California Circuits Association

Citation

(2001), "California Circuits Association", Circuit World, Vol. 27 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/cw.2001.21727aab.007

California Circuits Association

California Circuits Association

CCA board sets agenda

Keyword: CCA

The IPC California Circuits Association (CCA) Steering Committee met in September, in Anaheim, CA, to set the direction for the organisation (Plate 2).

"We have a great, energetic board of directors and we have made some terrific plans for CCA members for late this year and next year", explains Bob Neves, president of Microtek Laboratories and chairman of the CCA. "We intend to revitalise the CCA."

Dick Crowe, CCA executive director, said the association would continue holding the environmental and human resources special interest groups (SIGs). "The SIGs provide an excellent opportunity for members to network and learn the latest trends in human resources and environment, health and safety", says Crowe.

The CCA is scheduling a series of SIG meetings in both Northern and Southern California in conjunction with IPC's Director of Environmental Policy, Fern Abrams, during the week of 4 December 2000. "Fern can update the members on environmental policy in Washington and members will have opportunity to discuss with her California environmental developments impacting the PWB industry", says Crowe. Crowe outlined other CCA initiatives for 2001 including establishing a scholarship fund for CCA members, a trade mission to Asia, specialised market research and marketing opportunities, and continuing golf tournaments in Northern and Southern California and at IPC Printed Circuits Expo1.

Plate 2 Steven Ansley, Philbro-Tech Inc.; Thomas Moran, Chief Regulatory Officer, Philbro-Tech Inc.; CCA Steering Committee Members: Tom White, Vice-President Manufacturing, Picolight Inc.; Chairman Bob Neves, President, Microtek Laboratories; Ray Giancola, CEO CCA; Dick Crowe, Executive Director CCA

In other CCA news, chemical supplier and etchant recycler Phibro-Tech addressed members of the CCA Board of Directors. Thomas Moran, senior vice-president and chief regulatory officer and Steven Ansley, district manager of Phibro-Tech, addressed the CCA Board on the status of processing spent etchants for California PWB manufacturers.

Railroad shipping inefficiencies, increased manufacturing capability shakedown and start up, a disinvestment by other service suppliers, and a dramatic increase in PWB manufacturing, all hampered the company's efforts to recycle and ship spent etchant, according to Moran.

Typically, most PWB fabricators store spent etchant in drums that are then sent to Phibro-Tech for processing. But due to a temporary hold issued by the California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) earlier this year, Phibro-Tech was temporarily unable to accept spent etchant.

"We stopped taking California manufacturers' drums for a couple of weeks", says Moran. "And although we exceeded California's DTSC permit limit of drum count based on storage foot print, the material was handled in an environmentally sound manner".

Moran told members of the CCA steering committee he is confident this situation will not happen again. "We've increased our railcar fleet and increased production capacity for our recycled product. We are also in a compliance schedule with the DTSC, allowing additional storage while modifying our permit to permanently increase storage capacity."

CCA members' reaction to the problem and support of Phibro-Tech pleased Moran. "The PWB industry really supported us", says Moran. "Phibro-Tech met with senior members of the DTSC at the site and in Sacramento. As a result, the DTSC now understands the importance of the PWB industry."