The Messung range of Volume ESD laboratory worktables and ESD safe chairs as per IEC 61340–5–1 safety standards, is designed to eliminate risk of electro-static failures and delight users with their smart looks and proven ergonomics.
Electro-static charge is an invisible menace that lurks inside your electronics production areas, including zones dedicated to Research and Development, Manufacturing, Testing and Storage.
Very simply, Electro-static charge accumulated on the work surface area damages electronic PCB assemblies and microprocessors, memory chips and other high impedance components which come in contact with it.
We need highly efficient Electro-static dissipative surfaces and work areas where these sophisticated electronic components are used.
Defence microelectronics is very demanding in terms of the complexity and density of the microprocessors and high impedance circuitry in the PCG hardware. The constant evolution of warfare tactics has led to massive restructuring of radar, telematics, propulsion and many other systems used in varied military and space applications. If compared to their earlier versions, these systems are now more refined, compact and include highly sophisticated electronics. This intricacy and miniaturization of electronic components has made them more susceptible to ESD damage during any phase of manufacturing or testing.
Electro-static accumulated charge, can damage and destroy intricate construction of today’s miniature electronic components and render them useless. Apart from causing varying degrees of inconveniences to the customer, failure of an electronic component in critical applications like telematics of a missile or space shuttle, radar system of a tank or submarine in the field might result in loss of lives. Industry estimates mention 8% to 33% losses as a direct result of Electro-static damage. Thus, non dissipated Electro-static charge, imposes an unacceptably high cost to the bottom-line and addressing these issues is imperative for any defence and space related organization.
Electro-static Prevention and ESD Protection are thus vital to improving reliability and reducing defects in today’s defence electronics manufacturing facility. The good news is that Electro-static prevention and control is easy and sustainable with the advent of new technology that is driving managers to use fail-safe ESD products in their assembly, manufacturing and testing tables and stations.
What is traditional ESD technology?
Products such as ESD matting on workbenches, chairs fabric coated with ESD sprays are presently used in defence areas where semiconductor and PCB assembly and testing is carried out for electronic products to be used in applications related to radar testing, missile manufacturing, missile electronics testing etc.
These traditional ESD measures enable the working area surfaces to be dissipative, but not with the same efficiency and reliability that we will describe in the forthcoming paragraphs — “New ESD technology” .
The traditional methods of ESD mats and ESD sprays were OK till the 90’s, an era where the electronics components were simpler and the PCB assemblies were not so dense and complicated.
Problems of using traditional technology
While traditional technology was widely used till recent times they definitely had many pain areas, such as –
What is new age ESD technology?
New age ESD technology involves use of Volumetric ESD products for both the table and chairs. This technology is causing a paradigm shift in how managers used to approach ESD safe designs and products. With the use of volume ESD, users are guaranteed ESD-safe properties for a lifetime. Let us understand what exactly Volume ESD is.
Volume ESD as used on table and shelf tops, means embedding carbon polymers along with the base material used to manufacture the ESD product. This essentially means that with volume ESD, the properties for discharging the charge are present throughout the volume of the material as compared to its presence only on the contact surface in traditional technology.
For instance, Volumetric ESD in workbench is when the wooden laminated worktop is integrated with conductive carbon polymers, which makes the entire worktop conductive with dissipative lamination on both the sides of the workstation. This is a technology which ensures lifetime ESD protection of the workbench.
In the above image you can see that the worktable laminate is embedded with conductive carbon polymers with lamination on both sides of the workstation, unlike normal wooden worktop which is medium-density fiberboard.
Similarly, this technology can be used to manufacture Volume ESD Polyurethane chairs where the base material of the seats and backs of the chair; which is Polyurethane, is embedded with ESD particles throughout the volume.
All the products mentioned above are used in making world class ESD work tables and ESD chairs which are tested as per IEC 61340–5–1 safety standards. These standards are mandatory for use in all international quality Electronic laboratories and Electronic manufacturing facilities.
Benefits of using new technology
Volume ESD is beneficial over traditional ESD in many ways such as -
Case Study
A senior scientist, head of Power Electronics division of a government Laboratory in Cochin talks about shifting from old ESD technology to new technology.
This senior Scientist had issues with Electro-static failures during testing of various electronic hardware and PCB assemblies. He also faced severe productivity issues, as most of the employee time was getting utilized in wondering as to why the electronic components were failing without any reason.
Our customer, the senior Scientist, wanted to make his lab with world-class technology and found that by using these new technology products for his Laboratory Work tables and Chairs with volumetric properties worth the investment. This new technology guarantees him lower Electro-static failures and the improved ergonomics of the new ESD chairs improved the productivity of his employees.
Currently, as per the senior scientist, the new technology is proving to be worth its value as failure rates have dipped to near to negligible and productivity has risen by almost 15–20%. His employees can now concentrate better on their work rather than worrying about any Electro-static failures.
Numerous Government labs and defence organizations are now updating and equipping their labs with new cutting-edge technology (Volume ESD) to counter the rising failures due to static energy on work surfaces damaging critical components.
Author: Mr. Farook Merchant and Mr. Azeem Merchant
Messung is proud to partner with Defence and other sectors to provide world-class workplace technology solutions in India. The Messung range of Volume ESD laboratory worktables and ESD safe chairs as per IEC 61340–5–1 safety standards, is designed to eliminate risk of electro-static failures and delight users with their smart looks and proven ergonomics.
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We feel the effects of static electricity so often, and usually it’s quite harmless. But in Electronic workplaces such as an electronics assembly line or electronics testing laboratory, ESD or Electrostatic Discharge poses a serious danger. Not so much to the operators but to the high impedance microprocessor based PCB assemblies, Electronic equipments and components being worked upon.Uchida Cleanroom Chairs Brought to India by Messung Workplace Technology
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Today, electronics are an integral part of life - and industry. In Defence, Automotive, Pharmaceutical, FMCG, Education, Telecom, EMS, Power and many more, ESD protected areas are used for R&D, electronics assembly, end-of-line testing, repair, training & didactic centres, calibration stations, etc.