON's superior line of chemistries, proven vapor recovery devices, and process optimization services in upstate New York effective February 1, 2010.

With more than 20 years of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry, JT Technologies is well positioned to offer its customers and principals alike superior service and representation.  While the company specializes in equipment and materials used in the assembly of printed circuit boards with an emphasis on surface mount technology (SMT) equipment and processes, it is also committed to keeping abreast of the latest developments and proliferation of knowledge within the industry.

True to its corporate statement "JT is committed to take responsibility for, and a personal interest in, our customers' manufacturing needs," the company has been representing many well-known names in the industry such as Mydata, DEK, Vitronics Soltec and Air-Vac.

"JT Technologies exemplifies ZESTRON's golden-rule business practice by providing customers with proven solutions that generate value to the bottom line, while upholding the utmost integrity.  The addition of our innovative chemistries and vapor recovery devices to their line of products demonstrates JT's commitment to represent the latest technologies from world leading electronics companies," says Sheldon Brennan, National Sales Manager, ZESTRON America.

For more information about ZESTRON's products and services, to receive complementary product samples or to take a virtual tour of our facility, please visit www.zestron.com.

A groundbreaking resin purification service removes up to 95% of extractable ionic residues in polymers, achieving cleanliness levels beyond what is normally available from suppliers and compounders. The proprietary, solid-state process, available from PolyClean Technologies, yields resin pellets with the required purity throughout, not just on the surface.  The breakthrough process is a boon to molders, manufacturers and resin suppliers needing cost-effective approaches to meet cleanliness requirements in specialized, niche applications. 

"Our highly flexible purification process resolves different residue and contamination problems in a variety of materials. Lot sizes range from lab scale to multiple truck loads," explains Harish Sangani, President of PolyClean Technologies. "By partnering with us, molders, manufacturers, and resin suppliers can concentrate on their core business strengths while still achieving optimal purity for their applications and setting state of the art benchmarks in clean products and processes."

Sangani adds that PolyClean's resin purification services readily complement and enhance sustainability programs, including cradle to cradle, end of life, and zero waste.  
 
For more information and to arrange an initial evaluation trial:
PolyClean Technologies, Inc.
Rosenberg, TX 77471 USA.
(832) 595-9660
info@polycleantech.com
www.polycleantech.com

Manassas, VA – February 2, 2010 Customers can now take a new, enhanced "virtual tour" of ZESTRON America’s facility in Manassas, VA from the comforts of their own computers by visiting www.zestron.com. The expanded, web-based tour is designed to showcase the capabilities offered to support ZESTRON’s customers around the globe. While certain areas are secure and could not be shown, visitors to the site will have total access and detailed views of all customer support facilities including the application technology center, which houses 15 state-of-the-art pieces of equipment from leading manufacturers.

"The initial idea for a virtual tour came from a customer who conducted cleaning trials at our facility shortly after visiting our main competitor. The overwhelming positive reaction made us realize that we had not effectively differentiated our capabilities," said Michael McCutchen, Sales and Marketing Manager, ZESTRON America. "In the past, customers needed to visit one of our four global locations to see an important component of what makes ZESTRON different in this industry. Not anymore. This project allows us to utilize the innovative technology of a 360-degree virtual tour to showcase our Technical Centers in such a way that customers can decide for themselves who is best equipped to ensure success."

The virtual tour of ZESTRON America is only the beginning. Tours of each Technical Center in China, Europe and Malaysia are scheduled as part of the previously announced "Global Link" initiative. Once completed, the virtual tours will allow customers to assess the capabilities of each site prior to engaging in projects such as ZESTRON’s free-of-charge cleaning trials.

"We have grown to be the leader in precision cleaning because of our unwavering commitment to process improvement. ZESTRON prides itself on providing electronics manufacturers, who insist on eliminating long term reliability concerns, with the absolute best precision cleaning processes available. This is only possible when you can approximate your customers’ production conditions. Our Technical Centers certainly provide a huge advantage over our competitors and they are something we want customers to see for themselves," says Dr. Harald Wack, President, ZESTRON.

