ATLANTA, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- New X-ray capabilities to detect counterfeit and poor quality electronic parts have been adopted by Georgia's World Micro Components.
The global distributor of electronic components serving the medical electronics, commercial, military and aerospace markets, said the X-Ray Fluorescence tabletop analyzer and high-speed X-ray inspection equipment makes it possible to perform a deeper and more comprehensive analysis of components and conduct X-ray inspection of 100 percent of components on large reels.
Oxford Instruments' XRF enables detailed chemical analysis of components to spot deviations from specifications.
The XRF capability is particularly important in light of the more stringent Restriction of Hazardous Substances standards enforced by the European Union, the company said.
Under the RoHS directive, manufacturers are required to produce documentation, including conformity risk assessment and test reports, for a wide range of parts and components. If the technical documentation for a product doesn't include test reports for certain parts, the manufacturer will have to explain why test reports aren't applicable.
Many industries in the United States also adhere to RoHS standards, making it more critical that all components meet the standards.
Aside from making it possible for World Micro to ensure that components comply with the RoHS directive, XRF provides critical information to aid in the identification of possible counterfeits.
The high-speed X-ray inspection equipment addresses the particular issue of potential counterfeit parts peppered into large reels of components. While traditional inspection procedures only validate a portion of the parts on a reel, high-speed X-ray inspection enables World Micro to perform 100 percent X-ray inspection, ensuring that the internal die in each individual part on a reel is identical and any deviations are flagged.
"We believe that it is imperative that we take the lead in ensuring that the components we provide to our customers are genuine and comply with the most stringent standards," said Gary Beckstedt, World Micro director of quality. "Our focus has always been on quality and we are dedicated to staying on the front edge of counterfeit detection."
