3M Receives EPA ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award for Record 10th Year in a Row

In an Earth Day announcement, 3M revealed yesterday that they have earned a privilege that no other industrial company in the world has attained. For the 10th year in a row, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented 3M with the EPA ENERGY STAR® Sustained Excellence Award.

Recognizing the importance of energy efficiency and environmental concerns as a strategy for corporate social responsibility, 3M stated that they've worked the past 10 years (and longer) to improve their processes, raw materials, and efficient methods for resource savings. Among 3M's sustainable products are 3M Novec Engineered Fluids, 3M Window Films, and 3M LED Advanced Lighting.

The EPA recognized 3M for a number of efforts including:

• Implementation of 252 projects, which resulted in savings of $8.79 million and 61,700 metric tons of CO₂
• Development of a strategic initiative to identify and implement projects to make step-change improvements in greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiency
• Formation of Centers of Excellence to integrate all aspects of sustainability into business strategies company-wide
• Enacting energy-saving innovations in diverse markets, and engaging communities globally in energy and sustainability dialogues

The Sustained Excellence achievement is the EPA's highest ENERGY STAR award. The EPA created ENERGY STAR in 1992 to stimulate corporate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 3M is the only company to ever receive the Sustained Excellence award ten years in a row.

In related news, 3M received the Xcel Energy 2013 Energy Efficiency Expo Award for saving nearly 1.8 million therms of gas. And in an effort to further solidify their commitment to corporate responsibility, 3M became a member of the United Nations Global Compact, a voluntary initiative that outlines 10 doctrines in the areas of human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption.

Q Source has been an authorized distributor of 3M products for more than a decade. We congratulate them on their recognition and continued sustainability efforts.

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Brady BMP41 Label Printer on Flickr

The Brady BMP41 Label Printer is a durable, portable printer for all your industrial labeling needs. The BMP41 features built-in templates, smart-cell technology, and the ability to print both continuous and die-cut labels. Check out this Flickr photo set to get a closer look at this durable and versatile portable printer.

Be sure to visit our Web site to learn more about the Brady BMP41 Label Printer.

Why Clean "No Cleans?" Printed Circuit Board Flux Removal – Guest Blog

by Steve Allen, VP Marketing and Innovation, ACL Staticide

Steve Allen, our guest blogger from ACL, returns with this article about cleaning “no-clean” fluxes.

Today, nearly half of all printed circuit boards (PCBs) are assembled with no-clean solder paste. The development of no-clean solder paste was initiated to eliminate the need for further post-solder cleaning of circuit boards. Yet, many electronics assemblers are still struggling with the process of adequately and effectively removing no-clean flux materials.

No-clean fluxes are now the most popular fluxes to clean in electronics manufacturing. Most manufacturers have designed and dialed in their assembly lines to run no-clean paste. And, they only clean the boards they want to clean, not always the boards they perhaps need to clean. Additionally, the flux residues left behind by no-clean pastes are more difficult to remove from PCBs than other fluxes. Since they are formulated not to be cleaned, the residues from no-clean products can be left on the board in unwanted areas with detrimental effects on the PCB. That creates a cleaning challenge if you need to clean off a residue that was not designed to be removed.

No-clean flux and solder residue on the board depends on the amount of solids in the material, the type of gelling agents, and various activators in the flux. The fluxes in most of today's no-clean pastes contain up to 60% solids. The lower the total solids, the fewer residues on the board. No cleans, in theory, contain lower total solids so as not to need removal/cleaning. Following the reflow process, the flux leaves a small amount of residue around the various solder joints.

There are several reasons to remove no-clean flux residues from PCBs. Historically, no-clean fluxes were developed as tacky resins, which inherently coated and stuck to all surfaces. The residue would gradually build up on the test pins. Manufacturers began cleaning no-clean fluxes when problems emerged with in-circuit testing. The latest technologies of no cleans are improved and no longer tacky, but still can interfere with signal transmission in most instances.

Also, no-clean fluxes can inhibit proper adhesion of conformal coatings. No-clean flux residues can absorb moisture in process. In any further curing processes, the release of any moisture can cause the coating to be separated from the board and incomplete conformal adhesion can occur. This can allow corrosive materials, carbon dust build-up, or moisture to penetrate under the assembly and cause corrosion, signal transmission problems, and component failure.

