ESD audits
Over the past decades PIEK has become known in all of Europe and far beyond as the prominent IPC training center. But unfortunately, not everyone knows that we also offer other services. One of these services that we offer [...]
Solder mask – gloss or no gloss (that’s the question)
When electronic assemblies are inspected with the aid of an AOI-system (Automated Optical Inspection), it sometimes happens that products are rejected based on deviating colour or degree of gloss. Often the bare board supplier gets the blame or there is [...]
Training Calendar 2025
The PIEK training course calendar 2025 for open registration courses is now available. Here you can find a complete overview of all regional and online courses: https://piektraining.com/en/training-calendar/. In 2025, you can choose from training courses at the following locations: Heerlen, [...]
Replacing BGA-components, is it really that difficult?
This question we hear at our trainings from time to time. We sometimes even encounter “artists” that have already tried to replace BGA’s (Ball Grid Arrays) with common household appliances and tools. This includes tools such as paint strippers etc. [...]
Rework, Repair, Touch-up; Do you know the difference?
In practice, many people do not seem to be clear about what is meant when they talk about rework, repair and touch-up. In this article we will try to provide some clarity. A wire in a wiring harness is [...]
Qualified Rework of Ball Grid Array (BGA)
The qualified rework of a Ball Grid Array (BGA) involves the reworking of a BGA component on a circuit board, i.e. replacing a defective BGA or removing and properly replacing an incorrectly positioned BGA. What are BGA‘s? BGAs are microprocessors/components [...]
Solder balls on the PCB, are they allowed?
Example of Mid-Chip solder balls (beads) The IPC-A-610H states that solder balls are acceptable for all product classes provided they are entrapped or encapsulated e.g. in no-clean flux residue, under conformal coating, soldered to a metal surface, [...]
Hand soldering workshop and free ticket to productronica 2023
PIEK invites you to participate in a hand soldering workshop. The workshops will be held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the 2023 productronica Fair in Munich. Send an email to workshop@piektraining.com to sign up for an available time slot. [...]
Why is it important to test your solder baths for contamination?
During the immersion, wave or selective soldering processes and in the HASL finish application processes, metals will dissolve in the liquid solder. The degree of dissolution depends on the base materials used (finishes on tracks and component leads/metallization’s), solder [...]
Almit and PIEK: a strong team
Almit and PIEK I.E.C. have worked together for many years. Almit provides the solder to PIEK that is used during courses. And PIEK has given soldering courses at Almit´s facilities for many years. One highlight of the cooperation so far [...]
