News: XRF Systems, Applications, People

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.”

March, 2019 – Bowman has significantly bolstered its sales and service capacity in the New England states with the addition of Eastern Inspection Solutions to its Global Partner Network.

Headquartered in Framingham, MA, Eastern Inspection specializes in the sale and service of hand-held XRF analyzers and, according to owner Mike McCarthy, “had wanted a strong line extension into the benchtop XRF arena.

“We sought an introduction to Bowman because of its advanced detector technology,” adds McCarthy, “and because their reputation is they’re very customer-centric. That’s very much in line with our philosophy as well.”

March, 2019 – Bowman has announced the addition of Photo Chemical Systems to its global network of sales and service partners.

Headquartered in Knightdale, NC, with 5 offices serving 13 mid-Atlantic and southeastern states, Photo Chemical Systems specializes in capital equipment and process chemistry for the printed circuit industry.

According to Bowman President, Tom Leone, “PCS has an excellent reputation among board shops, and within the military sector; this makes them an excellent fit for Bowman. Our 5-year plan is to take the lead as America’s #1 manufacturer of precision XRF benchtop analyzers; I’m confident PCS will help us achieve that.”

Photo Chemical President Preston Averette adds, “The Bowman XRF line was recommended to us by our largest customer as the most direct – and most cost-effective route to compliance with IPC standards: both the ones that are official now, and the ones that are likely to follow. We were also impressed that Bowman units are highly suitable for solution testing – an important consideration.”

January, 2019 – Bowman has re-introduced an important instrument in their suite of 7 benchtop XRF plating measurement systems.

Bowman’s G Series XRF is a robust system that’s ideally suited for jewelry and other precious metal analysis applications, also components such as fasteners and connectors.

Its two most distinctive features are “bottom-up” measurement using a motorized Z-axis with laser-based autofocus, and precision video imaging. An available manual XY stage with 1.5 X 1.5” travel facilitates easy positioning of small and large parts.

The standard G Series configuration includes a single fixed collimator, solid-state PIN detector, and long-life micro-focus x-ray tube. As with all Bowman models, the components can be upgraded to include multiple collimators, a variable focal camera, or an SDD detector.

November, 2018 – Goddard Space Flight Center, home to Hubble operations, the upcoming James Webb Telescope – and the nation’s largest organization of scientists and engineers dedicated to spacecraft and the study of the solar system, has chosen Bowman as its supplier of choice for XRF thin film measurement technology.

The Bowman XRF measurement system selected is a Model P, a system with the capability to measure an exceptionally wide range of sample sizes and shapes. At Goddard, the Model P will precisely analyze ENIG, ENEPIG and alloys on printed circuit boards.

Goddard engineers have extensive capability for designing and building sensitive instruments; one of the main factors that led to the purchase was Bowman’s IPC 4552A capability and the instrument’s ability to precisely determine phosphorus composition in electroless nickel through the gold layer for incoming PCBs. The Model P measures up to 5 coating layers simultaneously; In addition to plating thickness measurement, it also performs elemental and solution analysis.

The Bowman Model P XRF plating measurement system chosen by Goddard Space Flight Center (Greenbelt, MD) to analyze ENIG, ENEPIG and alloys on printed circuit boards.