KIC Press Release October 28, 2004 - KIC and Kester Form European Partnership

(San Diego, CA -- October 28, 2004) : KIC, the leader of thermal process development and control products and winner of multiple VISION awards, announces a new partnership with Kester Europe.

Beginning in November 2004, Kester Europe will utilize KIC‘s thermal process development and optimization tools in their European customer support operations. Serge Tuerlings, Kester‘s Market Development Manager and main application engineer in Europe, will receive a SlimKIC 2000 and Navigator. The tools will be used extensively in Kester‘s lab as well as on customer visits.

Kester offers an extensive line of industry leading solders and solder pastes for a large and varied range of applications, including both lead-free and standard alloys. This offering is supported by the company‘s vast application experience to help manufacturers achieve their quality goals. The KIC tools ensure that Kester‘s material is processed within the appropriate process window.

Electronics manufacturers are currently facing a more challenging thermal process brought on by more complex assemblies, stringent client demands and the lead-free conversion. Kester helps its customers succeed in this environment with the appropriate solder and solder paste as well as the correct process setup. Kester has developed a wide range of materials to accommodate these new needs. The KIC products are a perfect complement for Kester because they are capable of quickly defining the correct process window, and selecting the optimum oven or wave solder recipe for each application as well as for each of the various Kester materials.

"We are excited about this opportunity to work so closely with Kester Europe. Kester‘s solutions are in line with KIC‘s high standard of quality, and we feel that the SlimKIC 2000 and Navigator tools will help Kester elevate their solutions and customer service to the next level," said Bjorn Dahle, President of KIC.

KIC‘s thermal process tools reflect the growing need among manufacturers to better manage their thermal process as it relates to their reflow and curing ovens, wave solder machines, and rework. The biggest industry driver is the lead-free conversion, which impacts the thermal process significantly and requires new solutions.

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.