Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1284035
SEPTEMBER 2020 I SMT007 MAGAZINE 77 Johnson: Does MS2's acceptance with custom- ers cut into the revenue for P. Kay? Hardin: That's a great question, and it's some- thing we ask a lot. If we were a large global company that sold solder bars globally, then this would impact us. Because we're a smaller solder manufacturer, we just supply Mexico and North America. For exam- ple, if we had a customer that was a long-time sol- der bar buyer, and they went to MS2, we would be losing money to that customer. The goal obviously with MS2 is to be global. We can't be selling solder bars all around the world because of freight. Freight's the killer. Johnson: As a regional supplier of solder, that's one thing, but as a global supplier of dross recovery, that's an entirely different market. Hardin: Right. For example, if we were Nihon Superior or one of these global companies, and we knew about MS2, we wouldn't be selling it. Johnson: Instead, you are selling a dross recov- ery system so manufacturers can be more effi- cient with Nihon's product. That makes a lot of sense. You alluded earlier to testing the recov- ered solder so that it stays within spec. Is that much of an issue? Hardin: No, but new customers want to verify that the process hasn't changed. They call it process modification or improvement as the engineers push to get it approved as a process within their facility. As they start to implement the process, they're going to look even closer at how it affects the quality of the product and the product defect—product defects per mil- lion opportunities that they measure across their normal process of soldering. Part of that process, and what they also want to monitor, is whether it changes the alloy, or the purity, of a solder pot. That's the one thing that takes The process varies depending on the size of the customer as well. We have setups for a company that has, maybe, 1–3 wave solder machines. In the warehouse we put up a melt- ing pot with a mixer and a drain valve that molds. When you're done recycling your sol- der dross, you make your own solder bars, which could be added back to your solder pot. The other advantage of doing this offline is when you have multiple solder alloys in your processes, which many companies do. Some companies will have lead-free and then tin- lead processes. Some might have multiple lead- free processes or lead-free alloy lines. With this process, we're able to take a solder sam- ple from your vats before you make your own bars. You can send them off either internally or send it to us so we can analyze the solder bars before they go back in your process to verify that they're within specification. The number of machines depends on the size of the line, size of the customer and how many wave sol- der machines they have. Most large contract manufacturers will have three lines—the tin- lead line and maybe two lead-free lines. Each unit is about the size of a washing machine and they're fully enclosed. They have a venti- lation system and temperature controls, which allow a customer to process each machine at about 300–400 kilos of solder dross per shift and per operator. Johnson: Is there a waste byproduct after using MS2 and reclaiming the solder from the dross? Hardin: That MS2 chemical combines with the oxide, and when it's all done, it thickens up like mud. That has been removed, which turns to a solid and can then be returned to your sol- der dross recycler, or to us. We always take that back. The weight reduction is about 90–95% less than what you have with your solder dross. Johnson: There's still something that P. Kay can buy back and work with further. Hardin: Exactly. The chemical renders some of the oxide of the solder dross. It does contain some metal, which has a slight value to it. Jay Hardin