EOS/ESD ASSOCIATION, INC. MAR/APR 2026 VOLUME 43, NO 2 THRESHOLD™ SETTING THE GLOBAL STANDARDS FOR STATIC CONTROL! 1 IN THIS ISSUE: Letter From The President - #2-3 Message From Our Senior Executive Director - #4-5 ESDA Events Schedule - #6-7 IEW Asia CFP- #8-9 TR53 in Vegas- #10 March Meeting Schedule- #11-12 TR53 in Mexico- #13 TR53 in Rome- #14 May Tech talk- #15 June Meeting Schedule- #16-17 Symposium Flyer- #18-19 Standards Summit -#20-22 ESDA Technical Issue- #23-30 Get Connected - #31 Technical Question - #32 Memorial page- #33-36 Ads & Services - #37 Hot Topics - #38 New Releases Products & Standards- #39 Entertainment Center- #40 Happy Birthday- #41 Quiz Corner- #42 Would You Like To Publish Something in Threshold? - #43
THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 ACL Staticide 840 W. 49th Place, Chicago, IL 60609 Tel: 847-981-9212 Fax: 847-981-9278 info@aclstaticide.com • www.aclstaticide.com Manufacturer of anti-static topicals, dissipative coatings for plastic and floors, ESD workstation products including meters. ISO 9001:2008 certified QS CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS PO Box 779, Amherst, NH 03031 Tel:973-920-7000 Fax:603-672-3028 www.cemag.us web_ce@viconmedia.com Leading source of digital and print information on contamination prevention, detection, and control for cleanrooms and critical environments From the President EOS/ESD Association, Inc, President Nathaniel Peachey 2 Dear Friends of the ESDA, As you read this issue of Threshold, the March standards meetings will be almost upon us. Standards remain one of the pillars of EOS/ESD Association, Inc., and here at the ESDA, we continue to drive excellence in both the standards development process and the documents we release. At the December 2025 Board meetings, we had two very good brainstorming sessions focused on driving excellence of standards into the future. One of the broad ideas was to develop a new standards technical team that would include industry leaders both inside and outside of the Association. This group should include experts from tangentially related subject areas such as ESA and EMC. These are the topics where the Association sees the greatest synergy as we look to partner or collaborate with other organizations. This team would then drive new standards, ideas, and topics. With team members who are not from within the standards organization, the hope is that a fresh perspective will help drive innovation in standards. In addition to the technical team, there was a need for an administrative team to support standards. One team member of such a team should be a technical writer who can handle some of the heavy lifting in crafting the technical verbiage for standards development. This would most likely be a paid position and would require someone with both technical writing skills and a basic understanding of what the ESDA standards address. Another part of the administrative team would focus on meeting facilitation. This role would be to help particularly inexperienced working group chairs construct effective agendas and clearly identify the meeting's goals and objectives. In addition, meeting facilitation could help move meetings along if they become overly focused on minor points or begin to veer into topics that detract from the main meeting objectives. Finally, the administrative team would be responsible for developing tools and processes to improve the standards-writing or development process. Clearly, the administrative team should scope out how an AI tool could handle many of these mundane tasks. Could an AI tool be trained to be the ESDA technical writer? What if instead of hiring a technical writer, the Association spent the money to invest in the purchase and training of an AI technical writer? Such a tool should certainly ensure better consistency and clarity across our standards documents. What if the working group meetings were spent discussing and debating the technical components of a new standard or the next standard revision, and then the AI tool would take that discussion and construct or update the document? Oh, and I am not talking about Grammarly!
3 Warm regards, Nate Nate Peachey President of EOS/ESD Association Inc. These were just two main ideas that emerged from the brainstorming sessions. However, as with all brainstorming discussions, these are just kernel ideas that will need to be debated, developed, and morphed into action plans that will drive improved standards development. The risk of highlighting good brainstorming sessions is that it is too easy to interpret success as the sessions themselves rather than the ensuing objective outcomes. The hard work is now to distill the brainstorming ideas into action plans. Another event that we have coupled with the March standards meetings is a special interest group (SIG) meeting on Tuesday. This is the first time that the ESDA has expanded the standards meeting series to include an additional event. The SIG's topic will be 3D heterogeneous integration. This has been the focus of a task team that I have led for the last year and a half. During that time, the task team's discussions have expanded to encompass not only the narrow concerns of ESD susceptibility of the many thousands of hybrid bonds in large-scale 3D integration, but also topics such as the challenges of characterizing the robustness of these bonds on physical test structures. Currently, there are no existing tools to make these measurements. The few companies that are doing large-scale 3D integration with singlenanometer GAA chiplets are addressing ESD concerns using “correct by design” principles. However, the parameters for successfully developing such an approach are predicated on years of experience and internally developed IP that is not available to the industry at large. These and other subtopics promise to make this SIG meeting an exciting and stimulating event as we address issues at the forefront of today’s semiconductor industry. We hope you will consider joining us at the March meeting series in Las Vegas. For the full schedule, please visit https://www.esda.org/events/eosesd-association-inc-meeting-series-1-2-34-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13/. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Transforming Technologies, LLC 3719 King Road, Toledo, OH 43617 Tel: 419-841-9552 • Fax: 419-841-3241 Email: info@transforming-technologies.com www.transforming-technologies.com Transforming Technologies provides unique and outstanding products to detect, protect, eliminate, and monitor electrostatic charges. IEST - Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology 2340 S. Arlington Heights Road, Suite 100, Arlington Heights IL 60005 Tel: 847-981-0100 • Email: information@iest.com • www.iest.com As secretariat of ISO/TC 209, IEST offers ISO 14644 and ISO 14698 standards, as well as peer-approved standardized procedures, IEST Recommended Practices.
