Viking Modular Solutions Partners With Shocking Technologies

Viking Modular Solutions, a division of Sanmina-SCI Corporation, and manufacturer of innovative memory and flash solutions, announced availability of its first product featuring Shocking Technologies Xstatic Voltage Switchable Dielectric (VSD) polymer material that protects electronic components from harmful electrostatic discharge (ESD).

The key feature of the VSD material is its ability to clamp high voltage ESD events almost instantaneously.

"We are extremely proud of the work we have done with Shocking Technologies and look forward to delivering a family of ESD protected Viking Modular Solutions products," stated Adrian Proctor, Vice President of Marketing for Viking Modular Solutions. "ESD is a major threat to any electronic product and we believe this technology will provide customers with a level of data security never seen before."

The CompactFlash card from Viking Modular Solutions can withstand 30KV per the IEC 61004-2 test required for CompactFlash cards. It then takes a further step by increasing direct pin contact discharge protection to 19KV HBM (level 4 semiconductor protection), eight times the level of a standard CompactFlash card. This Viking Modular Solutions ESD protected CompactFlash card is a product deriving from initial development work at Sanmina-SCI and incubation from Shocking Technologies.

"It’s exciting to see our technology being introduced to the world by our partner Sanmina-SCI and its Modular Solutions division," said Lex Kosowsky, President and CEO of Shocking Technologies. "While this technology will proliferate through the industry, from solid state flash drives to cell phones, it is truly fitting that Viking Modular Solutions will be the first to lead the industry in bringing this new ESD technology to market."

ESD is a serious issue in solid state electronics, whereby the semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) material can suffer permanent damage when subjected to high voltages. The most common and spectacular form of ESD is the ‘spark,’ which occurs when a strong electric field creates and ionized conductive channel in the air. This occurrence causes a slight discomfort to people, but will cause severe damage to electronic equipment.