January 22, 2019 iMAPS New England Chapter Meeting
Holiday Inn Tewksbury-Andover, Tewksbury, MA
Featuring Two Presentations
“The Challenges of Quick Turn Automated Conformal Coating”
George Grom , President of Rapid Coatings“
Summary: High mix, low volume creates its own problems for automation; adding conformal coating really muddies the waters. The processes are a constant hurdle. Keep outs, masking, materials, coating thickness, ambient, curing, de-masking, inspection, etc. all need fine tuning. Where the industry was, where it is today and where it is going with technology and processes is headed in an exciting direction. The motivation to start Rapid Coatings came in 2014 when a quick turn printed circuit board assembly contractor couldn't find a reliable source for conformal coating. The turn-around was not acceptable not to mention quality related issues. Knowing the industry has relied on a manual process, Rapid set out to change that to automation, locating itself in Woburn, MA, right in the middle of the high tech world. Bringing in an advanced coating machine right from the start has proven to catapult the organization in the right direction. Now 4 years into it, they have just scratched the surface.
George Grom first became passionate about electronics in the United States Marine Corps. He worked in the Control Center for the Hawk Anti-Aircraft Surface to Air Missile Battalion. While George was pursuing his electronics engineering degree, in 1986 he started OSDA Contract Services Inc. The company was the first in CT.to offer SMT quick turn assembly on printed circuit boards. In 2015 he founded Rapid Coatings with the focus on automating conformal coatings. George has recently sold his interest in OSDA in order to continue Rapid's success
“Lead Time Apocalypse”
Frank Nichols, CEO Silicon Forest Electronics
Summary: In this market of increasing electronic content triggered by, tremendous IoT growth in everything from Smart Home Devices to Refrigerators, hyper growth in sensors for cars and autonomous products plus the ever continuing growth and expansion of the wireless and cellular industry, the passive component availability has become a crisis and does not seem to be slowing down soon. This shortage has placed a burden on many companies as they search for component availability to fulfill their own demands. This presentation gives a meaningful look at this condition and provides some insightful tips and outlooks looking forward. Silicon Forest Electronics was a “green-field” start-up in 1999. Since then, the company has prospered and grown from no sales to the current revenue of approximately $20M with 100 employees.
Frank Nichols is founder and CEO of Silicon Forest Electronic. Frank has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from California State University and a Masters of Business Administration from University of Phoenix. Early in his career, Frank was a Mechanical Engineer for the Navy - Pacific Missile Test Center. He then became a Systems Engineer for the Navy - Joint Cruise Missile Program Office, involved with the production and testing of autonomous-flight missile systems. Frank then became a Program Manager for Aerojet Rocketdyne working with the development of insensitive explosives and rocket motors. In 1986, Frank founded Orion Services and became the President and Marketing Consultant involved in engineering support services. Thereafter, he was the Team Leader for the Radioactive Mixed Waste recycling facility for Manufacturing Science Corporation that won a $1.9B award.
SCHEDULE (times approximate)
5:30 PM Registration, Socializing, Networking & Cash Bar
6:30 PM Dinner - All American Buffet with Steak Tips & Lemon Herb Chicken
7:15 PM Frank Nichols, Silicon Forest Electronics - “Lead Time Apocalypse”
7:30 PM George Grom, Rapid Coatings - “The Challenges of Quick Turn Automated Conformal Coating”
REGISTRATION
You may attend the presentation without eating dinner. Pre-Registration deadline is Wednesday, January 16..!!! After that, or for Walk-Ins At-Door, the fee is an additional $5.00 [Limited Availability].
Cancellations must be received by 3:00 p.m. Monday January 21… or The Chapter will bill you for the registration fee.
Options: To cancel a registration or register by e-mail, contact Matt Bracy: matt@msdsales.com