Weller WD1M WD Series Micro Digital Rework Station on Flickr

The Weller WD1M WD Series Micro Digital Rework Station is ESD safe and features an extensive special functions menu, large, high-contrast LCD display; and three "radio buttons" for pre-setting frequently used temperatures. Check out our Flickr photo set to get a closer look at this Weller Rework Station.

To purchase the Weller WD1M WD Series Micro Digital Rework Station please visit QSource.com.

CCI's Tacki-Pak: Versatile, ESD-Safe Material Aims to Replace JEDEC Trays

If your company uses JEDEC standard matrix trays for safely handling, transporting, or storing integrated circuits and other sensitive electronics, you might want to check out CCI's (Conductive Containers, Inc.) new Tacki-Pak component handling solution. CCI believes this innovation will replace JEDEC trays for good.

JEDEC trays are currently used in a number of industries such as medical, photovoltaic, and more. The trays utilize individual component cells in fixed rows and columns. JEDEC standards set the specifications (such as what molding compounds are used in their construction and the spacing of each component cell) for these trays.

Standard JEDEC tray vs. CCI's Tacki-Pak

CCI's new Tacki-Pak solution aims to address two factors it sees as problems with using JEDEC trays. First, in most cases, JEDEC trays do not provide any ESD protection. Second, a JEDEC tray’s set structure doesn't allow the user to use the tray if they change their component (instead a new tray must be created and purchased).

The new non-adhesive, tacky surface of CCI's Tacki-Pak material offers ESD-safe properties and limits component movement thereby eliminating the possibility of parts sliding into each other (the Tacki surface holds part steady even when held vertically). Available in conductive boxes, trays, and flat sheets, the Tacki-Pak product also allows the user flexibility to place different sizes/styles of parts on the Tacki surface without the need of buying a specifically sized unit for each style of part. According to CCI, the Tacki-Pak surface is stable, reusable, cleanable, and minimizes residue transfer to the component.

Components hold steady even when vertical

CCI's Tacki-Pak material is available in Tacki-Pak Component Handling Cases, Tacki-Pak Sheets, and Tacki-Pak Handling Trays. Standard and custom sizes are available as well as a choice of tacky level (I for low, non-slip tackiness, II for medium tackiness, and III for heavier items).

Additional specifications for CCI's Tacki-Pak product include:

ESD-Safe Properties (Surface Resistance of Tacki-Pak Components)

• TP hinged boxes and trays = 103 - 106 ohms
• Tacki surface = 105 - 109 ohms

Tack Force Levels (Foot Pounds of Force Required to Remove an Object from Tacki-Pak Surface)

• Level I = 2.0 - 4.0
• Level II = 6.0 - 9.0
• Level III = 10.0 - 13.0

For additional Q Source product information, reviews, how-to articles, and special offers please subscribe to our email newsletter.

Q Source Associates Learn About Treston & Sovella Products

Being your expert resource for products and product solutions has always been our goal here at Q Source. Our sales associates are continually attending training sessions to increase their product knowledge. Recently, we were visited by Mark Florentine of Florentine & Associates, our rep for Sovella's Treston line of storage products and Sovella's workspace products.

Florentine began the session by demonstrating Treston's ESD-safe Plastic Storage Bins. Made from either Polystyrene or Polypropylene, these high-quality bins are available in a variety of styles including: Stacking Bins, Shelf Bins, Picking Bins, IC Tube Storage Bins, and more. There are also accompanying ESD Storage Cabinets, Turntables, Spacemisers, and Trolley Systems available in a choice of sizes and configurations.

Focusing on what makes Treston's ESD Storage Systems stand out, Florentine noted that the Shelf Bins and Stacking Bins feature a ribbed bottom for easily picking small parts, the entire line offers a greater variety of ESD products in ESD black with clearly labeled ESD Protected Area logos, a number of divider options with built-in label sections, recyclable Polypropylene models, and competitive pricing.

Moving on, Florentine showed Sovella's cool new Magnetic Tool Holders. Available in a wide selection of styles, such as their Hex Bit Organizer, Wrench Holder, and Socket Holder, these impressive tool holders offer options for saving space by storing tools on any metal surface (including steel shelves, metal tool cabinets, drawers, and Sovella's Perforated Panels). He also mentioned that these tool holders are really limitless in their uses because they will hold just about anything that fits in their grip.

Finally, the training session finished up with a look at Sovella's new, high-efficiency LED Integrated Tube Lights. Florentine demonstrated the power and versatility of these ergonomic lighting solutions by pointing out the unlimited ways these lights can be mounted (magnetic, brackets, etc.), the ability to string up to eight lights together in one series, and the 6,000-6,500 Kelvin light color.

We'll be posting more in-depth articles and videos regarding these items in the very near future. All of the aforementioned product solutions from Treston/Sovella are available, or will be available soon, at QSource.com.