4 EOS/ESD Association , Inc., Sr. Executive Director Lisa Pimpinella From Our Senior Executive Director Across nearly every organization today, a familiar phrase echoes through hallways and video calls: do more with less. Leaner teams, tighter budgets, faster timelines. For many professionals, the workday stretches longer, expectations feel heavier, and the margin to recover feels thinner than it once did. Our volunteer community knows this reality especially well. Unlike paid roles where “more” may at least come with compensation or formal recognition, volunteering asks something different. It asks you to give your time, your expertise, your creativity, and your energy on top of demanding day jobs, family responsibilities, and personal commitments. That can be taxing. It can be exhausting. And it deserves to be acknowledged honestly. Yet, it is also deeply meaningful. Volunteering in a professional organization is not about doing extra work — it is about doing purposeful work. It connects us to something larger than our individual roles. It allows us to influence our industry, shape standards, mentor others, and contribute to progress in ways that are rarely possible within the boundaries of a single job description. Still, purpose alone does not eliminate burnout. Coping — at work and in volunteer roles — requires intention. It means setting realistic boundaries, communicating capacity openly, and recognizing that contribution does not always mean constant availability. It means understanding that impact is created not by doing everything, but by doing the right things together. One of the most powerful coping tools is community itself. Volunteer organizations offer something many workplaces struggle to provide consistently: shared mission, mutual respect, and appreciation rooted in contribution rather than title. Here, effort is visible. Expertise is valued. And service is recognized. To every volunteer who has raised a hand despite a full calendar: thank you. Your willingness to engage, even when time is scarce, sustains this organization and strengthens our collective future. The benefits of volunteerism are not abstract — they show up in professional growth, expanded networks, renewed motivation, and the quiet satisfaction of knowing your work matters. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 ESDEMC Technology, LLC 4000 Enterprise Dr., Suite 103, Rolla, MO 65401 Tel: 573-202-6411 • Fax: 877-641-9358 www.esdemc.com ESDEMC Technology designs, manufactures, and markets ESD/EMC related products and consulting services. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 200 Research Drive, Wilmington, MA 01887 Tel: 978-275-0800 • Fax: 978-275-0850 www.thermoscientific.com Leading manufacturer of semiconductor test equipment for the simulation of Electro Static Discharge (ESD), Latch-up, and TLP events.
All the best, Lisa Lisa Pimpinella Sr. Executive Director EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 5 As we navigate a world that asks more from all of us, let us also remember to support one another, extend grace, and celebrate the remarkable commitment that makes this organization thrive. Your contribution is appreciated — not just for what you do, but for the spirit in which you do it. A Call to Action Engage where you can, not everywhere. Choose the opportunities that align with your strengths, interests, and current capacity — meaningful impact does not require overextension. Communicate openly. If your availability changes, say so. Transparency allows us to support one another and sustain our volunteers for the long term. Support fellow volunteers. A simple check-in, shared insight, or word of appreciation can make a meaningful difference. Consider taking the next step. If you are ready, explore new ways to contribute — whether through mentoring, committee participation, or short-term project support. Pause to recognize your impact. Take a moment to reflect on what your service enables — progress, connection, and excellence across our industry. Together, we can continue to build an organization that values contribution, respects balance, and thrives through collaboration. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 RMV Technology Group, LLC, A NASA INDUSTRY PARTNER NASA Ames Research Center, Space Portal, Moffett Field, CA 94035 www.esdrmv.com and www.esdaerospacetraining.org Internationally Accredited ESD Product Qualification Laboratory The Exclusive iNARTE® Certified Space & Defense ESD Engineer Training Center 650-964-4792 or renee@esdrmv.com Proline 10 Avco Rd., Haverhill, MA 01835 Tel: 800-739-9067 Fax: 978-374-4885 www.1proline.com E-mail: Bench@1proline.com Manufactures ESD modular and ergonomic work benches
Upcoming Events 6 March 13-15, 2026 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NV https://www.esda.org/store/product/134/tr53-registration-2026/ March 16-22, 2026 Standards and Committee Meeting Series Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NV https://www.esda.org/events/eosesd-association-inc-meeting-series-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13/ April 28-30, 2026 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® EOS/ESD Association, Inc., Rome, NY https://www.esda.org/store/product/134/tr53-registration-2026/ May 5, 2026 TechTalk: Beyond the Checklist: Practical “Tricks of the Trade” for ESD Control That Actually Stick ttps://www.esda.org/events/techtalkbeyond-the-checklist-practical-tricksof-the-trade-for-esd-controlthatactually-stick/ May 13-15, 2026 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® EOS/ESD Association, Inc., Rome, NY https://www.esda.org/store/product/134/tr53-registration-2026/ May 