News: XRF Systems, Applications, People

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

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.”