News: XRF Systems, Applications, People

January, 2020 – Bowman’s UK distributor, SciMed, is a leading supplier of scientific instrumentation in the UK and Ireland. They are celebrating 40 years providing a range of analytical instrumentation and process equipment to industry and academia.

January, 2020 – Bowman has expanded its global reach with strategic appointments in 3 key regions. Additions in South America are Pattaro C S Ltda. (headquartered in Sao Caetano do Sul, Brazil) and Analitica & Redes (based in Bogota, Colombia). BES Engineering, headquartered in Istanbul, will manage new business development throughout Turkey.

Pattaro C S Ltda. has more than 10 years of experience supplying instruments and consumables for the printed circuit, plastic card and surface finishing industries. Analitica & Redes is commemorating its 20th year as one of the nation’s preeminent distributors of 15 categories of analytical instrumentation, “from atomic absorption to XRF.” BES Engineering represents 8 manufacturers of X-ray and laser-based instruments, including X-ray fluorescence spectrometers, NDT systems, and short pulse lasers.

President Tom Leone says, “Bowman is delighted to welcome these 3 respected sales and service organizations into our global network.”

January, 2020 – Watch the Bowman G Series apply precision video imaging and ‘bottom-up’ analysis to simultaneously measure up to 5 coating layers, including ultra-thin films.

Watch measurement of the smallest X-ray spot sizes using the Bowman M Series XRF.

The Bowman P Series XRF measures the widest range of samples.

December, 2019 – Bowman, North America’s manufacturer of XRF plating thickness measurement instruments, has established Bowman Mexico in San Miguel de Allende, a municipality of Guanajuato.

Bowman Mexico has a fully staffed sales organization for the Bowman suite of benchtop XRF measurement systems, and a service and repair facility for all major makes and models of XRFs. In addition, Bowman Mexico provides foil and plated standards and re-certifies reference standards for every XRF instrument.

Bowman XRF systems are distinctive in that they provide important 3-way functionality (thickness measurement, elemental analysis, and plating solution analysis) and are guaranteed IPC 4552 REV.A capable.

The Bowman Mexico team, and its Mexico distributor, Raisa, have several decades experience in metal finishing and finishing quality control.

San Miguel de Allende

Throughout 2019, the Bowman Software Lab has released important enhancements to its XRalizer software, fulfilling what customers have told us are their top priorities. Those 10 most important enhancements include:

1. “Multi-method” Auto-Focus. Bowman competitors support just one auto-focus method; XRalizer 3.0 offers alternatives; the operator just hits “measure” and the system does the rest, ensuring the sample is optimally focused before measurement.
2. Element Al (see image, right) locates element peaks within the sample, identifies unknown samples, and flags contaminants.
3. Material ID sorts unknown samples using our library of known standards. Operators get quantitative analysis with one click. Samples are classified by material grade, eliminating the need for hand-held XRF.
4. Sample IQ warns if you’re measuring a sample with the wrong analysis file.
5. X-ray calibration routine
6. Energy cal reminder.
7. Recert reminder helps you maintain ISO accreditation.
8. Auto focus HRS allows the software to automatically focus on highly reflective surfaces where laser or image sharpness methods are unworkable. This feature is now available on O-Series instruments and will be available on other Bowman instruments soon!
9. Sample Holder integrates control of any vacuum, electrostatic or any other electron or pneumatic holder with the Bowman XRF, using existing front panel controls and indicators.
10. Workflow Improvement options have been added to streamline the operator workflow when measuring parts. Options can be disabled to remove controls from the User Interface, and the operator can be required to perform specific tasks before measuring samples.

XRalizer helps quality techs work smarter and save time!
As always, software upgrades are free for Bowman XRF customers.

May, 2019 – Bowman’s G Series measures the widest range of sample sizes, shapes – and up to 5 layers simultaneously, all of which can be alloys. Ideal for automotive applications such as ZnFe/Fe and ZnNi/Fe; plumbing applications including Cr/Ni/Cu/ABS; tooling applications including TiCN/WCo, and TiAlN/WC. The proximity of the X-ray tube to the detector produces more than 3X the photon counts of conventional XRFs in a shorter time.

Bowman XRF systems are exhibited worldwide.

May, 2019 – Two experts in PCB fabrication, each the owner of a company that represents top manufacturers of PCB chemistry, tools and equipment, are the latest additions to the Bowman Partner Network, a global alliance of distributors and rep firms.

Richard Hegg and his company, ROH Sales, is based in Lake Bluff, Illinois, and will manage sales and service for Bowman XRF systems in Illinois and Wisconsin. “The Bowman line is clearly the right product at the right time, thanks in part to IPC specification 4552-A,” says Hegg. “ENIG, and what’s required to do it efficiently, is always part of the conversation,” he adds, “and there is strong interest in ENEPIG as well with IPC 4556.

“Bowman is strong among board shops, because it truly listens to customers,” he adds, “and it’s building its brand fast among OEMs. People also recognize they have a great service organization, which is a huge advantage.”

Scott Griggs, and his company, International Process Technologies, have become the Bowman Partner company for Minnesota. Based in Minneapolis, “IPT” focuses on both the PCB and metal finishing industries. In regard to the former, “4552 and the ENEPIG specs have tightened,” says Griggs, “and made accuracy more important than ever. This bodes well for Bowman equipment, because it tells you immediately if you’re meeting those specs.

“As a chemical vendor, I’m always asking how the plating bath is working. I’ve also seen the chaos that ensues when foreign-made XRF equipment goes down and the customer is unable to get support – or even a return phone call – for weeks.”