19-20, 2026 Asia Online Forum Circuit Design Engineers Certification (ECEC 1) Virtual https://www.esda.org/events/asiaonline- forum-circuit-design-engineerscertification-ecec-1/ June 1-7, 2026 Standards and Committee Meeting Series Plaza Hotel, Las Vegas, NV https://www.esda.org/events/eosesd-association-inc-meeting-series-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14/ THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Desco Industries Inc. 3651 Walnut Ave., Chino, CA 91710 www.Descoindustries.com • Tel: CA-909-627-8178• MA-781-321-8370 ESD Control Products & More. Our brands include: APR, Desco, Desco Asia, Desco Europe, EasyBraid, EMIT, ESDSystems.com, Menda, Protektive Pak, SCS, SpecialTeam, Statguard, TRONEX and US Toyo Fan. SelecTech, Inc. 33 Wales Ave, Suite F, Avon MA 02322 USA Ph: 508-583-3200 Fax: 877-738-4537 Email: info@selectechinc.com www.selectechinc.com Manufacturer of StaticStop interlocking flooring June 14-17, 2026 2026 Electrostatics Society of America Annual Meeting Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, FL https://www.esda.org/events/2026-electrostaticssociety-of-america-annual-meeting/
7 Upcoming Events Continued September 26-October 1, 2026 48th Annual EOS/ESD Symposium and Exhibits Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco Hotel, Frisco, TX Call for Papers Deadline: February 6, 2026 https://www.esda.org/events/48th-annual-eosesd-symposium-and-exhibits/ October 1, 2026 Standards Technical Summit 2026 Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco Hotel, Frisco, TX https://www.esda.org/events/standardstechnical-summit-2026/ October 2-4, 2026 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco Hotel, Frisco, TX https://www.esda.org/store/product/134/tr53-registration-2026/ October 2-5, 2026 Process Assessment Engineer Certification Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco Hotel, Frisco, TX https://www.esda.org/store/product/196/esd-process-assessment-engineer-certification-pae-october-2-52026 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Key Resin Co./Flowcrete 4050 Clough Woods Drive, Batavia, OH 45103 513-943-4225, Fax 513-943-4255 sales@keyresin.com www.keyresin.com Manufacturer of conductive and ESD resinous flooring and floor sealers. Key Resin West 1315 E. Gibson, Suite D., Phoenix, AZ 85034 602-523-9353, Fax 602-523-9349 SCS - Formerly 3M Static Control 914 JR Industrial Drive, Sanford, NC 27332 USA Ph: 919-718-0000 www.staticcontrol.com ESD control products: bags, floor tiles, foot grounders, ionizers, mats, testers & monitors, smocks, vacuums, wrist straps, Static Control Management and more. September 21-25, 2026 Standards and Committee Meeting Series Embassy Suites by Hilton Frisco Hotel, Frisco, TX https://www.esda.org/events/eosesd-association-inc-meeting-series-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11/ July 13-16, 2026 International Electrostatic Discharge Workshop (IEW-Asia) – Co-Located with IPFA Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Singapore Call for Posters Deadline: March 2026 https://www.esda.org/events/2026-international-esd-workshop-iew-asia/ July 20-21, 2026 Asia Online Forum ESD Control Program Auditor Certification featuring ANSI/ESD S20.20 Seminar Virtual https://www.esda.org/events/asia-online- forum-esd-control-program-auditor-certification-featuringansiesd-s20-20-seminar/
8 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Core Insight, Inc. 186 Galmachi-ro, Seongnam-city, Gyeonggi-do, 13230, Korea Phone: +82-31-750-9200. Email: sales@coreinsight.co.kr: www.coreinsight.co.kr Steady-State DC Ionizer Manufacturer for BenchTop, Overhead, Nozzle, Gun, Air Assist, and Ceiling Ionizers Molded Fiberglass Tray Co. 6175 US Highway 6, Linesville, PA 16424 USA Ph: +1-814-683-4500 Fx: +1-814-683-4504 www.mfgtray.com Manufactures fiberglass reinforced plastic Fiberstat ESD products; trays, bins, totes, and mats
9 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 HPPI GmbH Stadlerstrasse 6A, D-85540 Haar, Germany Phone: +49 (0)89 / 878 06 98 – 443; www.hppi.de Development and sales of ESD Testers Hanwa Electronic Ind. Co., Ltd. 689-3, Ogaito, Wakayama, Japan 649-6272 TEL:+81-73-477-4435 • FAX:+81-73-477-3445 keiichih@hanwa-ei.co.jp • www.hanwa-ei.co.jp Full Automatic Wafer Level ESD Tester / HBM, MM, HMM, and SCM ESD Tester, TLP Tester/ CDM Tester/ Electrostatic Imaging System
10 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® March 13-15, 2026 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Plaza Hotel & Casino Vegas 1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. established ESD Compliance Verification Technician, which is based on the ESDA’s technical report, ESD TR53® Compliance Verification of ESD Protective Equipment and Materials. Become certified by industry leaders, developers, and authors of ESD TR53®. The ESD Compliance Verification Technician certification provides an understanding of ESD concepts, how compliance verification fits into an ESD control program, and details all the necessary equipment, methods, and best practices to successfully conduct compliance verification within your organization. