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Electronics Packaging: Selecting an Electronics Packaging Contractor Electronics Packaging For the purpose of this article, electronics packaging will refer to thermoformed, electrostatic discharge, protective electronic packaging. The most popular ESD packages include clamshells and trays for circuit boards, memory modules, hard drives and telecommunications devices. To protect your electronics products, you should select a packaging contractor with years of relevant experience. Electronics Packaging Terms Before beginning the discussion, it’s important to define a couple of terms: • Thermoformed, or custom thermoforming, refers to the manufacturing process of heating and molding plastic materials into packaging solutions. Sample end products include containers, lids, trays, clamshells and blister packaging. • ESD means electrostatic discharge. ESD creates serious problems for electronics equipment, especially integrated circuits. The materials used in integrated circuits, like silicon and silicon dioxide, can be permanently damaged if hit with high voltage. Electronic packaging today includes antistatic capabilities to prevent static build-up and device damage. Electronics Packaging Terms Vital to safe transporting and storage of your electronic products, ESD packages are designed to provide maximum protection. Static can be caused by many things, including other devices, friction or the weather. Only the best ESD packaging can eliminate the risk of static damage. Based on the definitions above, electronics packaging involves the plastic molded containers that incorporate ESD protection. The most popular packages include clamshells and trays for circuit boards, memory modules, hard drives and telecommunications devices. Electronics Packaging Contractors Why You Need an Experienced Electronics Packaging Contractor: Because you can literally ruin your products with poor packaging, you need to work with a packaging manufacturing that specializes in thermoformed ESD protective electronic packaging. An experienced contractor will balance protection, cost and material reduction to arrive at a viable value proposition. For example, your electronics packaging contractor should provide solutions, like clamshells and trays, to replace conventional packaging. Putting the electronic product in a bag, and then placing it in a cardboard box with foam inside, has become a cumbersome and less effective packaging solution. Electronics Packaging Contractors Because advanced thermoformed ESD packages use just one packaging part, they’re more economical. They also save time in the manufacturing and packaging process. And, they stack and store more conveniently. These attributes lead to real business benefits as the following: • • • • • • Reducing inventory costs Simplifying handling Decreasing damage Streamlining assembly time Enabling visual inspection and bar code scanning Providing physical protection and puncture resistance Packaging Design Technology Advances in technology can help produce better products in less time and at reduced costs. Evaluate your packaging design contractor’s facilities and production equipment. Do they use the latest technology throughout the design process? Do they keep abreast of industry changes and improvements in technology? Using Highest Quality Raw Materials After you evaluate a prospective contractor’s level of experience and expertise with electronics packaging, examine the materials used in production. Whether your packaging is for active or passive electronic devices, you want clamshells and trays made of the highest quality raw materials. For example, consider packaging using EIA-541 and MIL-B-81705C certified materials. These materials are available in either static dissipative, conductive styrene or clear anti-static PETG or PVC. When you combine strength and protection with certified static control properties, you’ll have the perfect electronic packaging material. Using Highest Quality Raw Materials Your first criterion when evaluating electronics packaging manufacturers should be experience. Nothing replaces an experienced contractor who’s been manufacturing for many years the exact type of packaging you need. Operating a long time within the industry and having relevant client references provides the track record to ensure a successful project. Your next criterion should be production processes and materials used. Combining high quality Electronics Packaging Contractor experience and the correct ESD material will result in an ESD package that will meet or exceed your package requirements and expectations. About the Author Jim Boley is VP of Business Development at Flexpak Corporation, a world-class supplier of custom thermoforming and packaging solutions since 1974. For more information about packaging design, please visit www.flexpakcorp.com today.