Rehm Thermal Systems wins the Baden-Württemberg 2015 Environmental Technology Award
Every two years the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector awards the Environmental Technology Award to businesses that are making a significant contribution to resource efficiency and environmental conservation. This year Rehm Thermal Systems impressed the judges and won second place in the ‘Energy Efficiency’ category. The Swabian machine producer designed a system which not only uses the nitrogen required by the reflow soldering process for inertisation, but simultaneously uses it in liquid form for cooling. “Through this concept of using the nitrogen in more than one way we can offer our customers a reflow soldering system which uses no cooling water whatsoever, and on top of that requires significantly less energy”, says Rehm Head of Development, Dr. Hans Bell.
In this way Rehm shows that it is a progressive innovations partner placing great value on efficiency and resource management. “We honour products and technologies with the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Technology Award that manage to reconcile the needs of humanity with the demands of the economy and that are simultaneously environmentally friendly”, explained Minister for the Environment Franz Untersteller, who, together with the expert panel determined the award recipients from amongst the nominated businesses.
Nitrogen for inertisation and cooling – combined in one system
With the reflow convection soldering process electronic components are soldered in an inert nitrogen environment at temperatures of up to 260°C. Following the soldering process, the components are cooled down to a temperature of approx. 50°C in the cooling section of the same system. In excess of 40% of the total energy required to operate a reflow soldering system is used solely for cooling with coolant water.
Rehm Thermal Systems developed an innovative technology for efficient use of the nitrogen required for inertisation and designed the first coolant-water-free reflow soldering system VisionXP+ Liquid Nitrogen, which uses nitrogen cooling. The new concept is based on the nitrogen’s phase change directly inside the reflow soldering system. This provides the system with the required low temperature as well as the inert environment. The cold liquid nitrogen (as low as -196°C) provides its cooling effect inside the system’s cooling zone, is evaporated and is subsequently used in gaseous form for inertisation. Thus the coolant water re-cooled using great energy, as well as the cooling unit and refrigerant are no longer required at all. Rehm was supported by its partner Air Liquide in the area of nitrogen technology.
“Almost every electronics producer stores the nitrogen required for soldering in the liquid nitrogen tank. Instead of letting a part of the energy it contains off into the air, it can be used more efficiently for cooling purposes in the reflow soldering system. This translates into an annual saving of about 17 tonnes of CO2 and 30 000 kWh of electricity”, says Marcel Kneer, Project Manager for Liquid Nitrogen Technology in the area of research and development at Rehm Thermal Systems.
With the help of this innovative technology Rehm is making a significant contribution to the CO2 reduction and energy saving of reflow soldering systems. “For us dealing with resources in an environmentally friendly manner is a core aspect of our company philosophy. Through the use of energy efficient manufacturing equipment our customers make great strides towards meeting their own requirement for resource-saving production processes. The Environmental Technology Award shows that we are on the right path to successfully implement new and sustainable technologies in the electronics industry”, explains Managing Director Johannes Rehm.
Information about the Baden-Württemberg Environmental Technology Award
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector has been awarding the Environmental Technology Award since 2009. It is awarded every two years for exceptional and innovative products in environmental technology. The prize money consists of 100 000 euros and is distributed amongst four categories (‘Energy Efficiency’, ‘Material Efficiency’, ‘Technologies for Reducing, Treating and Seperating Emissions’, as well as ‘Measurement, Control and Regulation Technology’) and a special prize decided upon by the judges.
Businesses with headquarters or a branch in Baden-Württemberg are eligible to participate. Products are honoured that make a significant contribution to resource efficiency and environmental conservation and are about to be introduced to the market or have not been on the market for longer than two years. This year’s award ceremony, officiated by the Minister for the Environment Franz Untersteller, was held at the Römerkastell in Stuttgart on 7th July 2015.