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this training, individuals will be able to: Understand fundamentals of electrical theory & electrostatics and the applicability to an ESD Control Program Understand what compliance verification is and how it fits within an ESD Control Program Understand the requirements of ESD TR53®-01-22 and how it can be used to meet the requirements of compliance verification WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Individuals requiring a working knowledge and understanding of ESD TR53®-01-22 Quality Professionals/Engineers/Consultants/Technicians Sales / Application Specialists Register Now! https://www.esda.org/events/esd-compliance-verification-technician-to-tr53-march2026/ Simco-Ion, Technology 1141 Harbor Bay Pkwy, Ste 201, Alameda, CA USA 94502 (800) 367-2452 (510) 217-0600 ioninfo@simco-ion.com www.simco-ion.com/technology Simco-Ion has been the world’s largest provider of solutions for static charge control for over 40 years. Products include ionizing bars, ionizing blowers, in-line ionizing products with balance control as low as ±1V, Novx real-time monitors and ESD event detection. BARTH ELECTRONICS, INC. 702.293.1576 Original Equipment Manufacturers of: CMT Generator, TLP+, VFTLP+, and HMM+ Test Systems Please see barthelectronics.com for more info on our products. 1589 Foothill Drive, Boulder City, NV USA 89005 beisales@barthelectronics.com Since 1964
11 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. March Meeting Series THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 March 16-22, 2026 Plaza Hotel & Casino 1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA NRD, LLC 2937 Alternate Boulevard, Grand Island, NY 14702 716-733-7634, Fax 716-773-7744 sales@nrdllc.com www.nrdllc.com NRD, LLC is recognized as a global leader in the field of static elimination using non-electrical nuclear ionization. The company is dedicated to developing and manufacturing static control technologies including advanced solutions utilizing Alpha and Beta emitters that meets regulatory requirements of sealed source technology. PurePulse ESD - formally Grund Technical Solutions 393-J Tomkins Ct. Gilroy, CA 95020, USA Phone: +1-408-216-8364 x103 Email: sales@grundtech.com https://www.GrundTech.com Manufacturer of ESD Test equipment for devices and wafers including PurePulse 2-pin set-up for HBM, MM, TLP and VF-TLP. Titan for independent device HBM testing. Test House Services with true 2-pin ESD Verification.
12 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. March Meeting Series March 16-22, 2026 Plaza Hotel & Casino 1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA Hotel booking information: https://www.esda.org/events/eosesd-association-inc-meeting-series-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13/ Botron Company, Inc. 21601 N. 21st Ave Phoenix, AZ 85027 Phone: (623) 582-6776 Fax: 623-582-6700. https://www.botron.com Industry-leading ESD compliance automation. Estatec LLC 8175 Saint Andrews Ave. San Diego, CA 92154 Phone: (619) 934-8759 https://usa.estatec.com/ casales@estatec.com
13 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 ERGOFORM, S.A. DE C.V. Av. Palmas Nte. 562, Bellavista 62140 Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico Phone: +52.777311.6970. Fax: +52.777.311.666 Email: info@ergoform.com.mx https://wwwergoform.com.mx ERGOFORM is the leading Industrial, Manufacturing and Technical chair ESD manufacturer for 34 years focusing on the endusers health and the erdonomics and durability of our products. WORK SURFACES CORPORATION 47 East Highland Ave.Unit B, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Phone: +1.626.485.2555. Email: bp@worksurfaces.com https://worksurfaces.com/ We make solid brass ESD grounding systems for electronic workstations. We sell custom ESD equipment covers, wrist straps, ground cords, ect. ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® Mexico - April 28-30, 2026 https://www.esda.org/events/esd-compliance-verificationtechnician-to-tr53-mexico-april-2026/
14 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 ESD Compliance Verification Technician to TR53® May 13-15, 2026 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 218 W Court Street, Rome NY 13440 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. established ESD Compliance Verification Technician, which is based on the ESDA’s technical report, ESD TR53® Compliance Verification of ESD Protective Equipment and Materials. Become certified by industry leaders, developers, and authors of ESD TR53®. The ESD Compliance Verification Technician certification provides an understanding of ESD concepts, how compliance verification fits into an ESD control program, and details all the necessary equipment, methods, and best practices to successfully conduct compliance verification within your organization. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this training, individuals will be able to: Understand fundamentals of electrical theory & electrostatics and the applicability to an ESD Control Program Understand what compliance verification is and how it fits within an ESD Control Program Understand the requirements of ESD TR53®-01-22 and how it can be used to meet the requirements of compliance verification WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Individuals requiring a working knowledge and understanding of ESD TR53®-01-22 Quality Professionals/Engineers/Consultants/Technicians Sales / Application Specialists Register Now! https://www.esda.org/events/esd-compliance-verification-technician-to-tr53-march2026/ Tru Vue, Inc. 9400 W. 55th St. McCook, IL 60525, USA Phone: (740) 789-0623 Email: chanderson@tru-vue.com www.tru-vue.com Tru Vue is a leading manufacturer of ultra clear ESD-safe plastics, offering high-performance solutions. With over 80 years of expertise, Tru Vue provides advanced TRU-ESD™ acrylic and polycarbonate solutions for effective safety and contamination control. Staticworx Inc. Williston, Vermont, USA Phone: (617 ) 923-2000 https://staticworx.com StaticWorx high-performance static-control floors protect electronic components, explosives, and high-speed computers from damage caused by static electricity.
