KIC Press Release April 25, 2005 - KIC Announces Aegis Integration of Thermal Process Management System

(San Diego, CA -- April 25, 2005) : KIC, the leader of thermal process development and control products, and winner of multiple VISION awards, announces that Aegis Industrial Software, a leader in manufacturing information management systems for global electronics assemblers, has integrated CAMx to KIC‘s 24/7 thermal process management system, which is a vital technology for lead-free process control.

The KIC 24/7 continuous process monitoring system provides actual process data in real time from reflow and curing ovens. The system records the temperature profile for each individual part along with all pertinent process data such as peak temperature, time above liquidous, soak time, etc. Additionally, the process data‘s "fit" to the established process window is established using the objective and mathematical Process Window Index™ (PWI™) concept. The KIC 24/7 will instantly warn on an out-of-control situation, as well as alarm on any out-of-spec situation.

The KIC 24/7 acts as a data acquisition unit that feeds the Aegis Information Management system via an xLink CAMx adaptor, giving users access to the hard-to-get process data for their thermal process. This KIC/Aegis communication delivers significant added value, providing customers with real-time process data for better shop floor and factory-office decision making as it relates to quality, productivity and traceability.

Commenting on the partnership, Bjorn Dahle, president of KIC, said, "The reflow process and its control are extremely sophisticated. Real-time Data help define and maintain process stability and traceability. Many manufacturers, particularly in lead-free environments with tight process windows now replace daily or weekly thermal checks with continuous, real-time thermal process monitoring. KIC systems automatically optimize and monitor the process for zero-defect production."

"Full access to KIC‘s 24/7 thermal process management system provides our users with continuous real-time process monitoring and automated SPC, traceability and documentation," said Jason Spera, CEO at Aegis. "By importing and analyzing KIC temperature data, we uniquely provide engineers with a 100 percent reflow scenario, presenting the oven data as well as the board experience data in real-time."

"Customers are demanding complete process traceability, and thermal process management delivers all the information required to address this stringent requirement while continually improving manufacturing processes and overall product quality," Spera added.

About KIC
Based in San Diego, KIC is the industry leader in automated thermal management tools and systems for reflow, wave, cure and semiconductor thermal processes. The company pioneered the development of oven profilers and process development tools. KIC remains on the leading edge of the thermal industry with innovative tools for process development, optimization and real-time management.