Computer Circuitry Company

Year Submitted: 2003

Process: Circuit Board Plating

Industry: Electronics Manufacturing

Wastes Reduced: Hazardous waste

Substance: Copper Plating, F006

Equipment: Shipley Graphite 2000

Location: Grand Prairie TX

No. of employees: 50

Contact: Robert Weber

Phone: (214) 641-2492

Description:

Computer Circuity Company wanted to reduce the amount of hazardous waste (F006 plating bath waste) that was generated in deposition of copper onto circuit boards by the traditional electroless copper plating technology.

P2 Application:

Computer Circuitry explored new technologies and determined that the Shipley Company Graphite 2000TM process met the needs of the company. Shipley together with FSL, Inc. installed new equipment at Computer Circuitry (the third installation of such equipment) in 1995. The Shipley Graphite 2000TM process uses conveyorized, horizontal immersion processing of printed circuit board panels coupled with the use of PVA rollers as a thickness control mechanism. When combined with a controlled graphite particle size suspension, a uniform thickness graphite coat is applied to both surface and holes of the panel.

Environmental Benefits:

The new system reduced the generation of hazardous waste by 42 tons per year (by over 67%). It has also eliminated totally the use of formaldehyde and EDTA in the process. Thus the potential for exposure of workers to hazardous chemicals has been greatly reduced. Water use and treatment of metal bearing waste water has also been significantly reduced. Total reduction in water use is about 1.4 million gallons a year.

Details of Reductions

Additional Information :

The project costs about $145,000 and had a pay back period of 20.4 months.

Source: TCEQ