15 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Beyond the Checklist: Practical “Tricks of the Trade” for ESD Control That Actually Stick Most ESD guidance is easy to agree with, and hard to execute efficiently on a real production floor. This Tech Talk moves beyond “cookie-cutter” program language and focuses on practical, field-tested tips that improve day-to-day ESD control without adding unnecessary cost or complexity. Jay Skolnik and John Kinnear will share a set of “boots-on-the-ground” techniques gathered from experienced practitioners—covering how to remove redundant controls to improve ROI while maintaining protection, how to increase the speed and reliability of compliance measurements, and how to recognize and correct situations where an illusion of compliance exists (controls look right on paper, but the process is not actually protecting ESDS items). May Tech Talk May 5 2026 1:00 PM EST th Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7tmvTrGTRzmQN8HVJYIddw BIMOS ESD Seating 1235 N. Clybourn, #349 Chicago, IL 60610 Phone: +1.630.205.9136 Email: us.support@bimos.com www.info.bimos.com BIMOS ESD Seating is the largest and best-in-class brand globally for chairs and stools to support ESD, technology, manufacturing, research and science workers, and much more. EOS/ESD Association Services, LLC 218 W Court St Rome, NY 13440, USA Phone: +1.315.339.6937. Email: lpimpinella@esda.org https://www.esda.org/eosesd-association-services-llc/ ESD Control Program Plan Development assistance, Preassessment to ANSI/ESD S20.20, auditing, and more.
16 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. June Meeting Series May 28-June 07, 2026 Plaza Hotel & Casino 1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA SCIENTIFIC REPORTS | 3 : 2108 | DOI: 10.1038/srep02108 Your company could be here! Contact info.eosesda@esda.org to find out how to advertise your company in the Bi monthly Threshold. Your company could be here! Contact info.eosesda@esda.org to find out how to advertise your company in the Bi monthly Threshold.
THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 17 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. June Meeting Series May 28-June 07, 2026 Plaza Hotel & Casino 1 Main Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA Your company could be here! Contact info.eosesda@esda.org to find out how to advertise your company in the Bi monthly Threshold. Your company could be here! Contact info.eosesda@esda.org to find out how to advertise your company in the Bi monthly Threshold.
EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 2026 EOS/ESD Symposium The Global Authority on ESD & EOS September 28 - October 5, 2026 Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel & Convention Center 7600 John Q Hammons Dr, Frisco, TX, US Presented by EOS/ESD Association, Inc. Why This Event Matters Now Where Reliability Leaders Converge Where Standards Are Shaped Where Innovation Is Protected Protecting Technology at the Speed of Innovation Increasing device sensitivity Expanding automotive electrification Higher voltage and power density systems Global compliance demands AI, IoT, and advanced packaging vulnerabilities The margin for error is shrinking. Your knowledge cannot lag behind. As electronic systems become faster, smaller, and more complex, the cost of failure rises exponentially. The 2026 EOS/ESD Symposium is the premier international event dedicated exclusively to advancing electrostatic discharge (ESD) and electrical overstress (EOS) control, device reliability, and compliance excellence. This is not just another conference. This is where: Critical standards are discussed and refined Emerging failure mechanisms are revealed Automotive and advanced semiconductor challenges are solved Industry leaders align on the future of reliability If ESD impacts your products, processes, or performance — you cannot afford to miss this event. ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ 18 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/
Who Attends What You’ll Experience Be Where Reliability Leaders Gather Registration and program details coming soon. Elite Technical Program Peer-reviewed research Device-level & system-level EOS/ESD insights Automotive electronics focus Advanced failure analysis case studies Emerging materials and packaging impacts Advanced Education & Certification Master compliance verification measurements Learn advanced process assessment measurements Global Exhibitor Showcase State-of-the-art ESD control solutions Monitoring & test instrumentation Materials, packaging, and grounding technologies Software-driven compliance systems Semiconductor device engineers Automotive electronics leaders Manufacturing & quality managers Reliability engineers Compliance specialists Technical directors Standards committee contributors You’ll engage with the very professionals who influence international standards and drive implementation across global manufacturing ecosystems. The 2026 EOS/ESD Symposium isn’t just an event. It’s the annual convergence of the global ESD community — powered by the expertise, standards leadership, and technical authority of the EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 19 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 2026 EOS/ESD Symposium
Standards Technical Summit 2026 Shaping the Future of ESD & Reliability Standards Launching on October 1, 2026 at the EOS/ESD Symposium, in Frisco, TX No Additional Cost to Attend EOS/ESD Association®, Inc. is proud to introduce a powerful new annual event designed to shape the future of our industry. 1. Identify the Gaps What should the next generation of ESD and reliability standards look like? Why This Summit Matters The electronics industry is evolving rapidly—advanced packaging, AI hardware, automotive electrification, heterogeneous integration, new materials, and emerging reliability risks are changing the landscape. Standards must evolve just as quickly. The Standards Technical Summit is designed to ensure that ESDA standards — and the broader standards community — remain aligned with real-world industry needs and emerging technologies. This one-day strategic forum brings together corporate technology leaders, standards developers, reliability experts, and cross-industry innovators to answer one critical question: What current industry trends demand new ESD or reliability standards? Where are existing test methods no longer sufficient? What gaps exist in today’s ESDA standards portfolio? Are there opportunities for joint standards with organizations such as IEEE, IPC, JEDEC, AEC, EMC groups, or others? Two Critical Areas of Focus 20 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/
Summit Outcomes Who Should Attend A Forum for Strategic Industry Leadership - Not A Lecture This is not a traditional committee meeting. The Standards Technical Summit is a highlevel, forward-looking strategy session that: Identification of new ESDA standards topics Recommendations for joint industry standards Proposed revisions and extensions to existing ESDA documents Formation of technical teams to move ideas forward If you care about where standards are heading — this is your forum. Corporate Technology Leaders Engineering Directors & Reliability Managers Semiconductor & Advanced Packaging Experts Automotive Electronics Leaders Representatives from other Standards Organizations Symposium Keynote Speakers Industry Visionaries who want to influence what comes next Which standards need updates, revisions, or extensions? What emerging technologies are not yet addressed? How can standards better support advanced manufacturing, aerospace, semiconductor, and emerging industries? Brings together leaders from across industries and disciplines Includes voices from outside ESDA to ensure broad industry context Encourages “outside-the-box” thinking Prioritizes industry needs Catalyzes new technical initiatives and volunteer teams automotive, 2. Strengthen & Evolve Existing Standards Interested in joining? Let us know at https://www.esda.org/standards-summit-interest-form/ 21 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ Standards Technical Summit 2026
