Fully-automatic pollen monitor provides relief for allergy sufferers

The first contact between Helmut Hund GmbH and Ersa GmbH came about in the mid-1990s with the purchase of a wave soldering machine which, over 25 years later, is still in reliable use for small series and miniseries production. In 2012, the pressing question was: upgrade the wave soldering system or purchase a new selective soldering machine? Following thorough examination of both technologies, the ultimate decision was in favour of the second option – more specifically an Ersa VERSAFLOW 3/45 selective soldering system. “Due to the throughput it offers, we decided on the VERSAFLOW 3/45 with two pots. This allows us to process products with the greatest possible speed,” reports Alexander Müller, Head of Production Electronics. As a variety of soldering tools can be mounted on the pots of the miniwave soldering system, a high level of flexibility with low cycle time is guaranteed. In this way, both extremely delicate double-sided modules can be processed and surface solutions executed.

Then, at the end of last year, a further soldering equipment decision had to be taken: Within the investment planning framework, the existing and somewhat outdated reflow soldering system was to be replaced with a new model. Thanks to the positive experience with the already-installed Ersa machinery and the well-established relationship between the two companies, Hund GmbH also involved Ersa GmbH in this decision-making process. Those involved met up for a testing session in the Ersa Application Centre in Wertheim, just 150 kilometres from the HUND site. The focus of the testing was, on the one hand, on the evaluation of just how the Ersa system had developed further in technological terms by comparison with the previous model and, on the other, on the question of the extent to which the processes of the relevant reflow system matched the products planned for it. At the very top of the list of requirements was the very important issue of traceability. Which is of major significance in medical technology in particular. “Up to then, we had perceived Ersa as a strong manufacturer, primarily in the areas of selective and wave soldering. We have to admit that we were more than very positively surprised when the requirements we make of a reflow soldering system were best met by the Ersa HOTFLOW 4/14,” was the comment from the Process Technology Department at HUND.

The special feature of the relationship between the two business partners Helmut Hund GmbH and Ersa GmbH is the fact that the companies are one another’s customers, on the one hand, and suppliers on the other. Hund GmbH produces the camera systems built into the Ersa VERSAPRINT 2 Ultra3 stencil printer, the only printer on the market with integrated 100% inspection in 2D or 3D. “This give and take is the essence of our business relationship and creates a high level of trust on both sides,” summarises Alexander Müller, Head of Production Electronics at Helmut Hund GmbH, and continues: “We have now changed over our complete soldering technology to Ersa. Everything comes from one source, even the hand soldering iron.” The comprehensive product range from the No. 1 system supplier for electronics manufacturing has been extraordinarily well-received at Helmut Hund GmbH – as an important success factor for the production of complex HUND products such as the pollen monitor, many of the production processes at the company based in central Hesse would be unimaginable without it. No matter what the HUND developers next advance to series production readiness – when it comes to the necessary electronics manufacturing, the Ersa hardware will be on hand to provide reliably repeatable quality.