Precise cooling for electronics – a laboratory refrigerator for storing solder paste
In modern electronics manufacturing, there is no room for chance. Every stage – from design to assembly – requires precise control, and even the slightest deviations in storage conditions can significantly impact the quality of the final product.
One of the key stages is surface-mount technology, known as SMT (Surface Mount Technology). This is a method in which electronic components are mounted directly onto the surface of printed circuit boards (PCBs), enabling miniaturization, higher assembly density, and full production line automation. SMT, however, places extremely high demands on the materials used in the soldering process — particularly solder paste, one of the most sensitive and critical components in the entire workflow.
Solder paste is a mixture of solder powder and flux, enabling precise and durable bonding of electronic components to the PCB. Its quality and properties are strictly dependent on storage conditions such as temperature and humidity. Excessive fluctuations can cause loss of viscosity, separation, or reduced soldering performance.
This dependency is well understood by PB Technik, which, in cooperation with POL-EKO, has implemented a specialized FIFO-based (First In, First Out) cooling solution that ensures not only optimal storage conditions for solder paste but also full material rotation.
The challenge: quality control and complete stock rotation
PB Technik, a company specializing in modern solutions for the electronics industry, faced the challenge of creating a system that would not only maintain stable temperature conditions but also ensure complete stock rotation according to the FIFO (First In, First Out) principle.
Solder paste requires strictly controlled temperatures and limited exposure to external factors. Using expired material can result in poor solder joints, component loss, and even production downtime.
The solution: a combination of POL-EKO and PB Technik expertise
To meet these requirements, POL-EKO — offering a wide portfolio of thermostatic equipment — designed a dedicated FIFO laboratory refrigerator laboratory refrigerator FIFO for storing solder pastes.
This unit was built with demanding industrial environments in mind and equipped with a range of functionalities to ensure maximum performance and safety:
- Precise temperature control – guarantees stable conditions that protect the paste from degradation and extend its usability
- Reinforced construction – increases durability and resistance to intensive use
- Intuitive touch panel – allows easy operation and quick access to key settings
In turn, PB Technik developed a special FIFO drum that automates material rotation. Thanks to its unique design, jars of solder paste automatically move along the queue, eliminating the risk of using expired material and improving storage efficiency.
The result: efficiency, ergonomics, and savings
The collaboration between POL-EKO and PB Technik resulted in a complete, intelligent system for storing solder pastes. It significantly streamlines daily operations in production facilities and enhances the quality of finished electronic devices.
- Automated stock rotation – with FIFO, solder paste management becomes completely hands-free. Material is always dispensed in the correct order, eliminating human error and ensuring full control over product lifecycle.
- High storage quality – stable temperature and optimal environmental conditions protect the paste from aging, separation, or loss of soldering properties. Each batch retains full efficacy in SMT processes.
- Improved ergonomics and safety – the refrigerator’s compact design, intuitive interface, and easy material access reduce handling time and minimize downtime.
- Higher production efficiency – FIFO minimizes the need for manual expiry checks, allowing staff to focus on key production tasks.
- Reduced material waste – preventing expired paste from entering the process leads to lower consumption and real financial savings.
- Compliance with quality procedures – in many electronics and automotive factories, material rotation control is part of quality audits. The integrated FIFO cooling system supports ISO compliance and internal standards.
The result is not only a more organized and safer storage process but also an increase in overall production line efficiency, reduced operational costs, and improved SMT process stability.
This solution demonstrates that technological innovation — even in areas as seemingly simple as cooling — can deliver measurable business benefits and become a valuable source of competitive advantage.
Innovation designed for the future
For years, POL-EKO has proven that innovation is not only about new technologies but also the ability to apply them effectively in real industrial processes. Every device delivered to clients is the result of engineering expertise, market insight, and continuous dialogue with end users.
The collaboration with PB Technik shows how technological partnership can drive true transformation in manufacturing. The exchange of know-how between a laboratory equipment manufacturer and an electronics industry solutions provider has led to a system that not only solves the issue of solder paste storage but also sets a new standard in SMT material management.
Projects like this define the future of modern industry — moving toward automation, integration, and accountability for quality at every stage. POL-EKO actively supports these changes by providing solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and promote sustainable development.
Because today, it is not enough to simply cool — it must be done smartly, precisely, and in harmony with the needs of the industry of the future.