Help Shape the Future Be part of the conversation that will define the next decade of ESD and reliability standards. Standards do not evolve by accident. They evolve because industry leaders step forward. Join us at the 2026 EOS/ESD Symposium on September 28-30, 2026 — and stay for the inaugural Standards Technical Summit. The EOS/ESD Symposium, held in the days preceding the Summit, remains the premier event for education, technical exchange, and networking in ESD and EOS control. By attending the Symposium, you will: Gain insight from cutting-edge technical sessions Engage with industry leaders Experience keynotes aligned with forward-looking industry challenges Stay for the Standards Technical Summit and help define what comes next For full details, visit https://esda.events/ Together, we will build what’s next. 22 EOS/ESD Association, Inc. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ Standards Technical Summit 2026
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ ESD Technical Article 23 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026
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218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 30 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Article sourced from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2025.07.026
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 31 Get Connected Are you following EOS/ESD Association, Inc. on Linked In? I hope the answer is YES! It is not too late to follow us. Don’t miss our weekly updates. THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026
32 Technical Question(s) Have a question to ask? Send an email to: info.eosesda@esda.org (Be as descriptive as possible.) 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 The response given is a service to industry; the ESDA is not responsible for content. The users of this information need to determine the suitability Thank you for your questions. The answers to your questions can be found in the individual Standard Test Methods related to footwear and flooring. You should know how to make all the measurements from your TR53 certification class. We will try to give you some of the answers to your questions. Each different shoe grounder and shoe will have to be qualified individually. For shoes, if using the same manufacturer and the soles and insoles are the same and just the tops or styles are different, you may be able to just test one style, but be careful. Different assembly requirements for different styles of shoes can lead to differences in performance. Different types or styles of shoe grounders can have very different performance attributes. Yes you can use manufacture qualification provided they test according to the proper test methods and show the results in actual data sheets. The floor or floors have to be qualified individually if there are different materials involved. The test methods say 5 tests per 500 square meters of continuous floor. That applies to ANSI/ESD STM7.1 - Flooring and STM97.1 and 97.2 for testing with a person wearing the appropriate footwear. As mentioned, 97.2 is an initial qualification test and is not needed for Compliance Verification. It is necessary to repeat it if there are changes in ANYTHING related to floor and footwear. STM97.2 needs to be done with a variety of people and each type or style of footwear and foot grounder needs to be evaluated. How much data you collect is somewhat up to you. Keeping a graphical recording of each test is really nice to have but S20.20 only requires reporting the peak voltage observed for each type of footwear/flooring combination you have in the facility. There is quite a lot of discussion about the 97.2 data collection so right now we would say, more is better - just in case. STM97.2 is arguably the single most important test in establishing a functional Electrostatic Protected Area since it provides so much information. Once the qualification is in place, the Compliance Verification should be easier. You need to determine the actual level of testing that you think is needed to keep the facility under control for electrostatic considerations. If after a time, you don't see changes in anything and you don't changes in your ESD control items, then the frequency or number of tests can be reduced.
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 33 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 In Memory of Steven H Voldman It is with a deep sense of loss to the ESD community that we announce the passing of Dr. Steven H. Voldman, on November 24, 2025 following a courageous battle he and his family and medical supporteam waged against Parkinson’s and its numerous complications. A gifted scientist, inventor, teacher and linguist—with an ever-focused work ethic—Steve is remembered by his coworkers as one of the most talented semiconductor electrical engineers of his time. The first IEEE Fellow to be recognized for his work in ESD (for “Contributions in ESD protection in CMOS, Silicon On Insulator and Silicon Germanium Technology”), Steve held 253 US patents and wrote 11 textbooks on Electrical Static Discharge (ESD) and the topics of Invention and Patenting new ideas, which were translated by Wiley Press into Chinese. He also authored and coauthored over 150 technical papers in ESD, EOS, and CMOS latchup in journals and conference proceedings. Steve played a foundational role in the ESD Association’s Leadership Committee. From 2001 -2007 he served on the ESD Association’s Board of Directors. He launched and coordinated the ESD on Campus Program between 2006-2014 and supported the ESD Standards and Symposium Development Committee. As highlighted in the acknowledgement section of one of his books, ESD Circuits and Devices, written in 2006, Steve was tremendously grateful to his professors, friends, mentors, and colleagues throughout the IBM, ESD, and semiconductor engineering communities. To his family, Steve was supportive, funny, generous and loving. He delighted in playing with his grandchildren, cross country skiing, kayaking, and hiking with his two Labrador retrievers who remained by his side. He also was a fantastic cook who delighted in recreating meals from the places he travelled. In 1982, Steve began his professional training in engineering physics at the University of Buffalo, where he received a B.S in Engineering Science. Steve was fond of recounting his experiences at Buffalo which included epic snow storms and many late nights studying and eating Buffalo chicken wings. Buffalo ignited a life-long passion for problem solving and physics. When he was accepted into Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he became one of the first members of his family to attend a rigorous graduate school program.