Today, no-clean paste manufacturers are aware that end-users are cleaning no cleans from board surfaces. The type of flux chemistry chosen can have significant impact on the cleaning process. To effectively clean and remove no-clean solder pastes and no-clean flux residues, a polar solvent or a solution of water and saponifier is necessary. Most no-clean pastes require an organic saponifier for effective flux removal, but some can be cleaned with inorganic saponifiers. No-clean fluxes that contain halides leave the most residue and are easier to clean. However, halide-free no-clean fluxes produce less residue, yet are more difficult to remove. In general, no-clean fluxes can be extremely difficult to clean, particularly following any reflow processes, as they can be baked on and tough to remove.

It can be vitally important to resolve any issues with no-clean technologies and their subsequent cleaning challenges at the forefront of the device design process especially with high-reliability products such as avionics or medical devices. In applications where cleanliness is critical, it is important to consult cleaning experts like ACL for the most effective, board-safe cleaning technology.

Q Source would like to, once again, thank our guest blogger, Steve Allen. We appreciate your contributions to The Q Source Resource and look forward to sharing your future articles, as well.

For more information about ACL Staticide products and options for flux removal, please visit the ACL Staticide Department at QSource.com.

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Q&A: A Look at Hog Heaven Mats w/Mike Andersen of The Andersen Company

We recently asked Mike Andersen of The Andersen Company to tell us about his company's high-performance mat products. Here's a quick Q&A with Mike about Andersen's popular Hog Heaven series of mats.

Q Source: Hi Mike. We're excited to have the Andersen Company line on QSource.com. Can you tell our readers a little about your company?
Mike Andersen: Hi. Sure. The Andersen Company has a 40-year history of bringing innovative products to the market that solve problems and provide years of service. We have more than 70 products and a number of popular lines such as Waterhog, Comfort Flow, Cushion Max, Happy Feet, and the line we're looking at today, Hog Heaven.

Q Source: Okay, great. Please tell us about your line of Hog Heaven Mats.
Mike Andersen: American made Hog Heaven anti-fatigue mats, like all of our products, were created to address a particular issue. Studies have shown that standing on a hard surface for hours at a time lowers worker productivity and comfort. Hog Heaven mats solve this problem.

Q Source: How do Hog Heaven mats address this problem? What makes them different from other mats?
Mike Andersen: These mats are made with a 100% nitrile rubber top and a closed-cell nitrile/PVC-blended cushion, which sets them apart from other anti-fatigue mats. Nitrile rubber is grease- and oil-proof and will not crack, curl, or break like other PVC products often do. In addition, the foam cushion is molded, not glued, to the rubber top, which eliminates the possibility of delamination.

Q Source: For what applications are these mats recommended?
Mike Andersen: Hog Heaven mats are electrically conductive, welding proof, and certified slip-resistant by the National Floor Safety Institute. These properties make the Hog Heaven line very versatile and perfect for assembly, warehouse, workstation, and industrial applications to name a few.

Q Source: Are they available in different styles?
Mike Andersen: They're available with beveled borders that provide safe transitions. Yellow-, red-, orange-, and green-striped borders are also available, as well as the black borders.

Q Source: What available sizes do you offer?
Mike Andersen: Hog Heaven is available in two thicknesses: 5/8" and 7/8". So you can choose your thickness depending on the level of comfort desired. Sizes include 33", 46", and 58" widths, and lengths up to 60' in one-foot increments.

Q Source: Thanks for the helpful information about Andersen's Hog Heaven mats. We're sure it will help our customers make an informed purchase when selecting the mats they need. Is there anything else you'd like to say about Hog Heaven?
Mike Andersen: Yes, thank you. If you need a benefit-loaded anti-fatigue mat that will last for years, Hog Heaven is the right choice for you.

To place an order for Andersen Hog Heaven Mats (,M+A Matting) or other Andersen Company.


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

Treston ESD Stacking, Picking & Shelf Bins and Small Parts Storage Cabinets: "On the Bench" Video

Mark Florentine, our Treston representative, was in our office recently to demonstrate Treston's ESD Stacking, Picking, & Shelf Bins and their Small Parts Storage Cabinets. Watch Mark tell us about a variety of Treston storage solutions and point out some of their top features in our "On the Bench" video.

Treston stacking, picking, & shelf bins are available in a number of sizes and offer features like corrugated bases, built-in label holders, and integrated handles. Their small parts storage cabinets offer ESD protection for small parts, are available in a number of sizes, and feature polypropylene frames with galvanized steel shelves.


Don't forget to look out for new "On the Bench" videos at QSource.com and on our YouTube channel.