At a glance
| Booth | P6112 |
| Country | TW |
| Website | www.rehm-group.com |
Company profile
Rehm Thermal Systems (Hong Kong) Limited manufactures reflow soldering systems based on convection or condensation, along with drying and coating systems, and Rehm Thermal Systems has produced energy-efficient manufacturing equipment for the electronics and photovoltaics industries since 1990. The company also provides tailor-made applications for soldering, coating, and hardening modules. From headquarters in Blaubeuren, Germany, Rehm coordinates 26 locations in 24 countries and supports international markets with on-site service. Rehm also operates a manufacturing facility in China, while its production facilities follow strict quality-assurance guidelines in accordance with German standards. The Rehm Group also includes Rehm BlechTec, which specializes in processing stainless steel, aluminium, and steel plate, and H+R Personaldienste GmbH, allowing the group to cover services from planning and design through finished equipment. Rehm presents quality management as part of its company philosophy, using client satisfaction as a measure of success and regularly certifying systems to ISO standards so individual parts meet precision requirements. Rehm BlechTec is identified as a specialist soldering facility operating under strict quality criteria, while Rehm machines are planned and designed with CE conformity in accordance with specified machinery directives. For air freight, Rehm is registered as a well-known consignor and has implemented measures including an air-cargo security officer, extensive staff training, and a closed security zone so shipments can be processed securely and customs clearance can be handled more quickly and cost effectively. Rehm was founded on 1. April 1990 and moved from a garage into a 45m² production space in Gamerschwang, where its early development included the first convection-based soldering system. In 1994, the company expanded its portfolio with its first dryer using accumulation roller conveyors, its first curing oven, and its first infra-red system, while converting processes from radiation to full convection. In 1995, Rehm developers designed the first vacuum-based tempering oven, began custom-building special applications for clients, and offered seminars and events as forums for exchanging experience. In 1999, Rehm expanded into international markets and established sales subsidiaries in the USA and Hungary. The Vision8 convection soldering system was introduced in 2001 as the predecessor of the VisionX series, and the new VisionX series followed in 2005. In 2007, Rehm manufactured its 2000th system for long-term partner Zollner in Zandt. Rehm then entered the solar market with a drying system for solar-cell metallisation, followed by its first fast-firing system and the introduction of pyrolysis as a central element of residue management. In 2011, Rehm Thermal Systems received the Solar Award for its VOC thermal oxidiser while developing new soldering systems, conformal coating for module protection, and a counter-flow reactor for solar systems, with sustainability and energy efficiency becoming more prominent in production. The selective conformal-coating product group Proteco entered the market in 2013, and in 2014 Rehm established the VisionXP convection soldering system internationally with an Energy Wizard that included options for energy savings of up to 20% and an average of 10 tonnes less CO2 emissions per year. In 2015, Rehm developed a reel-to-reel system for processing band-shaped flexible substrates such as polyimide film, and its movable process chamber received the Productronica Innovation Award 2015 in the SMT cluster. In 2016, Rehm introduced Securo Plus for hot function tests and Securo Minus for cold function tests to evaluate safety-relevant electronics under extreme temperatures for fields such as medical, automotive, and aerospace technology. The company's China manufacturing base produces soldering systems such as VisionXS and other thermal-system solutions and includes in-house metal-plate processing. In 2018, Rehm introduced ViCON system software, combining product management and process interlocking with mobile capabilities through ViCON App and ViCON Connect and an intuitive touch interface. In 2019, Rehm expanded its Blaubeuren headquarters with a new building to provide more space for employees and innovation, and in 2020 the company marked 30 years since its founding. Rehm's community and sustainability activities include support for sports and health projects through FutureSport, environmental criteria in product development, mentoring and education partnerships, and the use of Karopack® packaging that reuses old cardboard boxes as filling material. The company also describes a holistic approach to environmental management, including a climate-neutral trade-fair stand and participation in the Collecting Dragon project supporting schools and kindergartens.
