KIC Press Release September 7, 1998 - KIC Auto-Predict Option Wins 1998 Vision Award for Software

(San Diego, CA -- September 7, 1998) : KIC Thermal Profiling has been awarded the 1998 Vision Award in the software category for its Auto-Predict option, available on any KIC Thermal Profiling or thermal management system. The award was announced at the Surface Mount International trade show in San Jose, California in August.

The Vision Awards, presented annually by SMT Magazine, recognize "bench-marks of excellence" in equipment and services developed for the worldwide electronics assembly industry. An independent panel of distinguished experts selects winners from hundreds of entries submitted in seven categories. Selection criteria include innovation, cost-effectiveness, speed or throughput improvement and quality contribution.

KIC‘s winning entry, the Auto-Predict option, enables users to define the optimal profile for each reflow application without "trial and error" profiling runs. Auto-Predict enables users to reduce set-up time for automated thermal processes significantly.

To activate Auto-Predict, the user defines the desired process window by entering the upper and lower limits for key process variables such as maximum rising and falling slopes, peak temperature and soak time. The program searches thousands of possible combinations of zone setpoints and conveyor speeds. The solution that most closely meets throughput requirements for that application may then be selected and saved.

Auto-Predict is used in conjunction with KIC software and any KIC Thermal Profiling or thermal management product. These include the QuickKIC(tm) trailing wire Thermal Recorder, SlimKIC(tm)-II pass-through Thermal Profiler and the Prophet(tm) Thermal Manager. The software allows profiles to be viewed on a PC in real time, enabling changes to be made immediately, and may be run on the same PC as the process controller.

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.