Worklon Cleanroom/ESD Garments Awarded ANSI/ESD Conformance Certificates

Superior Uniform Group's Worklon brand of cleanroom/ESD garments has been a trusted industry leader for fifty years. A few of their popular products were recently awarded certificates of conformance for various international standards.

According to Pam George, Worklon Director at Superior Uniform Group:

Worklon® ESD Lab Wear Work-Stat, 98/Two, and MicroStat were tested according to ESD STM 2.1 – 1997 and pending revision (2012) by an outside lab. The results of this evaluation found that these ESD Garments met conformance standards set by ANSI/ESD S20.20. Apparel from the Work-Stat and 98/Two Systems meet the requirements of a groundable static control garment and groundable static control garment system as stated in ANSI/ESD S20.20. MicroStat ESD Lab Wear meets the requirements for classification as a Static Control Garment at 50% Relative Humidity.

Worklon's Work-Stat Lab Jacket

George also pointed out that Worklon garments feature the best fabrics (their breathable fabrics provide comfort and help users remain cool while still being safe to meet criteria for the manufacturing of ESD devices) and use high-quality construction techniques. It's their comfort, conformity, and coolness that make Worklon cleanroom/ESD garments THE choice for working in controlled environments.

Q Source has been a proud distributor of Worklon/Superior Uniform Group products for fifteen years. In addition to the aforementioned Work-Stat, 98/Two, and MicroStat products, QSource.com offers a wide selection (more than 1,600 Worklon cleanroom/ESD items) of cleanroom boots, cleanroom coveralls, lab coats, and more. We have everything you need to provide cleanroom/ESD-safe protection for your employees working with sensitive electronic components. If you have further questions, or want to place a large order, please contact us via phone (800-966-6020) or email and one of our helpful sales associates will assist you.

Superior Uniform Group was formed in Long Island, NY, in 1920 as Superior Surgical Manufacturing Company. Their corporate headquarters are now based in Seminole, FL, and their products cover workers from head to toe in a variety of industries including healthcare, cleanroom, retail, and others.

Top Five Ways IAC Industrial Workbenches Help You Avoid ESD

From the Q Source studios in beautiful Bohemia, New York, here's Q-Bot with our Top Five list:

Top Five Ways IAC Industrial Workbenches Help You Avoid ESD

5. ESD Testing - IAC's static-dissipative worksurfaces, shelves, and ground bolts undergo testing at the factory. Resistance is measured based on a variety of relative humidity settings.

As a robot, I'm very good at taking tests. I actually get tested every 3,000 miles…or is that when I get my oil changed?

4. Optional Personnel Grounding Wrist Straps and Ground Blocks - The Personal Grounding Kit includes a Grounding Block, (which connects to the Grounding Lug on the worksurface), a Wrist Strap, and a Ground Cord.

I was built ESD safe, so I don't need a Grounding Kit. But I do wear Wrist Straps as a fashion accessory.

3. Stainless Steel ESD Grounding Lugs - These are built right into the worksurface and provide an easy connection to a grounding system.

That's funny, my ex-girlfriend used to call me a "stainless steel lug."

2. Static-Dissipative Laminates - IAC uses two types (3M and Nevamar®) of static-dissipative laminates on their worksurfaces and shelves.

Oh, these are extremely comfortable, too. I use them as blankets.

And the Number One Way IAC Industrial Workbenches Help You Avoid ESD…

1. Rounded Edges on Worksurfaces - IAC's premium and industrial workbenches include a 180°-rolled front edge, which protects the ESD-safe laminate from chipping, lifting, and other damage.

Speaking as someone who has many rounded edges I can tell you this is really important.

Thanks, Q-Bot! Well, there you have it, our Top Five Ways IAC Industrial Workbenches Help You Avoid ESD.

QSource.com offers a fine selection of IAC ESD workbenches, workstations, and more. To make your choice easier, we've created the "IAC Workbench/Workstation Configurators page," which will help you narrow down your options to find you the perfect IAC solution for your application.

For further information, or to place an order, please contact us via phone (800-966-6020) or email and one of our helpful sales associates will assist you.

How to Protect Your Manufacturing Plant from the Hazards of Dangerous Chemicals: Guest Blog

Special thanks to our guest blogger, Lenard Cohen, President of Static Solutions

Companies seeking to avoid potential dangers to their workers, the environment, and ESD-sensitive components must consider a number of factors when weighing the benefits of high-quality ESD products and their cost. To help make this choice easier, the most important step should be to educate the engineers and buyers about the possible risks and how they can be avoided.

Education about the potential hazards will help to address the traditional conflicts every company faces:

• The engineer wants to correct or prevent an ESD-caused problem
• The buyer wants to purchase a material that meets functional specifications
• The safety engineer, if there is one, must specify the safest material and focus on avoiding future litigation

The Clean Air Act Regulations & How to Address Them
Some of the aforementioned conflicts were made more challenging many years back when the EPA's Clean Air Act issued regulations to reduce 189 toxins. The affected products fall under both state and federal regulatory agencies (California and Massachusetts being very stringent).

