CONTACT

Sandy Mahoney
GPAX, Ltd
790 Cross Pointe Rd.
Columbus, Ohio 43230 USA
PH: 614-501-7622
FX: 614-501-7626
http://www.gpax.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February, 1997

NEW MECHANICALLY INTERLOCKING FLAT COVER TAPE FOR OEM FEEDERS.

No Variability in Tape Interlock Force, No Peel Force Testing, and No Cover Tape Tearing or Stretching. Compatibility with Standard OEM EIA Tape Feeders such as Universal, Fuji, Hover-Davis, Panasonic and others.

Columbus, Ohio USA ............................................................................................................... GPAX, Ltd introduced a new FLAT version of its unique mechanically interlocking StitchLock(TM) cover tape, called FlatPAX(TM). William Mahoney, VP of Marketing for GPAX stated, "Our customers have been asking us to provide a total component package inclusive of both carrier and cover tape to be compatible with their existing installed base of standard OEM SMT platforms and feeders.

Proven on the factory floor, GPAX tape and reel technology will enhance the productivity of these platforms using the reel to reel tape splicing capability of the GPAX tapes. Splicing offers less equipment downtime and increased through-put."

GPAX provides at no charge a stationary wedge-like device to separate the cover tape on the OEM feeder. The feeder can then feed both GPAX and other types of cover tape with no changeover or feeder modification required. This concept is proven functional at production rates using Fuji, Hover-Davis, Panasonic and Universal Instruments tape and reel feeders.

The mechanically interlocking cover tape offers rapid packaging rates at the component vendor. It is a robust package eliminating peel force testing, variability in tape adhesion force, and tearing or stretching of cover tapes. And, because carrier and cover tapes are spliced on the taping equipment there is virtually no scrap and no downtime to purge the equipment and replenish supply reels. This is particularly important on fully automated taping equipment. The results are decreased costs and increased through-put.

The FlatPAX cover has been under evaluation at several key manufacturing sites and is now commercially available.

GPAX, Ltd is a manufacturer of component packaging and feeding products in tape and reel format for use in small parts assembly automation. With headquarters located in Columbus, Ohio, USA, GPAX markets its products worldwide to users and component manufacturers through a direct sales force, a network of assembly systems integrators, and appointed distributors and representatives.