Exhibits
The Vision series performs convection reflow soldering by transferring heat through gas flow and is available as either an air or nitrogen system; nitrogen acts as an inert protective and heat-transfer medium that helps prevent damaging oxidation during soldering. Vision configurations include VisionXP+ with or without vacuum, VisionXS, and the compact VisionXC, giving Rehm a modular range for different manufacturing environments. System selection considers throughput because it determines the required process-zone length, and Rehm also considers regular product changes and multiple-shift operation when configuring a reflow system. Vision-series features include process stability with lead-free soldering, a modular and flexible system concept, energy-efficient operation with low CO2 emissions, minimum downtime, low maintenance costs, and process traceability through software tools. The series also lists low Total Cost of Ownership, pyrolysis for cleaner systems, and vacuum capability for void-free soldering among its process and operating features. Named convection systems include Vision TripleX as a 3-in-1 soldering system, VisionXP+, VisionXS, and VisionXC. In condensation reflow soldering, also called vapor-phase soldering, a hot vapor provides heat transfer that Rehm states can be up to ten times higher than convection soldering, making the process suitable for large or high-mass boards in a stable atmosphere using perfluoropolyether (Galden®) as the inert heat-transfer medium. Condenso systems can solder difficult assemblies at temperatures up to 240°C and use a patented injection process to regulate the condensation phase individually. An optional vacuum module can be used for void-free soldered joints directly after soldering or as a pre-vacuum, and process parameters such as pressure and temperature can be adjusted flexibly. The Condenso series can be customized to the manufacturing environment for batch operation, inline connection, or continuous soldering, with system selection based on factors including throughput, assembly size, thermal mass, and follow-up processes. For power-electronics production, Condenso vacuum options support lower-void soldering with lead-free solders by subjecting molten solder to vacuum. Condenso features include reproducible reflow-profile control through the injection principle, a hermetically sealed process chamber, controllable vacuum processing, horizontal transport, active Galden® filtering, and process monitoring with the wireless WPS system and software tools. Named variants include CondensoXC, CondensoXS smart, CondensoXM smart, Condenso smartline for series production of power electronics, and CondensoX-Line with horizontal transport through the process. The Nexus contact-soldering system uses contact heat in a vacuum for advanced packaging and power-electronics requirements. Rehm states that vacuum contact soldering supports oxide-free processes, improved wetting and solder-joint filling, reduced voids, plasma cleaning, and atmosphere exchange for advanced packaging. Application areas for Nexus and contact soldering include power electronics, semiconductors, wafer technology, rail drive systems, wind-power systems, battery storage, and the automobile industry. The compact Nexus system is positioned for small-scale and medium-scale production as well as laboratory use. Contact-heat process features include oxide-free and void-free joint surfaces between chip and circuit carrier, integrated or separate cleaning and descaling, rapid heating and cooling, housing assembly under variable vacuum conditions, and integration of drying and degassing processes. The process is also intended to improve dispersal of waste heat through void-free connections. Nexus supports vacuum and flux-free soldering, can use different process gases and chemical activators including formic acid, and supports both lead-free and leaded soldering. For inspection and testing, Rehm developed Securo Plus for heating function tests and Securo Minus for cold function tests, with systems operating under an air or nitrogen atmosphere. Securo can cool functional modules to temperatures as low as −50°C to test winter-condition resistance and can heat assemblies to up to +120°C to simulate the installation environment in a vehicle. The Securo systems can be combined with other measuring equipment for functionality monitoring and quality control, with analysis and documentation tools supporting process transparency. The modular Securo series can be integrated as either an inline or island solution. Targeted heating, cooling, and subsequent temperature measurement are carried out in multiple work steps, while a changeable carrier system accommodates different assembly shapes and geometries. Securo can be used for small- or medium-scale production with manual loading or large-scale production with automatic parts handling, and a downstream test system can check heated or cooled assemblies immediately. RDS drying systems are configured individually to customer requirements, using different heat-transfer principles to make electronics-manufacturing drying and hardening processes efficient and allowing technology parameters to be evaluated with customers during the conception phase. RDS systems are used mainly for drying and hardening lacquers, adhesives, and casting compounds. The systems support applications ranging from sensitive semiconductor work to complete conformal-coating lines with an integrated dispenser for precise application and drying of coating lacquers. Rehm states that its drying technology processes common adhesives and lacquers, electropastes, casting compounds, casting resins, and underfill materials. RDS features include combined heating methods for flexible profiles, robust hardening and drying, energy-efficient operation, IR or UV radiation and/or convection, ease of profiling, and process traceability. Named drying and hardening products include RDS Lacquer, RDS UV for UV applications, RDS Mag for power modules, the Alteco vertical drying system, and Pramo equipment for backend assembly. ProtectoXP and ProtectoXC dispensing and conformal-coating systems protect electronic assemblies from moisture, corrosion, chemicals, dust, and vibrations, helping maintain circuit-board functionality after soldering for applications including automotive, aviation, and medical technology. Protecto systems can be configured for small manufacturing spaces and small batch sizes, and they are also available as line solutions with an RDS coating dryer and handling designed to customer specifications. Protecto functions and features include all-in-one coating, a multifunctional lacquer applicator, selective coating, low-maintenance operation, smart software, and line-concept availability, with ProtectoXC and ProtectoXP identified as Selective Conformal Coating systems. For photovoltaics, Rehm offers fast-firing systems and an RDS solar dryer for the metallisation of monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cells, drawing on its thermal-system experience. As cell technology and thermal-system requirements change, Rehm states that its solar systems are optimized for different processes and updated with new concepts. A Rehm magazine dryer was developed for HJT cell technology, where long dwell times and low temperatures are required. For established solar-cell concepts, the Speeddryer series addresses high-throughput requirements and cycle times of <= 1.0 s. Rehm also describes a compact regeneration system using new technologies and radiation sources for the regeneration of light-induced defects. Solar-equipment characteristics include process-adapted thermal systems, continuous optimization for stable processes, low-maintenance operation, compact construction, short pre-heating and cooling times through high radiation power, high energy efficiency, and low heat loss. Named solar products and functions include RDS Solar Dryer for complex pastes, Fast Firing System, Regeneration Tool for reducing the LID effect, and Thermal Oxidizer for thermal waste-air purification. For electronics manufacturing, Rehm also provides compact, smart, and networked line-solution concepts, particularly in dispensing and conformal coating, using products such as Protecto, ProtectoXC, and ProtectoXP.
Capabilities and products
- convection reflow soldering systems
- condensation / vapor-phase reflow soldering systems
- vacuum contact soldering systems
- hot/cold electronic functional test systems
- drying and curing systems for electronics manufacturing
- selective conformal coating systems
- solar-cell metallization drying systems
- solar-cell fast-firing systems
- LID-defect regeneration tools
- thermal oxidizers for waste-air purification