News | September 16, 2011

Sierra Circuits Offers New ENEPIG Surface Finish For HDI PCBs

Sunnyvale, CA --(Marketwire) -

  • Addresses needs of high-reliability products
  • "Universal" surface finish supports both lead-free and conventional solder alloys
  • In-house manufacturing, testing, and certification simplifies sourcing

Sierra Circuits, the leader in QuickTurn HDI PCBs, has installed new equipment and chemistry techniques to produce an ENEPIG (Electroless Nickel - Electroless Palladium - Immersion Gold) surface finish on Printed Circuit Boards to meet customer demands for high-reliability, lead-free, and conventional HDI printed circuit boards.

The ENEPIG (Electroless Nickel - Electroless Palladium - Immersion Gold) surface finish for PCBs was originally developed more than a decade ago to support wire bonding and fine-pitch Surface Mount Technology (SMT.) However, the high price of palladium kept it out of reach for most applications. With palladium now less expensive than gold, this surface finish has become the best choice for wire bond applications, ROHS assembly, and most other boards as well.

ENEPIG is called the "Universal" surface finish since it can be used for all assembly processes and works well with both lead-free and conventional eutectic solder alloys. It also eliminates the potential for the solderability issues that have been associated with ENIG (Electroless Nickel - Immersion Gold.)

According to Amit Bahl, marketing director at Sierra Circuits, "Our company consistently delivers exceptional capabilities to satisfy the highest technological demands of our HDI PCB customers. In addition, since we own a complete set of ENEPIG-supporting equipment, we can offer our customers the entire solution: from manufacturing to testing and certification. Our in-house capability enables us to deliver quick-turn printed circuit boards with low cost and high reliability."

ENEPIG surface finish is useful for HDI PCB applications. Customers in markets with high reliability needs such as medical device manufacturing, aerospace technology, petroleum and gas drilling may also find the ENEPIG process particularly valuable.

Availability
The ENEPIG process is available today from Sierra Circuits.
Visit protoexpress.com for more information.

About Sierra Circuits
Sierra Circuits is an ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485:2003, and Milspec MIL-P-55110 certified Printed Circuit Board manufacturer specializing in HDI, fine line and flex technologies with a focus on quick-turn prototypes and medium production. Our capabilities include multi-layer and fine line processing as well as blind/buried, filled, and micro vias. In addition, we provide PCB Layout and PCB Assembly services. For more information please visit www.protoexpress.com

SOURCE: Sierra Cicuits, Inc.