ADVANCED CURCUITS ROLLS OUT THE “GOLD” CARPET

Immersion Gold (ENIG) plating line delivers high-quality durable lead-free surface option

AURORA, Colo. – Feb. 20, 2007 – Advanced Circuits, the country’s leading manufacturer of quickturn printed circuit boards, today announced that it has completed installation of its Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold (ENIG) plating line to meet customer demand for the latest in lead-free surface finish technology. The addition of this line to the Advanced Circuits offerings provides a superior quality lead-free printed circuit board option for Advanced Circuits customers.
ENIG plated printed circuit boards are more durable, aluminum wire bondable and provide an excellent electrical contacting surface. Additionally, with ENIG, the PCB’s shelf life can exceed 12 months. Aiding the manufacturing process, ENIG boards are easy to visually inspect, and the thickness can be easily verified by non-destructive measurement.
“Although we lead the industry in turn time and product quality, we are constantly striving to provide the very best products and technology for our customers. With the addition of the ENIG plating system, and immersion silver which will follow, we are pleased to provide our customers with the option to choose from a selection of lead free, quickturn plating alternatives,” said John Yacoub, Advanced Circuits president and CEO.
Recent developments regarding RoHS (Restriction on Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) have spurred interest in and demand for ENIG technology, which enables complete management of the plating process from a single location while maintaining safety, environmental conditions and waste control. The new in-house ENIG capability will allow Advanced Circuits to provide expedited turntimes for customers, as well as the one-day turns that the company is known for.