Q. Tom, we understand that Kyzen was organized in 1990 to develop innovative and environmentally safe cleaning products. Tell us about some of the environmentally conscious cleaning products that the company offers today.

A. You hear a lot more about eco-friendly materials today, but not so in 1990 when we introduced the first renewable resource—biodegradable electronics defluxers—to the world. It certainly was lonely back then, and we are proud of that trailblazer heritage. Of course, environmentalism starts with using as little chemical as possible. We call it, ‘kaizen by Kyzen.’ With 20 years of continuous improvement, improved safety, non-corrosive and non-hazardous, lower concentrations, lower temperatures, and longer bath life, our products are better, cheaper, and faster for the operation and the environment.

Q. All of Kyzen’s cleaning chemistries were designed to replace ozone-depleting chemicals used to clean electronics assemblies, silicon wafers, and other industrial parts. What are some of the environmental benefits that Kyzen’s chemistries provide compared to traditional chemistries?

A. Of course, it has been 20 years, and like most other things in the world, our technologies simply are more effective. But that is not the important element; environmentalism is the significant part. Reducing operating concentrations reduces costs as well as the amount of chemistry that eventually must be dealt with in the waste stream. The same goes for operating temperatures, resulting in lower temperature releases to the atmosphere. We have always designed worker safety first, and that has not changed. The amazing part is that if we have the safest, non-hazardous product offering in the world that is dramatically more effective than our technologies were 20 years ago. We simply did not compromise on safety, and we never will.

Q. Kyzen supports customers throughout the world, from Beijing to Brussels, and everywhere in between. What sort of challenges do you face in managing global operations?

A. The good news is our own industry has created the tools to make global management much easier. Kyzen is truly a wired company. The best news is that Kyzen has been able to attract and retain an outstanding worldwide team to support our customers: field technical support, local distributors and distributors, regional managers, R&D staff, manufacturing, customer service, and administration. The team is focused on listening to what our customers need and want and works hard to act on those needs and meet them. Our world-class team functions as one. This is essential because cleaning needs and environmental concerns differ throughout the world. By being there, we can hear it firsthand, allowing us to listen and act on customer needs immediately.

Q. With locations in Tennessee, New Hampshire, Penang and Maldegem, Kyzen’s Cleaning and Applications Labs have an extensive array of equipment that enables you to respond quickly to cleaning needs. What are some of the services that the labs provide?

A. The labs provide a wide variety of services. They are strategically located where every Kyzen development program proves its worth, making sure that products perform as promised and meet the needs of our customers. Virtually every customer uses the labs at one point or another; some during process design, some during qualification, and others for process migration and upgrade. The labs also provide contract cleaning services, and are truly technology incubators for Kyzen and our customers. The best thing they provide is seasoned Kyzen staff, most with decades of experience in cleaning, all standing by to assist our customers.

Q. We understand that you are currently an advisor to the SMTA China Board of Directors, and a member of the SMTA Global Board of Directors, as well as Vice President of Communications. What other associations is Kyzen a part of and how do these organizations strengthen the industry?

A. Kyzen believes that associations are the lifeblood of our industry: The SMTA, SEMI, IPC, SMART GROUP and IMAPS, to name a few. We believe that giving our time and talent to the associations makes our industry stronger and more successful, and that is good for everyone. The key to their benefit is the sharing of technology and technology solutions. They can be roadmaps to get the entire industry focused on a challenge, e.g., standards to align the industry’s needs. Most often, the biggest benefit is simply passing the word on what techniques and scientific approaches work to solve our common challenges. That is why associations are successful and key to helping our industry continue to succeed.

Q. Kyzen is derived from the Japanese word for continuous improvement, “kaizen.” The concept of continuous improvement has driven the growth of your research group and resulted in the development of dozens of new products in the past few years. Should we expect to see any new formulations in the near future? A. Absolutely. As previously mentioned, ‘kaizen by Kyzen’ is how we live each and every day. Several product improvement and development programs are underway. You might ask why when we have the best in breed across the applications spectrum. It is simple: the challenges continue to change. Solder technology houses both globally and locally are constantly inventing new materials, generally with little regard to cleaning. Customers always want to enhance the performance and economics of their operations. We have a saying at Kyzen, “You can be the agent for change with your customer, or the [cleaning] agent that gets changed!” Our goal is to be that agent for change, improving our customers’ value equation from Kyzen daily.

Founded in 1990, Kyzen is a supplier of precision cleaning chemistries to the worldwide electronics and semiconductor industries. Kyzen’s technologies are RoHS compliant as well as halide- and halogen-free.