The best way to address these toxins is by focusing on the two most important criteria:

• The information presented in the Material Safety and Data Sheet (MSDS). Learning to read the MSDS is very important (if you don't know how to read one you're missing potentially vital information; such as if a particular product needs special precautions for application or disposal)
• The Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) number for each product. It is important to keep the VOC number as low as possible to prevent contamination

What are the Sources of VOC
VOCs are most commonly found in the following areas:

• Soldering: such as plating, solder, flux, stencil cleaners, and flux-removing solvents. Using lead-free solders (RoHS approved) has gained common acceptance. One of the concerns of using lead-free solder, though, is the higher operating temperatures, the need to use more aggressive solders, and whisker generation. There are exemptions from the EPA's regulations for the defense and hospital industries
• Coatings: including ESD paints, isocyanates and other cross-linking agents, aziridines, ESD floor finishes, strippers, cleaners, and hand lotions
• Materials: like ESD table and floor mats, finger cots, and smocks
• Coalescent agents from floor finishes and free monomers from polymer binders
• Phthalates used in common table floor mats and the chemicals used to clean the mats
• Paraben-containing hand lotions: are not allowed for pregnant women
• Floor finishes: should not have certain chemicals in their formulation, i.e., phthalates (Green formulations, that have undergone testing, are available from reputable sources)
• Strippers: should not contain sodium hydroxide or Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DEGBE)
• Table/floor mats: avoid those containing dioctyl phthalates, which are present in vinyls and lower cost rubber mats

Safeguarding Workers from VCMs
Volatile Condensing Materials (VCM) are also potentially harmful to workers, parts, and the environment. Here are the best ways to avoid the dangers:

• Read the MSDS sheet fully
• Call manufacturers and request hard core test data
• Always use proper precautions when handling all ESD products (gloves, eyewear, exhausts)
Remember when using ESD products the aim is to:

• Eliminate or prevent ESD caused failures
• Create a safe environment (and avoid all potential fines)
• Protect the worker (this will avoid any possible law suits)
• Purchase from proven, reputable sources

Educating workers, engineers, and buyers will help to create a safe and compliant workplace and reduce the chance of employee injuries or legal action against the company. For further information about protecting and preparing your company to face dangerous chemical hazards please contact the experts at Q Source.

R&R Lotion ESD-Safe Bottles & Dispensers: Static Control for Your Dispensing & Storage Needs

ESD control on the job and in the workplace requires addressing every potential source of static. R&R Lotion's line of ESD-safe Bottles and Dispensers helps you address an area of static control that could go without a second thought.



R&R takes ESD-safety seriously and has created a new process for creating their ESD-safe bottles and dispensers. Each one is molded of polyethylene in a process that utilizes a concentrate free of any Ethoxylated Tertiary Amine (which is commonly used as an anti-static agent).


R&R makes a variety of ESD-Safe Pump Dispensers,
including standard & anti-splash pumps

Featuring an average surface resistivity of 10⁹ to 10¹⁰ Ω/square, the ability to dissipate a static charge of ±5000V in less than two seconds (at 40% relative humidity), and no chemical reactivity with solvents like TCE or alcohol, R&R Lotion's ESD-safe bottles and dispensers do not have the less desirable characteristics seen with surfactant-laden materials. Tests conducted also showed that the pH of deionized water solutions remained the same before and after a seven-day period and that no color or physical changes were observed during solvent tests.

R&R Lotion's SCB-16-ESD & SCB-32-ESD
ESD-Safe Spray Bottles

R&R Lotion ESD-safe Bottles and Dispensers are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and dispensing types including:

• Flux Dispensers (w/16 ga., 20 ga., or 26 ga. needles)
• Flux Brush (2 oz. flux dispenser w/brush)
• Flux Pen (2 oz. flux bottle w/pen tip)
• Sports Bottles (32 oz.)
• Storage Bottles (4 oz., 6 oz., and 8 oz. square w/lid and 2 oz., 8 oz., 16 oz., and 32 oz. round w/lid)
• Catch-All Containers (16 oz.)
• Wash Bottles (8 oz. and 16 oz. w/closure & 90-degree stem molded in one piece for leak-proof use)
• Water Bottles (8 oz. and 16 oz. w/Yorker top)
• Spray Mister Bottles (2 oz., 8 oz., and 16 oz.)
• Spray Bottles (16 oz. and 32 oz.)
• Solvent Dispensers (4 oz., 6 oz., and 8 oz. w/standard or anti-splash pumps)

FD-BRUSH-ESD & FD-PEN-ESD
Flux Dispensers from R&R

Take a closer look at R&R's complete line of ESD-safe bottles with our Flickr photo set and check back with us soon for an upcoming "On the Bench" video focusing on these quality containers.

QSource.com carries all the bottles and dispensers from R&R Lotion and a wide selection of industrial hand lotions, sunscreens, and more. Visit our site to place an order or contact us via phone (800-966-6020) or email for more information.