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 34 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 In Memory of Steven H Voldman While at MIT, Steve earned a Master’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and a second degree, an EE Degree. He fondly recalled working on discoveries in MIT’s laboratories. At MIT, he worked on plasma physics, electrodynamics, electrostatics, and semiconductors. In ESD Circuits and Devices, Steve writes he was “indebted to the Electrical Engineering (EE) Department, Nuclear Engineering Department, the Physics Department, M.I.T. Plasma Fusion Center, and M.I.T. High-Voltage Research Laboratory (HVRL)” for their support of this work. While working full-time at IBM, Steve also attended the University of Vermont where he was a resident Study Fellow and earned a PhD degree in 1991. While at IBM Steve was a member of the IBM Development team for 25 years from 1982 to 2007; he provided pioneering work on alpha particle effects of bipolar static RAMs and cosmic ray effects. He was a member of the CMOS IV DRAM device design development team working on leakage mechanisms; he also worked on trench dislocation, variable retention time (VRT), retrograde n-well design, latch-up, tungsten stud and metal capacitance simulation, and soft error rate (SER). A member of the 16 MB CMOS V DRAM, he provided support for innovation of shallow trench isolation (STI), silicides, leakage mechanisms, latch up, and electrostatic discharge (ESD). He was the first member of the IBM Burlington team to be assigned to the development of mainstream Silicon On Insulator (SOI), and his worked continued from 1991 to 2000. In parallel, Steve worked on five successive generations of CMOS logic development. He supported all US microprocessors internal (IBM) and customer teams (Motorola, NEXGEN, Transmeta, IDT, Cyrix, Digital Alpha chip, AMD K6). He provided pioneering work in the area of ESD, latch-up in silicon on insulator, silicon germanium development, and other technology teams. Steve’s work also included multi-chip development, stacked DRAM, CUBE development, Through Silicon Via (TSV), and advanced packaging concepts.
35 218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 In Memory of Steven H Voldman In 2018, he was a scholar in residence at Kohn Kane University in Northern Thailand, where he mentored PhD Doctoral candidates in the Engineering Department on a campus of 20,000 students. Invariably as soon as Steve gave a lecture these departments would invite him back to give follow-up free lectures. While in Nepal he was asked to virtually mentor a small group of engineering students. In his adopted hometown of Lake Placid, New York—where he lived from 2014 -2022—he gave annual career talks to high school physics students on the benefits of STEM education and the opportunities that a degree in engineering offered. As a child growing up in a modest household in Rochester New York, Steve loved to build and launch model rockets. At an early age Steve dreamed of becoming an astronaut but was encouraged by his family—his father, a pop truck driver, and stay-at-home mother—to pursue something more “practical.” Rochester, New York, Steve’s birthplace, was the home of Eastman Kodak and Bausch and Lomb. Steve was fortunate to participate in outstanding high school science and math programs as well as excellent teachers who encouraged him to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) Education. His sense of curiosity and gift for physics, math and applied learning landed him a summer job at a nuclear reactor. Steve was an ardent hockey fan, having played for years on an IBM team in Burlington, VT. He was also deeply religious, the son of Holocaust survivor, Carl Voldman. Steve grew up in Rochester in a large extended family and among survivors and their children. Steve took his father on a journey back to Poland: including his father’s hometown of Staszów, Połaniec, Warsaw, and several nearby Holocaust sites to help his father heal from the wounds of a devastating childhood which included being hidden underground in a barn for several years during the war. As he struggled with his own Parkinson’s Disease, Steve undertook the task of writing a book chronicling his father’s ordeals. The shadow of the Holocaust influenced much of Steve’s life. While Steve felt fortunate to have adopted grandparents—Samuel Voldman and Bea Voldman—who took in his father after the war, both of Steve’s biological paternal grandparents were killed in the war—so too were all of his biological paternal great grandparents and many other relatives. Part of what drove Steve’s extraordinary professional accomplishments was a desire to do something purposeful in the aftermath of the war. From 2014 -2020 Steve accompanied his wife, on her work trips where as a result of his IEEE fellow network he frequently gave pro-bono lectures at engineering schools including universities in Zimbabwe, Benin. Taiwan, Swaziland, Senegal, Malaysia, Singapore the Philippines and many U.S. Universities including MIT. A lifelong learner, following his career at IBM he launched a consulting practice which took him across Asia and gave him an opportunity to learn Thai, Mandarin Chinese and Malay. As a freelance consultant Steve worked for Intel, Seaman’s, and Samsung and frequently was asked to serve as an expert witness on patent cases.
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 36 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 In Memory of Steven H Voldman And as the child of a refugee, Steve took to heart the importance of welcoming people seeking refuge in America. While living in Vermont, he was involved in the resettlement of Soviet Jews into the state; he also enjoyed being in community with people in the Vermont Vietnamese and Tibetan communities. Steve is survived by his wife Betsy Hulnick Brown, his two children, his two step children, three granddaughters, two brothers, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. His children and granddaughters were the light of his life. Steve and Betsy were members of two Temples: Beth Joseph Synagogue in Tupper Lake, NY and Lake Placid Synagogue (where he regularly blew the shofar at High Holiday services). Contributions can be made to the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s, The United States Holocaust Museum, and/or the ESD’s On Campus Program, a committee of the ESD Association.
