Case Study

RB Controls Co., Ltd.

Enhancing antistatic measures for electronic substrates manufacturing with Plasmacluster Realizing miniature products by mounting electronic components without damage

PDF:1.2MB
Industry

Manufacturing

Purpose of Implementation

Improved efficiency, Improved productivity, Increased Sales

Implemented product
Plasmacluster Static Electricity Remover

IG-301JF x 27 units
IG-251JF x 10 units
Implemented in October 2016. Installed and fixed over worktable where electronic control substrates are manufactured and inspected.
Retailer: NIHON DENKEI CO., LTD.

Customer
RB Controls Co., Ltd.

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Established in 1971. Group company of Rinnai Co., Ltd., a major gas appliance manufacturer. Manufacturer of various electronic components, including control units for hot water heater remote controllers and bathroom television units, and ignition devices.
Kanaiwa Plant (this solution)

This is what we realized.
Challenges before implementation

Since the electronic components are susceptible to static electricity, we have conventionally implemented static electricity measures in processes that manufacture substrates for hot water heater remote controllers, etc. However, to further reduce the size of our components and increase competitiveness of our end products such as remote controllers, we need to use even smaller components. These smaller components are easily affected by static electricity, so we needed more advanced measures.

  • Static electricity measures were strengthened with the Plasmacluster Static Electricity Remover. Now miniature electronic components can be mounted, and the size of the end product reduced.
  • Plasmacluster evenly reduces positive and negative electricity. The sufficient airflow covers the entire worktable.
  • The unit also suppresses the adherence of dust, caused by static electricity, so less dust removal work is required.
Background of Implementation
We required advanced static electricity measures to mount smaller electronic components.

At RB Controls, we manufacture electronic substrates for hot water heater remote controllers, etc. We have taken various measures to prevent static electricity from damaging the electronic components. These allow us to maintain the charging voltage in each process at the level lower than 200V, a level at which humans do not feel the impact of electrical discharge. We must use smaller electronic components to further reduce the size of the substrates we manufacture and increase cost competitiveness. As these components are easily affected by static electricity, we must further reduce the charged voltage.

RB Controls Co., Ltd.
(Left)Kenichi Matsumoto, Plant Manager
Production Headquarters, Kanaiwa Plant
(Right)Yasushi Honbo, Section Manager
Production Headquarters Kanaiwa Plant, Manufacturing Section 2

Reasons for Selection
Plasmacluster Static Electricity Remover implemented on a test basis. Charging voltage dropped in a short time, confirming electricity reduction.

The Rinnai Group, which our company is part of, has used Plasmacluster for many years in their bathroom heating driers and gas fan heaters, etc., and has highly praised the achieved effect. We tested a demonstration model when this Plasmacluster Static Electricity Remover was released. We decided to implement it after confirming that the charge voltage dropped to the standard value within the time specified by our company and that a static electricity reduction effect was attained.

Ion generator installed at worktable of each process in plant

Effect after implementation
Ions reduce static electricity on components and prevent damage. Dust adherence is also suppressed, so dust removal work is reduced.

We created an environment in which smaller components can be handled by installing the ion generator over the worktable where electronic components are assembled and inspected. The ion airflow sufficiently covers the entire worktable, and evenly lowers the charging voltage without positive or negative bias. As a result, we were able to reduce the size of our product and increase competitiveness. The adherence of dust onto components caused by static electricity is also suppressed, allowing us to reduce dust removal work.

Sufficient airflow distributes Plasmacluster ions over wide area

Future prospects
Utilizing Plasmacluster’s deodorizing effect to create a plant environment comfortable for our workers.

We exper ien ced t he vario us a dvantages of implementing Plasmacluster with this solution, and we now hope to further promote static electricity measures by implementing this Plasmacluster Static Electricity Remover in many of our processes. Some of our manufacturing processes generate odors, so we are thinking of utilizing the deodorizing effect of the Plasmacluster to create an odor-reduced environment where our workers can work comfortably.

Compact type reduces static electricity during hand work.

Issued May 2017

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