YONKERS, New York (January 21, 2020) From smart watches and cell towers to vehicle GPS systems, LED lights and the monitoring and communication equipment aboard aircraft; printed circuit boards (PCB) run the gadgets and equipment used in everyday life. The demand for PCBs—and the precision stamped parts needed to build them— is growing, along with specifications for metal cleaning requirements. CEP Technologies provides a range of cleaning methods that meet ISO 16232 standards.
Able to produce tighter tolerances than other manufacturers, CEP can hold particle sizes to less than 200µm for parts that have pre-plated raw material. “Cleaning requirements can dictate that we hold particle sizes as small as 100µm which is thinner than a strand of hair,” says CEP President Ken Kaufmann Jr. “If these parts aren’t cleaned properly, they can cause a printed circuit board to experience an electrical short. If that happens the board generally has to be scrapped which is very costly.”
Kaufmann adds that a number of variables can affect which cleaning method is used. “Criteria include material type, plating, part configuration and shape,” he says. “It’s important to choose a supplier that understands how and when to apply the right method as well as the proper packaging for shipping.”
CEP’s techniques include forced air, ultrasonic, submersion, rinsing and bubbling with a variety of solutions at different frequencies. Material types include ferrous and non-ferrous metals ranging from cold rolled steel to high performance copper-based alloys. The precision metal stamper can provide cleaning and packaging services for medical devices, LEDs, consumer electronics, industrial equipment, safety and security equipment, automotive and aerospace components.
CEP is an IATF 16949:2016 certified with TUV Rheinland of North America medium to high-volume progressive metal stamper. Its’ unique end-to-end solutions for custom miniature and small progressive stampings meet customer requirements for a wide range of industries. CEP’s engineering-based team provides more than 60 years of metal stamping knowledge from design, prototype development and tool builds to production. Headquartered in New York, CEP has locations in Texas and China which allow the company to provide customers worldwide with localized sourcing and engineering support to reduce lead times and inventory costs.