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218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ Hot Topics 38 EOS/ESD ASSOCIATION, INC. ESD PROGRAM ASSOCIATE CERTIFICATION EOS/ESD Association, Inc. offers a professional certification for the Basics of ESD, necessary fundamental information, the How To’s of measurement and equipment, and a one-day S20.20 class meant to provide an introduction to control program basics and auditing. For complete details on the program and the courses required visit: https://www.esda.org/certification/esdprogram-associate-certification/ EOS/ESD ASSOCIATION, INC. ESD CONTROL PROGRAM AUDITOR CERTIFICATION EOS/ESD Association’s Control Program Auditor certification provides an understanding of the ANSI/ESD S20.20-2021 standard and how its requirements provide a framework to control the risks of electrostatic discharge (ESD) within an organization. The certification teaches the knowledge and skills needed to successfully integrate ESD Control Program audits within an organization’s quality management system internal audit program. Resources, such as; checklists, training slides, and guidance documents will be made available to attendees. For complete details on the program and the courses required visit: https://www.esda.org/certification/esdcontrol-program-auditor-certification/ THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ New Releases/Products/Standards ESD TR20.20-2025 ESD Association Technical Report for the Protection of Electrostatic Discharge Susceptible Items - Handbook for the Development of an Electrostatic Discharge Control Program for the Protection of Electrical and Electronic Parts, Assemblies, and Equipment (Excluding Electrically Initiated Explosive Devices) Order now at: https://www.esda.org/store/standards/product/456/esd-tr20-20-2025/ ESDA/JEDEC JTR001-01-25 ESDA/JEDEC Joint Technical Report – User Guide of ANSI/ESDA/JEDEC JS-001 – Human Body Model Testing of Integrated Circuits Order now at: https://www.esda.org/store/standards/product/458/esdajedec-jtr00101-25/ ANSI/ESD S8.1-2025 ESD Association Standard for the Protection of Electrostatic Discharge Susceptible Items - Symbols Order now at: https://www.esda.org/store/standards/product/460/ansiesd-s8-12025/ 39 THRESHOLD™ NOV/DEC 2025
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218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ Happy Birthday! to the following EOS/ESD Association, Inc. Board of Directors and Staff 41 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 March 5 Wolfgang Stadler th March 10 Nick Pimpinella th March 12 Robert Gauthier th March 14 Tom Meuse th April 10 Brennan Pimpinella th April 15 Shubhankar Marathe th April 27 Dolphin Abessolo-Bidzo th
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ 42 Fun Corner THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026 Which of the following practices is most effective for avoiding electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage when working with sensitive electronic components? A) Working on a carpeted floor B) Wearing an anti-static wrist strap connected to ground C) Touching metal tools frequently D) Keeping components in plastic bags (Answer: B) Answer key ESD Trivia Question (Advanced): You’re working at an ESD-safe workstation wearing a grounded wrist strap. Which situation below can still allow electrostatic discharge to damage a component? A) The wrist strap resistance is higher than 35 MΩ B) The component is placed on a grounded conductive mat C) The wrist strap is properly grounded, but the component is insulated from ground D) The relative humidity in the room is above 60% (Answer C)
218 W. Court St., Rome, NY 13440 + 315-339-6937 Email: info.eosesda@esda.org Web Site: https://www.esda.org/ Do you have something you would like to publish in Threshold? Send an email to nickp@esda.org for information. Editorial Deadlines Threshold™ is published six times a year by the EOS/ESD Association, Inc. a not-for-profit corporation. It strives for the advancement of theory and practice of electrical overstress avoidance and of allied arts and sciences and the maintenance of a high professional standing among its members and others. ©Copyright 2025, ESD Association, Rome, NY Threshold Institutional Listings Space in the Threshold Institutional Listings, which appear at the bottom of newsletter pages, can be purchased for $600.00 for six consecutive issues. Larger contributions are welcome. No agency fee is granted for soliciting such contributions. Inquiries, or contributions made payable to the EOS/ESD Association, Inc. should be sent to: EOS/ESD Association, Inc., 218 W Court Street, Rome, NY 13440-2069 Tel: (315) 339-6937, e-mail: info.eosesda@esda.org. Newsletter Staff Editor Nicholas Pimpinella EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 218 W Court Street, Rome, NY 13440 Tel: 1+ 315-339-6937 E-mail: nickp@esda.org Co-Editor Vicki LaVine EOS/ESD Association, Inc. 218 W Court Street, Rome, NY 13440 Tel: 1+ 315-339-6937 E-mail: vlavine@esda.org Editorial Advisors Dave Swenson, Affinity Static Control Consulting, LLC Charvaka Duvvury, ESD Consulting Editorial Advisory Board President Nate Peachey Qorvo, Inc. Sr. Vice President Robert Gauthier IBM Vice President Misha Khazhinsky Silicon Laboratories, Inc. EOS/ESD Association, Inc. Staff Lisa Pimpinella, Sr. Executive Director Christina Earl, Business Operations Manager Nicholas Pimpinella, Sr. Business Manager Brennan Pimpinella, Sr. Global Markets Engagement Manager Tracy Broadbent Administrative Assistant Vicki LaVine Administrative Assistant John Kinnear, Sr. Technical Manager 43 THRESHOLD™ MAR/APR 2026
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