TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Tech Knowledge has opened the first test laboratory in Europe and the Middle East to specialize in provide HATS thermal shock test services.

Based in Tel Aviv, the new lab's services provide quantitative data on electrical interconnect reliability. TK Lab will also supply HATS systems for printed circuit board and electronics interconnect testing.

The venture is in cooperation with Microtek Laboratories.

HATS, or Highly Accelerated Thermal Shock System, is a patented thermal shock reliability test method based on traditional air-to-air thermal cycling. The system uses a single chamber in which high volume hot and cold air alternately pass stationary samples, providing rapid thermal transfer and reducing the time for the samples to reach temperature equilibrium. Samples are fixtured to a high-speed precision resistance sampling network, permitting continuous monitoring of the samples during the temperature cycles.