Outdated circuit board designs have a high failure rate, and OEMs must find ways to tackle this massive cost burden if they are to thrive, warns a sustainable technology expert.
Conventional PCBA (printed circuit board assembly) processing has shockingly low yield rates that only technological innovation can overcome, warns Emma Armstrong, Sustainable Electronics Ambassador and Group Commercial Director at leading UK sustainable electronics provider In2tec.
She says poor soldering, incorrect component placement, contamination, defective materials, and human error are all factors that drive low yield rates.
“A higher-than-acceptable percentage of defective boards not only affects profitability but also disrupts production and customer satisfaction,” Emma says. “Virgin manufacture has a failure rate of anywhere between 1-3% and defective units need to be scrapped – a huge cost burden.”
“Meanwhile, the resources required to make PCBAs are dwindling, and the supply chains they require are vulnerable to volatility.
“Jettisoning limited and obsolete PCBAs is essential for forward-thinking manufacturers that want to maximise profit and meet their environmental responsibilities.”
In2tec’s mission is to offer an alternative to dated hardware that is incredibly difficult to reuse, repair, and recycle.
The company’s ReUSE® tech is a series of materials, processes, and design principles used to manufacture modular PCBAs that can be fully unzipped at end-of-life or easily repaired.
“ReUSE® innovative plug-and-play design improves yield and, in turn, generates cost savings,” Emma adds.
“The standardised process helps maintain quality, while optimised component placement and alignment reduce variability in production. As an added bonus, ReUSE® PCBAs can be tailor-made to fit efficiently into smaller and more ergonomically designed products.”
Since 2001, In2tec has worked to slash the harrowing environmental and societal impact of ewaste and provide innovative solutions to the growing problem of throwaway electronics.