Beaverton, OR–Det Norske Veritas (DNV) once again certified Axiom to ISO 9001:2000 and EN/JISQ/AS9100:2004, and ANSI/ESD S20.20-2007. The certificates are available to view at www.axiomsmt.com, Enter, Company, Quality Policy.

Axiom has been Certified to the AS9100 standard since January 2006, and is pleased that the 2009 AS9100 audit continues our tradition of high scoring excellence. The ESD S20.20 certification is conducted yearly and is the second for Axiom. This ANSI standard "covers the requirements necessary to design, establish, implement, and maintain an ESD control program to protect electrical or electronic parts, assemblies and equipment susceptible to ESD damage from Human Body Model (HBM) discharges greater than or equal to 100 volts." Axiom’s internal standards, policies, practices, methods and redundant controls provide ESD protection that is well below (much better than) the ESD S20.20 Class 0 standard. Axiom joins a very select group of U.S. companies certified to this stringent ESD control standard. There are very few electronic manufacturing services companies in the U.S. certified for ESD S20.20.

Axiom President, Robert Toppel, says, "These certifications support our customers’ confidence and our strong position in high reliability markets such as military, aerospace, test instrumentation, industrial and medical. We are proud of our entire workforce and the dedication they demonstrate in their daily work as they continue to produce excellent products and superior service for our customers."

Axiom Electronics LLC (http://www.axiomsmt.com) is a leading Electronics Manufacturing Services company founded in 1990 and based in Beaverton, OR. Axiom provides a full spectrum of sophisticated electronic manufacturing services to a wide range of OEMs in the high reliability military/aerospace, medical, instrumentation, communications, industrial, and computer sectors.

Integrated Ideas & Technologies, Inc., a supplier of Surface Mount Stencils and quick-turn metal fabrication, announced today its implementation of the ITAR Compliance Program, which allows IIT, Inc. to accept ITAR government contracts. “At IIT, Inc., one of our major goals has been to find programs and services, enabling us to better serve our clients. These added services have been a contributing factor to our consistent growth, even through economically challenging times. We are very pleased about the ITAR Compliance rating we now have and expect the ITAR registration will be of great benefit to our growing list of defense contractors in both our SMT Stencil Division and our Metal Fabrication Division” stated Michael Ray, President of IIT, Inc. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) consists of regulations put in place by the United States Government, to control the import and export of domestic and foreign defense-related articles and services on the United States Munitions List. To become ITAR compliant, a business must adhere to exceptionally strict rules and requirements pertaining to government and military equipment and information. For more information on ITAR compliance, visit http://www.pmddtc.state.gov/regulations laws/itar.html

SMYRNA, GA - UP Media Group today announced the addition of three leading suppliers as exhibitors for the third annual VIRTUAL PCB, the industry's only virtual trade show and conference for the PCB design, fabrication and assembly markets. The two-day worldwide event takes place March 2-4, 2010.

Top electronics design automation suppliers Altium Ltd. and EMA Design Automation have signed on for the event. Also exhibiting is Kyzen Corp., a leading supplier of cleaning products for SMT and semiconductor manufacturing.

A fully interactive, Web-based event, VIRTUAL PCB (www.virtual-pcb.com) incorporates all the critical features of a live event, while allowing PCB design, fabrication and assembly equipment and materials buyers and sellers to interact online. VIRTUAL PCB is supported by a proven software platform (provided by INEXPO), and will be accessible on-demand for two months beyond the two-day live event.

Features of the upcoming virtual event will include custom exhibit booths, live attendee-attendee and attendee-exhibitor communication, live and on-demand equipment demonstrations, real-time technical presentations, open "chats" moderated by industry experts, and much more. "We are thrilled to have these industry leaders as exhibitors," said UP Media Group President Pete Waddell. "Even more telling, Altium and Kyzen are repeat exhibitors, demonstrating the value and return-on-investment of Virtual PCB."

For more information about Virtual PCB, visit www.virtual-pcb.com or contact Alyson Skarbek, show manager, at 404-665-7749 or askarbek@upmediagroup.com.