Jun 16, 2011 
Flextronics subsidiary and leading PCB supplier certified to use Shocking Tech’s XStatic™ Voltage Switchable Dielectric material for embedded protection against harmful ESD transients.
Shocking Technologies, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough patented polymer nano-composite for protecting electronic products from electrostatic discharge (ESD), announced that Multek, a wholly owned subsidiary of Flextronics, has been certified to manufacture printed circuit boards (PCBs) with Shocking Tech’s innovative Voltage Switchable Dielectric™ (VSD) material. The certification is the result of extensive collaboration between the two companies and successful testing of Shocking Tech’s XStatic™ VSD material into PCBs manufactured by Multek. This certification enables Multek to manufacture PCBs that meet industry-standard electrical, mechanical and reliability specifications in addition to enabling superior ESD resistance and offering lower total system cost to OEMs.
Werner Widmann, president of Multek, said, “The unique combination of Shocking’s innovative polymer VSD nano-material and efficient system simulation capabilities make the XStatic™ solution a compelling approach for us to reduce the impact of ESD, as well as save cost and time. The results we have seen have been very impressive and we look forward to offering this as part of our solution to the world’s leading electronics companies.”
The XStatic™ material is embedded in PCBs to protect components and systems from harmful ESD events. Shocking Tech’s XStatic™ solution reduces component count and frees up space for other functionality while simplifying design, improving ESD protection, and slashing development time.
As part of the XStatic™ solution, Shocking Tech has developed a system-level ESD simulation methodology that complements the use of the XStatic™ material and the XStatic™ design methodology. The simulation evaluates the ESD robustness of a design at its highest risk state - without the presence of mechanical elements (such as metal shields). The simulation identifies active and passive components and circuits at risk of being damaged by excessive current or voltage and XStatic™ protection is enabled as appropriate.
Lex Kosowsky, President and CEO of Shocking Technologies, said, “We are pleased to be working with Multek to help them and their customers realize the significant benefits of our VSD solution. Adoption of the XStatic™ solution by Multek is an important endorsement from a major PCB supplier of our innovative solution for ESD protection. We are confident that the XStatic™ solution will enable Multek to bring to market innovative products that exhibit enhanced ESD performance.”
About XStatic™
Shocking Technologies’ XStatic™ material is a polymer nano-composite that functions substantially as an insulator (dielectric) during normal circuit operation and becomes substantially conductive when the voltage increases beyond a predefined threshold. The XStatic™ material reverts back to behaving substantially as an insulator after the voltage drops back below the threshold to normal operating levels. The net result is that when the XStatic™ material is incorporated in a PCB or package substrate, damaging ESD voltages and currents can be routed to ground or to other predetermined locations so that elements, circuits, components, devices and systems can be effectively protected against ESD events.
Founded in 2006, Shocking Technologies offers an innovative solution to protecting electronic products in the handheld, cell phone, LCD display, memory and other markets from the harmful effects of electrostatic discharge (ESD). Its patented Voltage Switchable Dielectric™ (VSD) polymer nano-composite material, XStatic™, is easily applied to PCB and package substrates, and coupled with Shocking’s advanced design and simulation technologies provides the industry’s only embedded solution capable of up to 100% protection against ESD. The ease of implementation and comprehensive coverage of the XStatic™ solution also lowers development time and costs and reduces product design size by eliminating less effective components traditionally used to protect devices against ESD effects. The company has over 150 patents and applications worldwide and has licensed numerous additional patents and applications. Shocking Technologies is a privately held company with investments from ARCH Venture Partners, ATA Ventures, Skylake Incuvest, Vista Ventures, Balch Hill Capital, and a limited number of private investors.
Multek, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Flextronics, is a leading manufacturer of PCB and display technologies. Ranked as one of the top ten PCB suppliers, Multek offers a broad spectrum of engineering and manufacturing expertise, including rigid and flexible circuits, assembly, specialty materials, as well as display and touch solutions. Multek’s commitment to rapid response, attention to detail, and to delivering high technology solutions for fabrication, electronics design and manufacturing enables customers to take products to market quickly through advanced technology production and a full range of high performance materials. Multek offers solutions from a global network of facilities in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
