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In comparison to the fireworks of traditional welding’s molten metal, ultrasonic welding is more a wisp of smoke and a tip of the magician’s hat. In the mid to late 1990s, ultrasonic welding had ventured well beyond its plastics and automotive roots of the 1960s and 1980s respectively. By the dawn of the new millennium, ultrasonic welding had expanded far beyond toys and automobile subsystems—it was wired into the consumer electronics industry, including medical devices and components. Though lacking the cachet of robotics and CAD-CAM, ultrasonic welding was already well versed in the language of manufacturing.

Previously we covered RoHS history and the successive directives published by the EU regarding the restrictions of the quantities of certain hazardous substances used in electrical and electronic equipment in European countries: lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), hexavalent chromium (CrVI), polybrominated biphenyls (PBB), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), and four different phthalates: DEHP, BBP, BBP, and DIBP.

Circuit protection: an important element in electronic or electrical products. Usually in the form of a circuit breaker or a fuse, there are similarities and differences to note in deciding which one to use.

A successful new product design can be a valuable asset to a company.

Excellent business opportunities are possible in global markets, but it is important to be knowledgeable in the desired country’s standards. Each country has its own import/export requirements, so due diligence is needed to determine the regulations in order to successfully market a product in a specific country.