Feb 28, 2017 
ITW EAE’s Vitronics Soltec was honored with a New Product Introduction award during the IPC APEX Expo at the San Diego Convention Center. The award, presented by Circuits Assembly and Printed Circuit Design and Fab, was in recognition of the CATHOX™ Catalytic Thermal Oxidizer used in the Centurion Reflow Soldering System. An independent panel of practicing industry engineers selected the recipients for this 10th annual award for electronics assembly equipment, materials, software, and PCB fabrication.
“We are proud of the CATHOX technology and very pleased that it has received this recognition,” said Ton Colijn, ITW EAE Soldering Solutions Business Manager. “The CATHOX technology significantly reduces maintenance and reduces nitrogen consumption, which increases uptime and reduces cost.”
Reflow exhaust gas typically contains a variety of organic compounds from solder paste, board material, solder mask and components. These volatile organic compounds need to be eliminated. The CATHOX™ Catalytic Thermal Oxidizer is a nanomaterial-based catalyst system. It thermo-chemically decomposes organic materials outgassed from solder paste, bare boards and components. The nanotechnology makes it possible to change the chemical composition at temperatures around 250ºC. In thermal oxidation, organic vapors are converted to carbon dioxide and water.
ITW Electronics Assembly Equipment (a division of Illinois Tool Works, Inc.), is the global leader in process knowledge, services and manufacture of capital equipment used in the printed circuit board assembly and semiconductor industries. The group brings together the world’s leading brands of electronics assembly equipment: MPM Printers, Camalot Dispensers, Electrovert Cleaners and Soldering Solutions, Vitronics Soltec Soldering Solutions and Despatch Thermal Processing Technology. For more information visit www.itweae.com.
