San Diego — KIC, the leader of thermal process development and control products, and winner of multiple industry awards, announces that it has been awarded two SMT China Vision Awards, both for its new generation KIC Explorer profiler. The KIC Explorer took the top price both in the Software - Process Control category as well as in the Maintainability/Repairability/Service category. The award was presented to the company during an April 8, 2008 ceremony that took place at the Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition International Hotel during NEPCON China/EMT China.

KIC Explorer is a new generation of thermal profiler that features an impressively compact design with easy-to-use software. The KIC Explorer easily moves through the restrictive process dimensions encountered in today’s thermal applications. It incorporates state-of-the-art SMT technology and high-temperature rated components, backed by KIC’s distinguished reputation for reliability.

The optional KIC Auto-Focus™ automates process improvement and optimization. Within seconds, the KIC Auto-Focus™ automatically “googles” the billions of alternative oven recipes and selects the recipe that positions the process in the center of the process window, or alternatively the fastest throughput.

Third-party research has verified the ability of both the Navigator Power and Auto-Focus Power to reduce electricity consumption in reflow ovens. This key feature results in significant cost savings in today’s environment of increasing energy prices.

The KIC Explorer provides the highest sampling rate available, greater memory capacity and superior data precision. Modern applications introduce an array of thermal process complexities. To conquer those challenges, additional thermal profile data is needed. As a standard feature, the KIC Explorer has 12 thermocouples to meet requirements. The ingenious miniature-TC harness design makes this possible, and it is less expensive than using a standard Type-K thermocouple. (If Type-K thermocouples are preferred, however, the KIC Explorer is available in a standard Type-K, 7-channel model.)

The SMT China VISION Awards program is sponsored by SMT China Magazine and honors the top categories of various manufacturing-related products, materials and equipment. The purpose of this program is to recognize, reward and celebrate excellence in the Asian electronics industry.