ESD Tools: Overview and Manufacturers in India & USA

It’s crucial to understand and manage Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) when working with sensitive electronic components. ESD can easily damage these components, so using proper ESD tools is vital for creating a safe working environment. This article will cover the essentials of ESD tools and list some manufacturers in India and the USA.

What are ESD Tools?

ESD materials fall into three main categories: anti-static, conductive, and dissipative. ESD tools generally utilize dissipative materials for their handles. These handles have a surface resistance between $10^6$ and $10^9$ Ohms, allowing for a gradual discharge, which protects sensitive components from sudden ESD damage. Carbon steel and stainless steel are commonly used in constructing ESD-safe hand tools.

Common ESD Tools

Here’s a breakdown of some commonly used ESD tools:

• ESD Meter: This device detects the presence and magnitude of static charges. Modern ESD meters are typically digital, battery-operated, and handheld. They can detect and measure electrostatic fields, potential, and discharge times.

  

• Surface Resistivity Meter: Used for point-to-point resistance and resistance-to-ground measurements. It also measures a person’s resistance. These meters adhere to standards like EOS/ESD S-4.1, IEC 61340-4-1 Ed. 2.0, and IEC 61340-2-3. They are used to analyze the resistance characteristics of materials, surfaces, mats, and bags.

• Anti-Static Brush: Used for cleaning and manufacturing products without generating static charges.

• Anti-Static Wristband: Worn by engineers and technicians to prevent static electricity from damaging sensitive electronic components. They dissipate harmful charges to the ground and are available with or without cords.

• Ionizers: Used by SMD, electronics, and PCB manufacturers alongside ESD mats and wrist straps to eliminate static charges from surfaces.

Comprehensive List of ESD Safety Tools

A broader range of ESD tools includes:

• ESD meter (electrostatic field meter)
• Ionizers
• Surface resistivity meter
• Anti-static mat
• Anti-static wristband
• Anti-static bags
• Anti-static pad
• Anti-static brush
• Anti-static tape
• ESD safe flooring
• ESD-safe workbenches and tables
• ESD-safe chairs
• ESD-safe trolleys for material movement
• ESD-safe storage racks
• Workstation accessories (ESD magnifiers, tools, fixtures)
• Tools for personnel grounding
• ESD-safe packaging
• Wrist-strap and footwear testers
• Electrostatic alarms
• ESD-safe smoke absorbers
• Wall stations
• ESD badges/holders
• ESD adjustable wrist straps
• Anti-static heel straps
• Grounding cords and jacks
• Anti-static tweezers
• Storage solutions
• Slippers
• Anti-static shoes
• ESD covers
• Anti-static gloves
• Anti-static finger coats
• ESD PCB racks and material handling products
• ESD-testing instruments (wrist-strap footwear testers, slippers etc.)

ESD Tools Manufacturers in India

ESD Tools Manufacturers in USA

Additional Test and Measurement Equipment

Besides ESD tools, consider these test and measurement tools as well:

• BER Testing equipments
• Agilent T & M Solutions
• Anritsu T & M Solutions
• Rohde & Schwarz T & M solutions
• Wireless channel emulator
• Vector signal generator
• Vector signal analyzer
• Power Analyzer Equipments
• Protocol Analyzer