this is better than my first posting. jack FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE IPC UNVEILS WIRE HARNESS ACCEPTANCE STANDARD AT APEX® 2002 Northbrook, IL 01/18/02 IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries® announces the release of the IPC/WHMA-A-620, Requirements and Acceptance for Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies, at IPC SMEMA Council's APEX® 2002, held January 19-24, in San Diego, California. The IPC/WHMA-A-620, developed by the IPC Wire Harness Acceptability Task Group of the Product Assurance Committee and the Wiring Harness Manufacturers Association® (WHMA) Industry Technical Guidelines Committee, is the first industry consensus standard for cable and wire harness fabrication and installation. Representatives from more than 85 user and supplier companies contributed more than three years to IPC/WHMA-A-620's production. "Like other industry standards, the IPC/WHMA-A-620 levels the playing field for all users and suppliers," said Jack Crawford, IPC director of Assembly Standards and Technology. "This new standard becomes a great marketing tool for manufacturers. They can now demonstrate their willingness to meet industry-approved acceptability levels to potential buyers." The IPC/WHMA-A-620 is modeled after the IPC-A-600 and IPC-A-610, two of the industry's leading standards for bare and assembled circuit boards. The standard can be used as a standalone document for purchasing product or to support ISO certification documentation requirements and includes the following criteria: · Cable and wire dimensioning, tolerances and preparation · Insulation displacement connections · Coax and twinax assembly · Securing by lacing/shielding · Ultrasonic welding and soldered terminations. The 278-page standard is available on CD-ROM for $68 for IPC members and $135 for nonmembers. Print versions are also available for $45 for IPC members and $90 for nonmembers. To order the IPC-WHMA-A-620, visit the IPC on-line bookstore at www.ipc.org/bookstore or contact IPC customer service at 847-790-5362. About WHMA WHMA began in 1993 as a not-for-profit organization, with a handful of volunteers determined to provide a forum through which member companies could solve their specific problems, as well as address pressing industry concerns. Today, the association has grown globally to represent more than 10 percent of the $18 billion-plus wiring harness industry. About IPC IPC is a U.S.-based trade association dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its more than 2,700 member companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed wiring board manufacturing and electronics assembly. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of a $44 billion U.S. industry employing more than 400,000 people. //30// NR02009IPC/WHMA-A-620